Table of Contents
Statue of William Morrill Wadley
The William Morrill Wadley monument in Macon, Georgia, USA, stands as a tribute to the legacy of William Morrill Wadley, a prominent figure in the Central of Georgia Railroad. Designed by Robert Cushing and unveiled in 1885, it comprises a bronze statue atop a granite pedestal. Erected by a committee of his former employees, it resides close to the city’s Terminal Station. In 1994, it underwent assessment as part of the Save Outdoor Sculpture! initiative, revealing a need for cleaning. In 2015, a family reunion of approximately three dozen of Wadley’s descendants convened at the monument for a group photo. However, the tranquility surrounding the site was disrupted the following year when it was defaced with Satanic graffiti, including a pentagram and the phrase “Hail Satan”.
History
William Morrill Wadley, born in New Hampshire in 1813, ventured to Savannah, Georgia in 1833, where he secured a position with the Central of Georgia Railway. Climbing the ranks swiftly, by 1849 he attained the role of superintendent within the company. His career spanned various executive roles across Southern railroads for decades. During the American Civil War, William Morrill Wadley was appointed as the superintendent of transportation for the Confederate States of America by President Jefferson Davis.
Post-war, he resumed his tenure at the Central of Georgia Railroad, eventually ascending to its presidency, which he held until his passing in 1882. In commemoration of his legacy, employees of the Central of Georgia established a memorial committee to commission a public monument in his honor. In April 1884, sculptor Robert Cushing, based in New York City, was tasked with crafting a statue of William Morrill Wadley . Utilizing a marble bust he previously sculpted based on photographs and a face mask, Cushing modeled the head of the statue. Completed in 1885, the casting was executed by the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company of New York City. The total cost for the monument amounted to $20,000, with its dedication taking place on June 18, 1885.
Location
Third Street Park, Macon, Georgia, United States
Designer
Fabricator
Robert Cushing
Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company
Type
Material
Statue
Bronze
Granite
Length
Width
Height
Weight
10 feet (3.0 m)
10 feet (3.0 m)
20 feet (6.1 m)
2,300 pounds (1,000 kg) (Pedestal only)
Beginning Date
Completion Date
Dedicated date
Dedicated to
April 1884
1885
June 18, 1885
William Morrill Wadley
In 1994, the statue underwent inspection as part of the Save Outdoor Sculpture! project. Back then, it was noted that the monument required cleaning. Fast forward to 2015, where approximately three dozen descendants of William Morrill Wadley gathered at the statue for a family reunion, capturing a group photo in front of it. However, the following year, the monument fell victim to vandalism, adorned with Satanic graffiti such as a pentagram and the phrase “Hail Satan”.
