FITCHBURG — Commissioner Nicholas Erickson recently gave a detailed update on the status of Fitchburg’s Spanish-American War Hiker Monument, for those who have been asking … and for those who appreciate the technical side of historic preservation.
On March 7, 2025, a high wind event caused the bronze Hiker statue to detach from its pedestal and fall. While dramatic and potentially disastrous, this incident caused minimal damage and provided the city an opportunity for a full professional evaluation of this monument that has stood in Fitchburg since its dedication in September 1924.
The Hiker sculpture is a hollow cast bronze figure, 7 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 1,200 pounds. It was originally secured to its bronze base using threaded bronze pins installed over a century ago. Those original fasteners experienced corrosion and metal fatigue, and during the wind event the pins sheared, allowing the statue to separate from its base.
Fortunately, the granite pedestal and the central anchoring system remained intact, and the fall resulted in only minor surface damage to the statue and plaque due to soft ground conditions at the site. Following the incident, the city engaged professional sculpture conservators and art rigging specialists to assess the statue. The monument was transported and stored in a protected indoor environment, where it underwent evaluation, cleaning and repair.
Key technical improvements include:
- Removal of the failed original bronze fasteners
- Installation of new 9/16 inch stainless steel threaded rods, significantly more durable and corrosion resistant
- Preparation for epoxy anchored connections into the granite pedestal using modern structural anchoring systems
- Preservation of weep holes beneath the boots to prevent moisture entrapment and future corrosion
- Surface conservation work to address patina deterioration and minor plaque corrosion “pustules of green copper” that occurred occurred due to deterioration of a 1987 restoration lacquer coating
- The bronze exterior was cleaned, underwent galvanic corrosion reduction, patina repair and a two-layer protective coating was added
The statue has now been professionally restored, repaired and cleared for reinstallation.
The city has also received correspondence from the Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans noting a comparable situation in Savannah, Georgia. In January 2025, Savannah’s Hiker Monument was reportedly struck by a vehicle and toppled, and the city moved quickly to repair the damage and return the statue to its pedestal within a year.
Fitchburg also intends to replace its statue within a year. Reinstalling this 1,200-pound historic bronze sculpture is not a simple “set it back in place” task … .particularly after realizing the extent of the surface oxidation and need for professional restoration, Erickson said.
The process requires: Core drilling into the granite pedestal, precision alignment of new anchoring points, specialty epoxy installation with strict temperature and cure time requirements, scheduled on-site crane or heavy lift equipment with professional art rigging and stable weather conditions during the installation to ensure long-term performance.
Cold temperatures and winter conditions can significantly impact epoxy performance and curing, which is why best practice is to complete this work in appropriate spring conditions.
The plan is to professionally reinstall the Hiker Monument in late winter/early spring , under appropriate weather conditions, using the improved anchoring system recommended in conservation reports.
This approach ensures the monument is returned safely, respectfully and in a way that honors both the veterans it commemorates and the responsibility of preserving a historic work of public art for the next century.
Squailia and Erickson said they appreciate the community’s passion for this monument and share the commitment to seeing it returned to its rightful place … and getting it done right.
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