In December of 2022, the City of Lebanon was awarded, by approval of the New Hampshire Executive Council, a Moose Plate Grant for $20,000 through the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources to restore the sculptures (Civil War Soldier, Group of Riles above entryway, Cannonballs, Artillery Shells flanking walkway) located outside of the Soldiers Memorial Building. These grants are awarded for the preservation of publicly owned historic buildings and structures through the Conservation License Plate Grant Program.
According to Shelley Hadfield, City of Lebanon Grant Manager, “The goal is to restore the ‘look’ of the sculptures and their paint, and develop a long-term plan for their preservation.” The sculptures in front of the Soldiers Memorial Building were recently showcased in the Lebanon Times Holiday 2022 edition with an article written by City Historian, Nicole Ford Burley. In the article, Nicole states, “By the time Lebanon’s memorial was completed in 1890, ‘soldier at rest’-style statues could be ordered from the J.L. Mott Iron Works Catalog… the ‘bronzed’ statues were made of zinc, a much weaker material that made the sculptures liable to slumping and breakage.”
The total project cost is approximately $38,000 and has been fully funded. Rika Smith McNally & Associates will be restoring the sculptures starting in July of 2023. Learn more about the Soldiers Memorial Building Sculpture Renovation Project by viewing the Part 1 Video: Meet Rika, Conservator of Public Art, and learn about the project, and the plans to restore the sculptures.
Learn more about how Lebanon Honors its Veterans by visiting LebanonNH.gov/Veterans