George Washington Statue in Masonic Garb

The Pride of The World New England
George Washington Statue in Masonic Garb
Wallingford

Okay, look. This is dumb.

But it’s CTMQ-dumb, and therefore it’s getting published.

Years ago, when I was reading through Wallingford’s town website about all of their “places of interest,” I read that the town contained “the only life-size statue in the world of George Washington in his Masonic garb.”

“Wow,” I thought, “ain’t that somethin’!” So it made it to one of my lists.

And when I found myself nearby, I drove to the Masonic Geriatric Heallthcare Center, parked, and strolled on over to the big guy. “Would you look at that! Ol’ George Washington in his Masonic garb!”

I then promptly forgot about it until today. So I went to go find the source of this incredible claim, the Wallingford town website, and read this: “The lovely grounds and fountains provide a wonderful setting for the only life-size statue in New England of George Washington in his Masonic garb.”

Grr. A massive diminishment of the original claim that brought me here.

Often referred to as “the father of our country,” Washington is universally regarded as having been instrumental in winning the American Revolution and in the establishment of the new nation. After his military heroics, he retired to Mount Vernon in Virginia, but in 1787 he presided over the second federal constitutional convention in Philadelphia. He was then unanimously chosen first president of the United States, and was inaugurated at Federal Hall in New York City on April 30, 1789. Washington was reelected to a second term in 1893, declined a third term, and retired from political life in 1797.

From this site:

This statue honors George Washington’s close association with the Free and Accepted Masons, a fraternal order founded in 1717, and dedicated to human liberty, religious tolerance, and fellowship. He was installed as first master of Alexandria Lodge on April 28, 1788. The first version of this statue was created by Donald De Lue in 1959 for the Louisiana Lodge. A full-size faux-patined plaster model was displayed at the Masonic Pavilion of the New York World’s Fair of 1964-65 in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

Following the fair, the sculptor was commissioned to create this replica in bronze, and with the assistance of former Parks Commissioner and Fair President Robert Moses, a site was selected for permanent placement near the former Masonic Center. The statue, cast in Italy, and positioned on a pedestal of North Carolina pink granite, was dedicated on June 3, 1967, the same day in which the World’s Fair Corporation returned the park back to the City. Additional copies of the statue were installed at the Masonic Hospital in Wallingford, Connecticut and at the Detroit Civic Center in Michigan.

Not so fancy now are you Wallingford? Not fancy at all. But hey, if you’re into the Freemasons, either because you are one or you’re a conspiracy nut, I’m sure this statue is important. It’s just not really CTMQ-important.

CTMQ’s Statuary, Memorials, Monuments, & Plaques