Legion Memorial Park, Brighton Heights: Intersection of Brighton Road, Shadeland Avenue, and Davis Avenue
Allen George Newman created the first of several memorial sculptures found in Brighton Heights’s Legion Memorial Park. A prominent and in-demand artisan throughout much of the early twentieth century, Newman made four war memorials for Pittsburgh: the Spanish–American War memorial in Schenley Plaza, the World War I memorial in Lawrenceville known as The Doughboy, and a previously designed work that was erected in the East Hills after he died in 1940 (but appears to have since been replaced by a playground). His work in Legion Memorial Park, installed in 1922, is the most somber of the four, with a figure representing the soul of a dead soldier passing on his sword as he stares upward into the sky.
It’s a beautiful creation and one that deserves an extended gaze. The trees, planted shortly after the piece was installed, create an aura of kaleidoscope colors that change throughout the seasons. The effect is a visual symphony that is both tragic and uplifting. However, my experience and interpretation is a very modern one; for decades, this triangle of land looked very different as the trees matured and grew. The people who created this park and experienced the horrors of WWI are long gone, but the trees they planted are still with us, holding their memories, pain, and wisdom.
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