Hail to the Sunrise
Hail to the Sunrise is the name of a monument in Charlemont, Massachusetts, United States. The monument features a prominent statue of a Mohawk Indian and the Max Eninger Memorial Pool. Completed in 1932, it is a major feature of Mohawk Park, a roadside park located beside Massachusetts Route 2, the Mohawk Trail.[1]
| 42°38′23.14″N 72°54′47.85″W / 42.6397611°N 72.9132917°W | |
| Location | Mohawk Park, Charlemont, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Designer | Joseph Pollia |
| Material | Bronze |
| Completion date | 1932 |
| Dedicated to | The Mohawk nations of Massachusetts and New York |
The bronze statue depicts a Native American man in traditional wardrobe looking eastward with his arms extended. He faces the direction of the rising sun and is said to be greeting the Great Spirit. The casting stands upon a large boulder. A tablet in the shape of an arrowhead at the base of the statue reads: "Hail to the Sunrise - In Memory of the Mohawk Indian." The pool is lined with 100 inscribed stones from various tribes and councils of the Improved Order of Red Men (the oldest fraternal organization to be granted a charter by congress) and Degree of Pocahontas (women's auiliary) from throughout the United States.
Stones of past and present members of the Improved Order of Red Men and Degree of Pocahontas line the walkway around the pool.
History edit
The statue was created by sculptor Joseph Pollia and revealed on October 1, 1932.[2] More than 2,000 people attended the ceremony. The monument honors the peoples of the five Mohawk Nations that inhabited western Massachusetts and New York State.[3] The Mohawks that traveled this trail were said to be friendly to white settlers.
Today the monument serves as a reminder of the area's Native American heritage. The grounds are open to the public and many travelers find this to be a welcoming stop along the scenic highway.
The park also serves as the site of an annual parade and ceremony hosted by the Improved Order of Red Men and Degree of Pocahontas the first weekend of September each year.[1]
See also edit
- Appeal to the Great Spirit, 1908 statue
References edit
- ^ a b Button, Margaret (July 29, 2014). "Uncovering the Mohawk Trail's treasures". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ Campanile, Robert (2007). Mohawk Trail p. 126. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-5007-7.
- ^ Green, Stewart M. (2012). Scenic Routes & Byways New England pp. 109-110. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7627-8950-4.
External links edit
- Berkshireweb.com: Mohawk Trail 2012-05-28 at the Wayback Machine
- Scenicusa.net: Mohawk Trail 2011-09-17 at the Wayback Machine