Saturday, May 14, 2016

Fireman's Memorial West 100th Street, NYC

Dedicated to all the brave men and women of the NYC Fire Dept and all Firefighters around the globe.
Mo “It’s been a while since we chatted”
Sa “True. Pop pop has been busy and our paws don’t work well on the lap top.”








Mo “Yea I keep trying but it never works right. If I could only figure out how to turn it on. The good thing is at least mom has taken plenty of pictures for us to choose from.”
Sa “So true about mom but you will never be able to type. Let’s forget that. What did you want to talk about this time?”




Mo “Hot dogs? Mmmmmm.”
Sa “We are not going to talk about hot dogs. Try and stay somewhat focused.”



Mo “Alright what about the monument we saw last week. The one dedicated to the humans in the loud red box on wheels.”
Sa “Oh, that is a good one. It is dedicated to the humans who fight fires. I think they call them firefighters.”

Mo “Well actually I have heard them called heroes. Not firefighters why would they hit fires?”

Sa “You are so silly sometimes. Yes, you are right they are called heroes but their job is to be firefighters. And they don’t actually “fight” like you’re thinking. They tackle this job with tools of the trade.”
Mo “Oh you mean like the green snake that spits water in the yard.”

Sa “Umm sure the hose but much bigger. Do you know the year it was built?”
Mo “No. I only know that it is old and that the monument is on 100th street near Riverside Park.”

Sa “I will give you a bit of a history lesson on it then.”
Mo “Why do I always do this to myself?”

Sa “What was that?”
Mo “Nothing, you were saying history lesson?”

Sa “Ahh yes. The Firemen’s Memorial in Riverside Park was dedicated on September 5, 1913, and was formally accepted on behalf of the city by the human Mayor William Gaynor. The monument was designed by H. Van Buren Magonigle and its sculptures are attributed to Attilio Piccirilli.”
Mo “Interesting.”

Sa “Anyways. This monument is said to have had its origins in the remarks of the Reverend Henry C. Potter who suggested while there were many memorials to public and private citizens there were none “to our brave citizens who have lost or will sacrifice their lives in a war that never ends.””
Mo “Ooo, Ooo. Did you know that it was originally intended for the north end of Union Square but ultimately was built in its current location?”

Sa “Very good. I must be rubbing off on you.”
Mo “I am glad you are impressed.”

Sa “Let me continue. the memorial comprises a grand staircase, a fancy plaza, a fountain basin, and the central monument.  Made of Knoxville marble, the monument is a sarcophagus-like structure with a massive bas-relief of horses drawing an engine to a fire.”
Mo “Wow. did you know the original was replaced by a bronze replica in the 50’s.”


Sa “Actually I did. Did you know that to the south and north are allegorical sculpture groups representing “Duty” and “Sacrifice”?”
Mo “Well no.”

Sa “Also did you know that this monument has twice undergone extensive restoration, once in the late 1930s and more recently through a $2 million city-funded capital project completed in 1992.”
Mo “Hmphf show off.”

Sa “That is it for this week.”

MoSa “And for all those humans who like the images here and want to see more you can visit our moms site to purchase images from the link below.”

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