This week is Thomas Paine’s birthday, and his newly-restored monument on North Avenue now gleams in his honor.
The monument, featuring a bronze bust of Paine on a marble column, stands on land that was originally a farm granted to Founding Father Thomas Paine after the American Revolution. It was erected in recognition of his pivotal role in shaping democracy in America and bears inscriptions with inspiring quotations from his writings.
The restoration work involved cleaning, patching, and repointing of the masonry work and monument, as well as re-furbishing the original iron fence.
The restoration project began with a detailed evaluation by Jablonski Building Conservation for the development of technical specifications and restoration procedures for the monument materials. Aegis Restauro was awarded the restoration contract following a competitive bidding process with stringent qualification requirements, and the City of New Rochelle Department of Public Works/Engineering Department managed the project, which was satisfactorily completed on schedule and on budget.
City Council Member Sara Kaye said, “We are pleased that our City and our community have joined together to preserve this and other significant historical sites that add substantially to the quality of life here in New Rochelle.”
The Monument is adjacent to the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum (1784) and the Thomas Paine Memorial Building (1925), both historical landmarks with exhibits about Paine and his legacy, open to the public by appointment and at announced times.
In November 2022, City officials joined members of the Huguenot and New Rochelle Historical Association and the Thomas Paine National Historical Association to celebrate the project.
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