Collyer Monument

The Collyer Monument is a memorial in Mineral Spring Park, Pawtucket, featuring a life-size bronze sculpture of a fire chief in full uniform standing on a granite pedestal. The figure is positioned at the intersection of Mineral Spring Avenue and Main Street and holds a period fire trumpet.

The monument was built in 1890 to honor Fire Chief Samuel Smith Collyer, who died in 1884 following an accident involving a horse-drawn hose carriage. Sculptor Charles Parker Dowler created the bronze work to commemorate the tragic incident and the dangers of firefighting.

The memorial reflects how the Pawtucket community honors its firefighters and the risks they face in their work. Visitors come to acknowledge the connection between local emergency services and the people they serve.

The memorial is located in a park at a busy street intersection and is easily accessible on foot. The granite base is sturdy and the bronze sculpture stands outdoors, so visiting on clear days makes the details most visible.

The people of Pawtucket funded this memorial entirely through community contributions, rather than relying on wealthy donors or official sources. This shows how deeply ordinary citizens valued the sacrifice of firefighting and took action to preserve his memory.

GPS coordinates: 41.87520,-71.39235

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:25