Samuel Colt Monument

So who do you think are the most famous people that ever lived in Hartford? Mark Twain? Yes, of course. Noah Webster? Sure.
Well how about Samuel Colt? He was one of America’s greatest inventors and pioneered the use of interchangeable parts in manufacturing. His career as a gun manufacturer was jump-​started in 1847 when the Texas Rangers ordered 1,000 of his revolvers for the Mexican War. Fifteen years later, he was selling guns to both the North and South in America’s Civil War.
This impressive and very unique monument is located at an entrance to Colt Park near the intersection of Wethersfield Avenue and Stonington Street. Why unique? Well, the monument includes two separate statues of Colt and a series of engraved wall panels.
The larger of the two statues depicts Colt as an older man. He is wearing a long coat and looks every bit the successful inventor.
A smaller statue depicts Colt as a young boy. He is whittling a piece of wood that looks remarkably like the chamber of a revolver.
The engraved panels on the back wall of the memorial show Colt and the Russian Czar and Colt at the British House of Commons.
Sadly, the memorial is in a distressed condition. The statues are pitting and deteriorating, as are the panels which are very hard to decipher.
There’s an inscription behind the statue of the elder Colt that reads:
Samuel Colt 1814 – 1862
On the grounds which his tastes beautified by the home he loved this memorial stands to speak of his genius, his enterprise and his success and of his great and loyal heart.“
His wife in faithful affection
dedicates this memorial
1905
The memorial was commissioned by Colt’s wife Elizabeth.
Had this memorial been in better condition, I would have given it 5 stars because of its unique nature, but its poor condition made me adjust the rating down to 4 stars.