Tag Archives: Doughboy statue

Our Doughboy

Posted on November 11, 2025 | 14 comments

Today is Veterans Day.

We celebrate November 11 because — 107 years ago today — World War I ended. The armistice took effect at 11 a.m., on 11/11.

Twelve years later — on November 11, 1930 — we dedicated our doughboy statue.

That was 5 years after the town voted to erect a monument to soldiers in “The Great War.”

The commission was offered to Laura Gardin Fraser. Yet her design — showing a bronze relief figure of Victory — did not meet the committee’s approval.

Three years later the Veterans of Foreign War and American Legion raised $10,000. They commissioned J. Clinton Shepherd, an illustrator, sculptor — and pilot — to memorialize a soldier from “the war to end all wars.”

The doughboy statue. (Photo/Amy Schneider)

Six months after Westport’s first-ever Memorial Day parade, the Doughboy was dedicated. But it was not at Veterans Green, across from what is now Town Hall (and was then Bedford Elementary School).

The original site was the grassy median on on the Post Road 2 miles east — across from what is now Pizza Lyfe and One River art school, near the foot of Long Lots Road.

A crowd of 3,000 turned out for the dedication of the 20-ton statue. Governor John H. Trumbull was there, along with hundreds of veterans, and 7 bands. Children pulled ropes to unveil the statue.

Dedication of the Doughboy statue in 1930. This view is looking east.

The doughboy was moved to its present location — one deemed more fitting and dignified  than a Post Road median — in 1986. A formal re-dedication ceremony was held on Memorial Day 1988.

Think of all that today when you head up the hill to Town Hall, across from Veterans Green.

As happens every year, there will be a short but important ceremony. The Westport Community Band plays, at 10:30 a.m.

At the appropriate hour of 11 a.m., speakers will honor all veterans, of all wars.

Veterans Day ceremony, 2024. (Photo copyright Ted Horowitz)

Most will be veterans themselves. One will be Staples High School senior Gunnar Eklund.

All will honor the past, and look to the future.

As you leave, look at the doughboy statue across the way. Think of all the sacrifices that have been made since doughboys fought over 100 years ago, in “the war to end all wars.”

Then head over to VFW Post 399, on Riverside Avenue. They’re hosting a lunch for veterans — and everyone else in town, who wants to salute them.

VFW Post 399.

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Posted in History

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Friday Flashback #475

Posted on November 7, 2025 | 12 comments

For 56 years, Westport’s World War I Doughboy statue — J. Clinton Shepherd’s memorial to all those who served in “the war to end all wars” — stood on Post Road East, opposite what is now Pizza Lyfe and One River art school.

Dedicated 95 years ago — on November 11, 1930 — it was moved to a more appropriate location, on Veterans Green opposite Town Hall, in 1986.

For a while, small Veterans Day ceremonies were held on the Post Road median, as traffic whizzed by. This was the scene in 1967:

(Photo courtesy of Christopher Maroc)

Now the ceremony is held inside, at Town Hall. It begins on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

With a much larger crowd.

(Friday Flashback is one of “06880”‘s many regular features. If you enjoy this — or anything else on our website — please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)

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Roundup: Sandy Hook & Broadway, Doughboy, Chickens …

Posted on August 16, 2024 | 1 comment

Westport and Weston will be well represented next month, when Broadway stars perform in a benefit for Sandy Hook Promise.

“The Best of Broadway’ (September 22, 6 p.m., SHU Community Theater, Fairfield) is the brainchild of 2 residents.

It began with Dodie Pettit, who performed on Broadway in “Cats” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

Her husband — Aztec Two-Step co-founder Rex Fowler — had been asked to perform in a Sandy Hook Promise film called “A Father’s Promise.”

Sandy Hook Promise — formed in the aftermath of the horrendous school shooting — is a Newtown-based non-profit that educates and empowers youth and adults, to prevent violence in schools, homes and communities

The documentary is about Mark Barden, whose son Daniel was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting.

Dodie was so moved by the mission of Sandy Hook Promise that she volunteered to gather Broadway performers to raise money for gun
violence awareness.

Among the artists next month: 2-time Tony Award winner James Naughton, and Terry Eldh (Carlotta in “Phantom of the Opera”). Dodie and Rex will also perform, as Aztec Two-Step 2.0.

Longtime Levitt Pavilion favorite Frank Mastrone (“Phantom,” “Cats,” “Les Miserables”), and Paige Backus and Grace Hutchinson — recipients of the Connecticut Dance School Kevin Gray Scholarship, given in honor of Dodie Pettit’s late husband (a Broadway star in “Phantom of the Opera” and “The King and I” — will also appear.

For tickets, a full cast list and other information. click here.

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Dave Shea writes: “One of the benefits of a dog who needs walking at 5:30 every morning is being greeted by this brave soul. He puts it all into perspective.”

   (Photo/Dave Shea)

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It’s illegal to stick commercial flyers on utility poles.

If we called out every company that does this, we wouldn’t have room for any photos bad drivers — I mean, anything else.

But this one caught our eye.

There sure aren’t a lot of services like this one, in our little corner of the world.

(Photo/Steven Goldstein)

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A reader writes: “There has been a scam going on for a few months at Whole Foods.

“If you bring your own shopping bag, you’re supposed to get a 10 cent credit per bag.

“The receipt will indicate Bag Refund,’ but it no longer shows the credit. It’s happened to me 4 times, with different cashiers and different registers.

“The cashier insists it’s at the end showing up on total savings, but if you do the math, it’s not there.

“I showed the manager twice. He agreed and thinks something is wrong with the computer program. But I think Whole Foods is hoping no one will notice, and they are saving thousands of dollars, maybe more.”

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Garden and music lovers — and those who are both — take note.

Blau House & Gardens and the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra present “Music in the Garden” this Sunday (August 18).

There’s a pre-concert tour of the magnificent property off Bayberry Lane from 4:30 to 5 p.m. The woodwind quintet plays in the gorgeous gardens from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.

Bring your own picnic, blankets and chairs. There’s a shuttle from Coleytown Elementary School. Tickets are $75.  Click here to order.

A small section of the Blau House & Gardens.

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The item above is a great lead-in to today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.

There are plenty of spots to see rabbits in Westport.

Your first guess — or 100th — would probably not be Ned Dimes Marina.

But Laurie Sorensen saw this bunny bopping around there.

One more bit of proof — if any is needed — that Compo Beach is a very welcoming place.

(Photo/Laurie Sorensen)

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And finally … Dave Shea’s photo of the Doughboy statute at Veterans Green got us thinking about the sacrifices our soldiers made over 100 years ago, in World War I.

You know: The War to End All Wars.

(Broadway stars, Sandy Hook, the Doughboy, chickens, rabbits … just another day on “06880.” If you appreciate our work, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

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Posted in Entertainment, Environment, Local business

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Photo Challenge #489

Posted on May 12, 2024 | 15 comments

With Memorial Day near, last week’s Photo Challenge showed a plaque dedicated on May 25, 1975, to “Westport Veterans United States Armed Forces, Living or Dead.” (Click here to see). 

You’d think it would be near the Doughboy statue in Veterans Green, opposite Town Hall.

You’d be half right.

It was next to that World War I memorial, when it was dedicated nearly half a century ago.

But the statue then was on the Post Road, in the grass median across from what was then the Clam Box restaurant. (It’s now shared by Pizza Lyfe, Dada Salon and One River School of Art.)

The plaque — near that building — remained, long after the statue was moved to its more appropriate location, shortly after that 1975 dedication ceremony.

Paul Rohan, Seth Schachter, Elaine Marino, Scott Bennewitz and Andrew Colabella all knew where it still remains.

Which brings up a question: Shouldn’t it too be moved to Veterans Green?

This week’s Photo Challenge isn’t going anywhere, though. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

(Every Sunday, “06880” hosts this Photo Challenge. We challenge you too to support your hyper-local blog. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)

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Minute Man, Doughboy: New Looks For Old Heroes

Posted on June 29, 2023 | 21 comments

For over 100 years, Westport’s Minute Man has crouched, alertly and patriotically, near the entrance to Compo Beach.

He’s our beloved town symbol. And these days, he looks better than ever.

His dark metal shines. His lines are smooth. Even his historical plaque has been restored to its old glory.

(Photo/Andrew Colabella)

Representative Town Meeting member and Staples High School graduate Andrew Colabella was intrigued by the project. He’d seen an “06880” of a man working alone, power washing the statue.

(Photo/Jamie Klein)

He wanted to learn more. Mike West, Parks & Recreation Department parks superintendent, told Andrew the man’s name is Francis Miller. He’s repaired and restored artwork since 1991.

On Monday, Andrew spotted Francis working on Veterans Green, across from Town Hall.

(Photo/Andrew Colabella)

Andrew is fascinated with hands-on, labor intensive niche work, like welding and metal restoration.

He asked Francis how he restored both the Minute Man and doughboy.

He heats the metal with an acetylene torch, burning off foreign material. As it cools, he applies a mixture of waxes he made himself (it’s been approved by the National Parks Service and Conservation Department).

Francis uses a shoe polish brush that gets into the metal, but leaves no striations, grooves or runs. The waxes seal and bond to the metal.

Veterans Green doughboy. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)

Andrew’s questions were not idle ones. He recently completed his own metal restoration project just a few yards away.

He’d found the old, discarded solid brass “Public Notice” board in a dumpster.

Andrew kept the original imperfections and marks, dating back over 70 years. It’s now been re-hung in front of Town Hall — a great addition to the “new” front entrance.

Andrew Colabella’s restored Public Notice board, before installation outside Town Hall.

Andrew is impressed by Francis Miller’s restoration work. He hopes the rest of Westport will be too.

So as you head to the fireworks tonight — or any other time you’re near Compo Beach or Veterans Green — check out our newly restored Minute Man and doughoy.

And don’t forget the new Public Notice board either. It too is a beauty.

(“06880” is honored to honor Westport’s history. Please consider supporting the work we do. Just click here to contribute. Thank you!)

21 Comments

Posted in History

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Pic Of The Day #1869 — And Video Of The Day #1

Posted on May 30, 2022 | 2 comments

The doughboy statue on Veterans Green (Photo/Ted Horowitz)

BONUS FEATURE: Nick Pisarro, Jr. filmed the entire Memorial Day parade — and then edited it down to a minute. It’s followed by Staples High School graduate Nick Rossi singing the national anthem.

Whether you missed the parade, or want to relive it again — click below.

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Posted in Pic of the Day, Westport life

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Pic Of The Day #1784

Posted on March 6, 2022 | Comments Off on Pic Of The Day #1784

Veterans Green tableau (Photo/Fred Cantor)

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Our Doughboy

Posted on November 11, 2020 | 4 comments

Today is Veterans Day.

We celebrate November 11 because — 102 years ago today — World War I ended. The armistice took effect at 11 a.m., on 11/11.

Twelve years later — on November 11, 1930 — we dedicated our doughboy statue.

That was 5 years after the town voted to erect a monument to soldiers in “The Great War.” According to Woody Klein’s history of Westport, the commission was offered to Laura Gardin Fraser.

Yet her design — showing a bronze relief figure of Victory — did not meet the committee’s approval.

Three years later the Veterans of Foreign War and American Legion raised $10,000. They commissioned J. Clinton Shepherd, an illustrator, sculptor — and pilot — to memorialize a soldier from “the war to end all wars.”

The doughboy statue. (Photo/Amy Schneider)

Six months after Westport’s first-ever Memorial Day parade, the Doughboy was dedicated. But it was not at Veterans Green, across from what is now Town Hall (and was then Bedford Elementary School).

The original site was the grassy median on on the Post Road 2 miles east — across from what is now Shearwater Coffee, near the foot of Long Lots Road.

A crowd of 3,000 turned out for the dedication of the 20-ton statue. Governor John H. Trumbull was there, along with hundreds of veterans, and 7 bands. Children pulled ropes to unveil the statue.

The doughboy was moved to its present location in 1986. A formal re-dedication ceremony was held on Memorial Day 1988.

4 Comments

Posted in Downtown, History, Looking back

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22 ½ Main Street: The Sequel

Posted on July 5, 2012 | 1 comment

This morning’s post on 22 ½ Main Street unleashed a torrent of interesting comments on the undocumented history of blacks in Westport.

It also brought this painting:

An accompanying note from alert “06880” reader Carole Erger-Fass says:

This painting by J. Clinton Shepherd is in the Westport Schools Permanent Arts Collection.

According to Mollie Donovan it was painted during the time he lived in Westport with his family, from the mid 1920s to the late ’30s. In our catalog it is called “The Waffle Shop,” but in the Westport Historical Society post in 2004 for Black History Month it was called “Main Street.”

Maybe your readers will remember the place?

The painting actually spells it “Waffle Shoppe.”

And J. Clinton Shepherd was more than a talented painter in Westport’s artists’ colony.

He also sculpted the doughboy statue that was dedicated on November 11, 1930. It stands now on Veterans Green, opposite Town Hall — just a few yards from long-forgotten 22 ½ Main Street.

1 Comment

Posted in Arts, Downtown, Looking back, Organizations, People

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