Carmel-by-the-Sea World War I Memorial Arch

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Carmel World War I Memorial Arch
United States
Carmel Memorial Arch.jpg
Carmel World War I Memorial Arch
For Servicemen from Monterey peninsula killed in the First World War
Unveiled10 November 1921 (1921-11-10)
Location36°33′19″N 121°55′24″W / 36.55528°N 121.92333°W / 36.55528; -121.92333Coordinates: 36°33′19″N 121°55′24″W / 36.55528°N 121.92333°W / 36.55528; -121.92333
Intersection of Ocean Avenue and San Carlos Street

near 
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Designed byCharles Sumner Greene
This Memorial
Is Dedicated To The men Of
Carmel Who Responded to
Their Country's Call During
World War I
We salute them
Carmel American Legion
Post 512
1984

The Carmel-by-the-Sea World War I Memorial Arch is a World War I memorial designed in 1919 by architect Charles Sumner Greene and located at Ocean Avenue and San Carlos Street center median divider in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The Memorial Arch has been a historic landmark since November 1921, when it was built by Carmel World War I veterans. The Spanish Mission Revival style arch is constructed of Carmel sandstone.[1]

History[]

World War I Memorial Arch plaque.

The World War I Memorial Arch was designed by Charles Sumner Greene (1868-1957) and constructed at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and San Carlos Street in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The design generally resembles a bell tower of a California mission, the arch made of stone. A bronze bell was added in 1996 after Greene's death, which is suspended from a timber beam almost certainly carved by Charles Greene. Joseph McEldowney was a quarryman who helped source the stone for the memorial.[2] The cornerstone was laid on November 11, 1921, by Colonel John Jenkins of the 11th Cavalry and Navy veteran John Pryor of the American Legion at the Armistice Day celebration in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The arch was dedicated to “Those Who Served” in the First World War. Attorney J. H. Andresen spoke at the proceedings.[3][4] A plaque that Greene carved for the frame with the 61 names of people who served in the Army, Navy, and non-military service organizations such as the American Red Cross and YMCA, was originally displayed at city hall but never added.[5] Today, you can see a plaque that was installed in 1984, that reads: This Memorial is dedicated to the men of Carmel who responded to their country's call during World War I. We salute them.[6]

The arch is maintained by the nonprofit Friends of the Memorial Arch in cooperation with the Carmel's American Legion Post No. 512 and the City of Carmel-by-the-sea. For forty-four years the arch did not contain a bell. Harry J. Downie (1903-1980) donated the first Spanish-style bell, believed to date back to 1692, which was added to the memorial in 1966 to mark the city's 50th anniversary.[1] The arch was restored and redidcated on November 11, 1977.[7]

The American Legion Post No. 512 raised the money for a new bell that was more in keeping with the one that Greene had originally designed for the World War I Memorial Arch. The bronze bell was installed in 2016 to honor the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Carmel-by-the-Sea and dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016.[8] The old bell is stored at the Carmel library’s Henry Meade Williams Local History Room.[1]

On October 6, 2017, the U.S. United States World War I Centennial Commission chose the arch as one of 100 memorials across the country to receive a matching $2,000 grant for restoration work in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.[9][10]

Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day, an American Legion Post 512 member rings the commemorative bell at 11:00 a.m., at Ocean and San Carlos followed by an open house at Post 512 on Delores.[11][8]

See also[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Carmel-by-the-Sea World War I Memorial Arch". www.worldwar1centennial.org. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  2. ^ "City of Carmel War Memorial". gamblehouse.org. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  3. ^ "Local Man Chosen Armistice Day Orator". The Californian. Salinas, California. 10 Nov 1921. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  4. ^ "Big Observance Is Stage By Carmel Folk, Elaborate Ceremonies Mark Memorial Arch Cornerstone Laying". The Californian. Salinas, California. 12 Nov 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  5. ^ "A case for recognizing civilians' contributions during World War I" (PDF). Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel, California. 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  6. ^ Plaque inscription: Carmel American Legion, Post 512, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, 1984
  7. ^ Plaque that says: Restored And Redidcated November 11, 1977, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, November 11, 1977
  8. ^ a b Dramov, Alissandra (2019). Historic Buildings of Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Arcadia Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 9781467103039. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  9. ^ "Carmel-by-the-Sea World War I Memorial Arch selected for National recognition!". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea. 6 Nov 2017. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  10. ^ "U.S. World War One Centennial Commission and The Pritzker Military Museum and Library Announce the Final 50 "WWI CENTENNIAL MEMORIALS"". www.worldwar1centennial.org. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  11. ^ "11 Veteran's Day Ceremony". The Californian. Salinas, California. 8 Nov 2013. p. C30. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
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