Washington Avenue Soldier's Monument and Triangle
Also known as: Washington Avenue Triangle and Monument
Why it's listed
At the junction of Washington and Lafayette Avenues in downtown Suffern, a small triangular lot holds two commemorative objects: a zinc statue of a First World War infantryman, dedicated on Memorial Day 1921, and a Revolutionary War-era cannon named "Independence," installed in 1908 after Charles E. Suffern gave it to the village. The statue shows a helmetless soldier in a defiant pose on a white-painted concrete pedestal, and was produced by the J.W. Fiske Iron Works of New York City. Its zinc was finished to imitate costlier bronze, which made such monuments affordable to towns. Bronze plaques on the pedestal honor local service in later wars, including World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The original rifle was stolen in 1968 and replaced with a cast copy in 1996. Local Memorial Day observances have been held at the triangle since 1921. The site also lies near places linked to Washington's and Rochambeau's troops during the Revolution.
Significance in brief: The monument records local recognition of Suffern residents who served in the First World War, and later plaques extend it to other wars. It is also significant for design as an intact example of a zinc statue made by the J.W. Fiske Iron Works of New York City. The cannon and triangle date to 1908, and the site has associations with Revolutionary War military activity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000646, listed July 26, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Washington Avenue Triangle (Jct. of Washington and Lafayette Aves.), Suffern |
|---|---|
| County | Rockland County |
| Listed | July 26, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000646 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1908-c. 1955 |
| Architect / builder | Statue: J.W. Fiske Iron Works, New York City |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Site hosts Suffern's annual Memorial Day observances; the statue's rifle is a 1996 replacement of one stolen in 1968. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.11490, -74.14980 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000646.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7971680
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.