Joey,
I have been looking at some of the commemorative statues that there are around Gloucester. There’s art and history in so many places. One is a WWI memorial and is a large statue of Joan of Arc on a horse in Legion Square at the intersection of Washington and Middle streets. The imposing bronze statue, which was dedicated in 1921, is one and a quarter times life size, stands on top of a large carved granite base. There are bronze plaques on either side listing “The Sons of Gloucester Who Gave Their Lives in the Great World War” and decorative plaques at either end. Wrapping around the base is a granite bench; perhaps designed so people might sit there with friends and family, and reminisce. There are beach stones surrounding the monument, and set into the ground like cobblestones.
Designed by Anna Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973), her original Joan of Arc statue won an honorable mention at a Paris art show. There were four other Joan of Arc statues cast by her that were placed in either New York City, San Francisco, Quebec, Canada and Blois, France. Huntington was 34 when she made the original plaster statue in her family’s studio in 1910 which was near Annisquam. It has been reported that the horse was modeled after one of the East Gloucester Fire Station’s horses, and that “Joan” was actually Anna’s, niece who was sitting on a barrel.
For those who have never looked closely at this imposing statue and monument, I suggest they park, and carefully walk to the center of the square. It is truly an artistic masterpiece!
Peter Dorsey
Good Morning Gloucester 
Thanks Peter! Take a look at the Gloucester HarborWalk story moment number 37, Joan of Arc, for related links to interesting videos and slideshows on the Anna Hyatt Huntington.
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Lise,
Thank you for this suggestion! I will track down Harbor Walk # 37. I found Anna Hyatt Huntington to be an interesting and accomplished sculptor.
PKD
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thanks for commenting on this. A.H. Huntington was a very interesting woman. She lived near Pawley’s Island SC for a time and had a studio there. She had bear pens, horse stalls, and various other creatures kept as models for her sculptures. She and her husband left a tract of land there for the public which is now Brookgreen gardens. Many of her sculptures are displayed throughout the gardens. We are lucky to have such a wonderful piece here in our city. Unfortunately, it has lost it’s presence due to the changes in street directions and such over the years, but still a beautiful asset for Gloucester.
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