Thomas K. Beecher - Elmira, NY
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 05.361 W 076° 48.494
18T E 350453 N 4661278
A statue of clergyman, educator, and abolitionist Thomas K. Beecher is located in Wisner Park on North Main Street in Elmira, NY
Waymark Code: WMQ936
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 01/13/2016
Views: 5
A 10' by 2.75' by 2.75' bronze statue of Thomas K. Beecher stands on a 6.75' by 6.5' by 6.5' polished tan stone base. The statue was created by Jonathan Scott Hartley, cast at the Gorman Manufacturing foundry and erected in 1901.
Thomas K. Beecher has a beard and moustache. He is wearing a knee-length six-button coat. Only the top two are buttoned. He is holding a book by his side in his left hand. His index finger is between the pages as a placeholder. His right hand is bent at the elbow at wist level and he is pointing forward with his index finger.
The front stone base is inscribed:
THOMAS K. BEECHER
1824-1900
The back stone base is inscribed:
ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS
OF ELMIRA 1901
Thomas Kinnicut Beecher was born in Litchfield, CT in 1824 to Lyman Beecher and Harriet Porter. He was one of thirteen children including Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe. He graduated college with a degree in Theology, was ordained at age 28, and began his preaching career in Brooklyn, NY. In 1854 Beecher moved Elmira, NY to become pastor of the Independent Congregational Church, now known as Park Church. Under the Rev. Thomas K. Beecher and his wife, Julia, the church developed a comprehensive education program that was based upon scripture, music, and various other topics not usually considered a part of religious education. While serving at Park Church he became close friends with Olivia Langdon Clemens and Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain.