America

(Second Ward World War I Memorial)

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Catalog Information

The sculpture is one of Gaetano Federici’s finest public monuments and is generally considered the work that established his reputation as Paterson’s leading sculptor. It combines patriotic symbolism with classical allegory and reflects the civic memorial movement that followed the First World War.

Description

The bronze sculpture depicts an idealized female figure representing America standing in a dignified frontal pose.

She wears flowing classical robes recalling ancient Greek sculpture. A laurel wreath, symbolizing victory and honor, crowns her head. In her right hand she carries a tall ceremonial staff, while an unfurled flag bearing the historic motto “Don’t Tread on Me” drapes beside her left side.

Unlike many World War I monuments depicting armed soldiers, Federici chose an allegorical female figure that symbolizes liberty, sacrifice, and the nation itself rather than combat. This approach gave the memorial a timeless quality and connected it with nineteenth-century civic sculpture traditions.

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Commission

After the end of World War I, residents of Paterson’s Second Ward organized a public subscription to create a permanent memorial honoring local men and women who served during the conflict.

The committee selected local sculptor Gaetano Federici, already becoming recognized for his exceptional modeling ability.

The bronze was cast by the renowned Roman Bronze Works of New York, one of America’s premier art foundries, which produced sculptures for many leading American artists during the early twentieth century.

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Original Installation

Installed: August 20, 1920

The monument originally stood on the traffic island in the center of Union Avenue in Paterson, serving as a prominent civic landmark where memorial ceremonies were held each Memorial Day and Armistice Day.

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Relocation History

1949

Increasing automobile traffic and repeated vandalism led to the monument’s relocation from Union Avenue to West Side Park.

There it was installed within the center of a large circular reflecting pool.

Later the reflecting pool was removed, leaving the monument on its present landscaped site.

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Damage and Restoration

The sculpture has survived several episodes of vandalism.

In 1979 thieves attempted to steal the bronze by toppling it from its base. The monument was recovered and restored before being returned to its pedestal. Continued preservation efforts by the City of Paterson have allowed the memorial to remain one of the city’s most recognizable civic monuments.

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Inscriptions

The principal bronze tablet reads in part:

“Erected by the People of the Second Ward and Friends in honor of those who served and died for our country in the World War 1917–1918.”

Additional bronze tablets list:

• Soldiers who died in service
• Nurses who served
• Enlisted personnel
• More than 200 additional veterans honored on the rear plaque.