Connecticut's Civil War Monuments

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Simsbury Cemetery
755 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT

Dedicated: June 27, 1923
Type: Bronze plaques and eagles on iron-and-stone gateway
Donors: Ann Toy Ellsworth and Lemuel Stoughton Ellsworth
Architect: Lionel Moses
Sculptors: Edwin E. Codman and Frank Ziegler
Foundry: Gorham Company
Height: 9', 7"

MEMORIAL GATEWAY, Simsbury, is significant historically because it honors veterans of the Civil War and World War I.

The memorial was erected in accordance with the wishes of Lemuel Stoughton Ellsworth and his wife, Ann Toy Ellsworth, and was given to the Simsbury Cemetery Association on June 27, 1923. Unfortunately, the Ellsworths did not live to see the completion of the monument.

Ann Toy Ellsworth was the daughter of the Reverend Joseph Toy, a founder of Toy Bickford Company, which later became Ensign-Bickford Company, a prominent Simsbury firm famous for the manufacture of safety fuses. Lemuel Ellsworth played a prominent role in the firm's management.

MEMORIAL GATEWAY, Simsbury, is significant artistically because it incorporates plaques and eagles which are good examples of sculptured ornament applied to a structure for decorative purposes. The bronze pieces were produced by Gorham Company, Providence, Rhode Island, at that time a leading foundry and fabricator of silverware and art objects.

The gateway was designed by Lionel Moses, an employee of Gorham Company, who went on to work for the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White. Moses worked under the direction of W. Frank Purdy, who at the time was head of the Division of Sculpture of Gorham Company. Purdy later became head of the School of American Sculpture, New York City.

The eagles were modeled by Edwin E. Codman and the plaques by Frank Zeigler, both employees of Gorham Company.

Two bronze eagles and two bronze plaques are components of MEMORIAL GATEWAY, Simsbury, which memorializes men from the community who served in the Civil War and World War I. The 2'-high eagles are perched atop stone spheres that cap the two front pillars of the red sandstone gateway. The eagles have outstretched wings and look inward, to their left and right. They are in an upright position, rather than the more usual horizontal stance.

The bas-relief plaques, which are 2', 10" high by 4', 5" wide, are mounted on the forward extending walls of the gateway. The south plaque features a patterned border with a leaf motif, surrounding raised text recorded below, and a furled flag. The north plaque is identical in form with different text.

Lower right corner of each plaque, u.c. and l.c.:

North plaque, raised caps:

South plaque, raised caps:

"Memorial Gateway," dedication brochure, June 27, 1923. Simsbury Historical Society.