The arch was designed by Hartford architect George Keller, whose ashes were buried in the east tower when he died in 1935, along with those of his wife, Mary, who died in 1946. The arch was dedicated on September 17, 1886, --the anniversary of the Battle of Antietam--to honor the 4,000 Hartford citizens who served in the Civil War, and the 400 who died for the Union.
This Gothic monument is made of brownstone from Portland, Connecticut, and cost about $60,000 (from the city treasury) to build. Notice especially the terra cotta frieze depicting scenes from the Civil War, and midway below it, eight-foot-tall statues representing the various kinds of residents who left their homes, families and businesses to fight in the War: student, farmer, freed slave, stone mason, carpenter and blacksmith. The original terra cotta angels--Gabriel and Raphael--which crown each tower, were replicated in bronze and replaced in 1987 as part of a $1.5 million restoration.
Be sure to read the bronze plaque under the freed slave which honors the 128 African American residents of Hartford who fought for the Union. This plaque was the result of research by Airron Bethea, a seventh grade student in Hartford, who was writing an essay in 1987 for the rededication of the restored Arch.
