Toronto World War I Momument
Also known as: Soldiers and Sailors
Why it's listed
Anchoring a small corner park in the Ohio River city of Toronto, this bronze World War I memorial shows three figures: a classical female figure representing Victory or Liberty, flanked by a soldier and a sailor in uniforms of the period. The statue stands 18 feet tall on an octagonal granite pedestal, with bronze plaques naming 300 local citizens who served and a dedicatory inscription. It was dedicated on November 11, 1919, before a crowd of nearly 15,000. Giuseppe Moretti, an Italian-born sculptor then living in Pittsburgh, designed it, and Roman Bronze Works of New York cast it. The nomination calls it one of the earliest WWI monuments in the United States and the second oldest free-standing one in Ohio. Its Beaux-Arts treatment differs from the widely repeated Doughboy statues. The monument was conserved in 2004, and the park around it was redesigned by community volunteers.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an early and important example of World War I commemorative art in Ohio (Criterion A). It is also significant for its association with the Italian-born sculptor Giuseppe Moretti (Criterion C). It is described as the second oldest free-standing WWI monument in Ohio, and its Beaux-Arts design differs from the common 'Doughboy' type.
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 04001116, listed October 7, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 208 Market St. at Third St., Toronto |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | October 7, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001116 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1919 |
| Architect / builder | Giuseppi Moretti - Sculptor, Pittsburgh; Roman Bronze Works, New York City |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival = Neo-Classical Revival (described in the text as Beaux-Arts) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Art |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in summer 2004 by the McKay Lodge Fine Arts Conservation Lab; the statue and base are unaltered since the 1919 dedication. The surrounding park was redesigned and is counted as non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.46560, -80.59970 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 04001116.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.