After Hale Statue, Sons Turned To Plaques

After the statue of Nathan Hale was completed, the Sons of the Revolution turned to creating plaques and tablets. Our first plaque honored Marinus Willet, who, as the Revolutionary War intensified in 1775, led the New York militia on a raid that captured a cache of arms the British had stored on Broad Street. The plaque, which began as a simple project, escalated into a civic work of art. The Broad Street plaque was almost simultaneously followed by seven "simple plaques" which were scattered about the city. All of these were dedicated by the end of 1893. The purpose of the plaques was both educational and to let the population know that the Sons of the Revolution had arrived.

At that time, the majority of the members of the society felt that these types
of projects could best educate the public about the events and men of the revolution. There was some concern about the quality of the simple plaques. The next grouping reflected the "City Beautiful" or Beaux Arts Renaissance that was occurring at the time in building and public construction. Two major works, The Battle of Harlem Heights and the Battle of Long Island, were expensive, beautiful and accurately researched. A sculptor named Kelly was engaged to produce the bas relief works of art which were cast by the Henry Bonard Bronze Co.

At the Annual Meeting of 1899, a special committee made a report following "a careful examination of the many Tablets erected in the city in the early period of its history. Such investigation let to a report recommending that in future no names of living persons except the sculptor be placed upon the tablet. That hereafter, the Municipal Art Society of New York be consulted in regard to all monument and plaque work." There was also a suggestion that no eating be permitted during dedication ceremonies.

At the turn of the century, to complete the University series of plaques, allegorical bas relief works of art were completed by Albert Weinert and placed on the campuses of CCNY and NYU University Heights in the Bronx. In 1900, the Nathan Hale School House in East Haddam, CT was rescued, moved, refurbished and donated to the Sons of the Revolution in the State of Connecticut.

In 1904, the Society put most of its resources into the purchase, restoration and running of Fraunces Tavern as its headquarters and as a museum concentrating on the Revolutionary War period.

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John Austin Stevens, Founder, First President