Founders Memorial

The Founders Memorial was erected in the Common in 1930. Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Boston, a bas relief by John F. Paramino sits on a large frame, designed by Charles A. Coolidge. The memorial depicts the city's first Enlgish resident, Wiliam Blackstone welcoming John Winthrop's party to Shawmut peninsula, as allegorical figures look on. Without any visual evidence in existence for Blackstone, Paramino used Mayor Curely as the model.

On the reverse side of the monument, facing Beacon Street, Paramino inscribed a selection from John Winthrop's lay sermon on "Christian Charity" and a quotation from William Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation:

For we must consider that we shall be as a City upon a hill the lies of all people are are uppon us soe that if wee shall deale falsely with our God in this worke we have undertaken. Wee shall be made a story and a by-word through the world--John Winthrop on board the Arbella, 1630

Thus out of smalle beginnings greater shings have been produced by His Hand that made all things out of nothing...and as one small candle may light a thousand so the light here kindled hath shone to many yea in some sorte to our whole nation--Wiliam Bradford at Charles-towne, 1630

In graditude to God for the blessings enjoyed under a free government, the City of Boston has erected this memorial on the three hundredth anniversary of its founding--September 17th, 1630-1930

Photo 78, July 2012

Founders Memorial

Photo 79, July 2012

Founders Memorial

Photo 32b, July 2012

Founders Memorial, back side

Photo 33b, July 2012