website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Union Park
THIS FILE IS UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
Indian Statue
Intersection of West Main and Washington
Streets
This zinc statue of an
Indian Chief is an exact duplicate of the statue that once stood in the
center of the intersection of Main and Washington Streets. The original figure was gifted to the city by
industrialist and city benefactor Robert E. Lewis and his wife Fanny in memory
of their son, Clifton, in 1896. It was
created by the J. L. Mott Iron Works of New York. The original statue stood on top of an
ornamental fountain that provided drinking water for animals and thirsty
passersby. It stood in place for nearly
30 years until it was struck by a passing motorist in 1925 and knocked off its
perch.
The original statue was damaged beyond repair and so
an exact duplicate was ordered from the original manufacturer and placed in
Union Park, where it stood for nearly 30 years, suffering damage at the hands
of vandals, small children and the elements.
In the early 1960s the City of Watertown decided to remove the statue. Rather than sell it for scrap, city officials
decided the best place for it would be to entrust it to the Watertown
Historical Society. Accordingly, the
statue was placed on the grounds near the Octagon House in 1964, where it has
remained ever since.
This statue, which depicts an unknown Indian Chief, is
one of many such statues that can be found in several parts of the United
States. It is a masterpiece of the
sculptor’s art. It also serves as a
visual reminder of the many Native American peoples
who once lived in and around Watertown.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin