WWI Doughboy Statue, High Point
The memorial is a life-size depiction of a World War One “Doughboy” standing on a rectangular
concrete base. The soldier is holding a rifle in the proper right hand and a grenade in the proper
left hand. He is wearing a hip-length jacket, spiral leggings, an ammunition belt and army
service hat. Large metal plaques are attached to each of the four sides of the base listing 600
names of High Point area men who served in the war. A star next to the name designates the 14
men who died while in uniform. The inscriptions at the top of each plaque are the same but
the single word at the bottom of each is different: HONOR, JUSTICE, SERVICE, and PATRIOTISM.
The total height is 14 ft. and total weight is 10 tons.
An article in the High Point Enterprise prior to dedication questioned the authenticity of many
details of the soldier’s uniform, especially the spiral leggings and head gear which the author
described as a helmet but appears to be a poor representation of an army service hat. The
donor, Mr. W.J. Wrenn, explained that the statue had been commissioned through a Baltimore
agency to have the work carved in Italy and that he had trusted them to deliver an accurate
representation.
Images:
Right view |
Left view |
Rear view |
Front inscription |
Side NW inscription |
Side SE inscription |
Rear inscription
Front, SW facing: THIS MONUMENT / IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF HIGH
POINT, N.C. WHO SERVED GOD AND THEIR / 1917 * COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WAR * 1918 /
[Three columns with approximately 150 names total] / HONOR
Side, SE facing: THIS MONUMENT / IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF HIGH
POINT, N.C. WHO SERVED GOD AND THEIR / 1917 * COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WAR * 1918 /
[Three columns with approximately 150 names total] / JUSTICE
Rear, NE facing: THIS MONUMENT / IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF HIGH
POINT, N.C. WHO SERVED GOD AND THEIR / 1917 * COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WAR * 1918 /
[Three columns with approximately 150 names total] / SERVICE
Side, NW facing: THIS MONUMENT / IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF HIGH
POINT, N.C. WHO SERVED GOD AND THEIR / 1917 * COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WAR * 1918 /
[Three columns with approximately 150 names total] / PATRIOTISM
City of High Point
November 11, 1923. Rededication: October 5, 2004
35.957430 , -80.005610
View in Geobrowse
Schultz, Sue. “Granite Marker Honors Veterans,” N&R Greensboro.com, News And Record (Greensboro, NC), May 3, 2005, (accessed February 25, 2016) Link
Swensen, Eric. “A Celebrated Patriot Gets a Better View,” N&R Greensboro.com, News And Record (Greensboro, NC), October 4, 2004, (accessed February 22, 2016) Link
Swensen, Eric. “Teen Works to Restore 'Doughboy' a Student Has Worked to Raise Money to Clean and Repair the WWI Statue,” N&R Greensboro.com, News And Record (Greensboro, NC), May 28, 2004, (accessed February 22, 2016) Link
“High Point Today Unveils Monument to War Service Men,” High Point Enterprise (High Point, NC), November 11, 1923, 1
“Unveiled Here Today,” High Point Enterprise (High Point, NC), November 11, 1923, 15
“Wrenn Memorial Unveiled Before Great Throng,” High Point Enterprise (High Point, NC), November 12, 1923, 1
Yes
Italian Marble, metal (either brass or bronze), concrete base
Mr. and Mrs. M.J. Wrenn
Several thousand people were in attendance for the statue unveiling. The principle speaker for
the day was the Commander of Ft. Bragg, General A.J. Bowley. The day’s events included a
parade, a 21 gun salute and music provided by a combined choir from various churches. The
monument was unveiled by Miss Frances Walsh as the Elk Band played the national anthem.
High Point businessman Robert Brockett presented the statue which was accepted by Mayor
John W. Hedrick. During his speech Bowley said that he was afraid that the fighting had stopped
several months too soon, saying that he believed “the present conditions in Europe show that
we should have continued the push for about three months longer, and it is possible that the
work left incomplete must yet be done.”
About 100 people gathered for the 2004 rededication. One of those in attendance was city
resident Mary Lou Brinson, whose father A. Coke Cecil is one of heroes listed on the plaques at
the statue’s base. “It’s a lifelong dream (to see it prominently displayed),” Brinson said.
“Nobody saw it on the back (streets).”
The individual behind restoring the statue and having it moved to a more prominent location
was a 16-year-old history buff Nicholas Ruden. He raised about $5,000 with help from Rose
Furniture co-owner Bill Kester and local Rotary clubs. Ruden was also the driving force in raising
money to build the veterans memorial that stands nearby and was dedicated May 30, 2005.
The statue was carved in Italy.
The memorial stands on a brick plaza, or, Memorial Park, located at the intersection of N. Main Street and E. High Avenue. Other memorials include Revolutionary War Patriots, African American Gold Star plaque, World War Two Honor Roll, Veterans Memorial, and POW/MIA plaque. On the corner across E. High Street is a plaque to General Maxwell Reid Thurman. Across Main Street at the restored High Point Train depot is the Plank Road Foreman statue and “High Point” marker.
Bushes and trees adorn the brick plaza where the WWI Doughboy Statue stands on.
The monument was previously located at Hayden Place and Broad Avenue near High Point’s bus transit station.
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