William M. Wadley is a public monument in Macon, Georgia, United States. The monument, which consists of a bronze statue atop a granite pedestal, was designed by Robert Cushing and dedicated in 1885 in honor of William Morrill Wadley, a railroad executive for the Central of Georgia Railroad who had died several years earlier. The monument was erected by a committee made up of his former employees and stands near the city's Terminal Station.
Following Wadley's death, some employees of the Central of Georgia established a memorial committee for the erection of a public monument in honor of Wadley.[6] In April 1884,[6] the committee commissioned New York City-based sculptor Robert Cushing to design a statue of Wadley.[4][5] For the head of the statue, Cushing modeled it after a marblebust that he had previously completed of the subject using photographs and a face mask.[7] The work was completed in 1885,[4] with casting done by the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company of New York City.[7] In total, the cost of the monument was $20,000.[7] The monument was dedicated on June 18, 1885.[6]
Later history
In 1994, the statue was surveyed as part of te Save Outdoor Sculpture! initiative.[7] At the time, the condition of the monument was considered in need of cleaning.[4] In 2015, a family reunion of about 3 dozen descendants of Wadley's met at the statue and had a group photograph taken in front of it.[8] The following year, the monument was vandalized with Satanic graffiti, including a pentagram and the phrase "Hail Satan".[5]
Design
Partial sideview of the statue, 2023
The monument consists of a bronze statue of Wadley atop a pedestal made of granite from Quincy, Massachusetts.[7] The sculpture stands approximately 9feet 6inches (2.90m) tall and has a square base with side measurements of 38 inches (0.97m) each, while the pedestal is approximately 10feet 6inches (3.20m) tall and has a square base with side measurements of 10 feet (3.0m) each.[7] The pedestal weighs roughly 2,300 pounds (1,000kg).[7] Wadley is depicted as he appeared around the time of his death, wearing a double-breastedfrock coat.[7] To his left is a round column with a map that has lines representing various railroads.[7] Wadley, who has his right leg forwards, has his left hand resting on the map while his right hand holds a wide-brimmed hat.[7] An inscription on the left side of the front of the statue's bronze base bears the name of the sculptor ("Robert Cushing,/Sculptor,/New York, 1885."), while the foundry's marks appear on the right side ("Henry-Bonnard Bronze Co., New York 1885").[7] The pedestal bears the following inscriptions:[7]
William M. Wadley/Erected A.D. 1885/By the Employees of the/Rail Road and Steamship Companies/of which he was The Head/To Commemorate/The Life of A Good Man and the Ability of A/Great Railway Manager/Who Rose From Their Ranks To The Presidency.
—Front
His Wisdom and Foresight/United Under The Control of the Central RR & BKG. Co./In One Great System/The South Western Ry. of Ala./The Mobile and Girard R.R./The Eufaula & Clayton R.R./The Montgomery & Eufaula Ry/The Georgia Railroad/The Port Royal & Augusta R./The Atlanta & West Point R.R./And Operated/The Ocean Steamship Co. of Savannah.
—Rear
Entered Service of G.R.R. 1841/Became President 1866
—Side
Born 1813/Died 1882
—Side
The monument is located at the intersection of Mulberry Street and Third Street in Macon, Georgia,[7] near the city's Terminal Station,[6] in an area called Third Street Park.[4] It is located near the city's confederate monument,[9] which is also on Mulberry Street.[10]
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