Here's a nice older image of the monument taken not long after the bust of Paine by American sculptor Wilson McDonald was added. All in all, the author of this blog believes the addition an enormous mistake. The bust is fine on its own and deserves a good exhibition location ... but the monument should have been left as Paine's followers intended ... a simple, classic marble column ... to commemorate the original resting place of America's greatest revolutionary.
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I agree Ken We should be honoring this man much more
ReplyDeleteNeat monument. I've often driven by it and wondered if it was erected directly over Paine's gravesite?
ReplyDeleteThe monument was originally erected through the organizing efforts of Gilbert Vale, editor and publisher of THE BEACON (NY) and Paine biographer. It was designed and placed by James Frazee (1790-1852), American sculptor and architect of the New York Customs House. The monument was originally placed at the foot of Paine's gravesite which was, as you may recall, grave-robbed by the Englishman William Cobbett. The monument was moved a short distance to its present location in 1905 when the city of New Rochelle improved North Avenue (the old post road) on the side of which the monument had been placed. I have an image of the monument at its original and will post it here at a later date. Thanks for your comments.
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