CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Visitors passing by the southern entrance of the West Virginia State Capitol may notice a striking bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln, illuminated at night. What many don’t realize is the long and determined effort it took to bring this statue to its current location.
The statue, titled Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight, was created by Fairmont-born sculptor Fred Martin Torrey. Inspired by Vachel Lindsay’s 1914 poem of the same name, the artwork presents Lincoln as a solemn figure, deeply troubled by the state of the world. Though the original plaster model was crafted in 1933, it wasn’t until decades later that the vision became a reality in West Virginia.
The Journey of the Statue’s Creation
Despite being displayed at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York and Garfield Park in Chicago, the statue was never cast in bronze during Torrey’s lifetime due to financial constraints and limited interest. However, during West Virginia’s Centennial celebration in 1963, Charleston community leader Louise Bing pushed for a Lincoln tribute to honor his role in the state’s history. She reached out to Torrey, who was living in Des Moines, to inquire about acquiring the model.
Torrey agreed to donate the model if $40,000 could be raised for the project. In 1966, Summersville Mayor William Bryant attempted to negotiate its acquisition but lacked the necessary funds. After Torrey’s passing in 1967, Bryant purchased the model from the sculptor’s widow in 1969 for $5,000.
Also Read – Growing Safety Concerns Push Transgender West Virginians to Consider Leaving
Bringing the Statue to Life
Bing and Bryant joined forces with Walter Spring of Rivesville, J. Robert Nuzum of Charleston, and Helen Frankman of Fairmont to spearhead a fundraising effort. While students across the state contributed pennies, most of the funding came from the state legislature, private donations, and organizations like the West Virginia Humanities Council.
In 1973, Charleston artist Bernie Wiepper created a nine-foot model, which was then sent to the Sheidow Bronze Corporation in Kingwood for casting. The final 14-foot, 11-ton bronze statue was mounted on a granite pedestal and officially unveiled on West Virginia Day in 1974.
A Lasting Tribute
Governor Arch Moore ensured that the statue would be permanently illuminated, symbolizing the state’s hope for future generations. The pedestal surrounding the monument includes inscriptions detailing the statue’s origins, Lincoln’s significance to West Virginia, and acknowledgments of those who helped bring the project to completion.
The original plaster model, once displayed in the Governor’s Reception Room, now resides in the West Virginia State Museum, serving as a reminder of the dedication and effort that went into preserving Lincoln’s legacy in the Mountain State .