Statue of Author E.L. Doctorow Dedicated at Huguenot Park

On Sunday, October 22nd a crowd gathered at Huguenot Park in New Rochelle to dedicate a new bronze statue of E.L. Doctorow, one of the most important authors of the 20th century. The author’s wife Helen Doctorow and members of their extended family joined sculptor Derek Chalfant, local dignitaries and members of the Doctorow Legacy Initiative committee to celebrate the new public art.

Emcee Theresa Kump Leghorn, President of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, introduced the New Rochelle High School Chorale (under the direction of Sara Mae Lagasca) who performed “Make Them Hear You” from the musical version of Ragtime, Doctorow’s novel set in New Rochelle. The lyrics couldn’t have been more fitting, summing up the book’s central struggle and suggesting “Your sword could be a sermon/ Or the power of the pen.”

Among the speakers were Mayor Noam Bramson, who initiated the effort to honor Doctorow after the longtime New Rochelle resident passed away in 2015, and New York State Representative Amy Paulin, who secured the $125,000 grant from New York State that helped fund the work. Also thanked were Vincent Parise, New Rochelle’s Commissioner of Parks & Recreation and Paul Vacca, Commissioner of Buildings. Then Mrs. Doctorow stepped up to the podium to express her gratitude, followed by her son Richard who spoke about the family’s life in New Rochelle.

The site is on North Avenue near Forest Avenue, in front of New Rochelle High School, and was selected to echo the bronze statue of Huguenot settler Jacob Leisler that has stood at the base of Broadview Avenue since 1913. The new statue, which sits on a limestone base, was cast in bronze using the actual clothing and shoes of the author.

The statue is the result of years of work by the Doctorow Legacy Initiative committee, a group appointed by Mayor Bramson that included Mrs. Helen Doctorow and City Historian Barbara Davis as well as members of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts (Theresa Kump Leghorn and Billie Tucker) which acted as lead agency for the project, and representatives of the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence (Steve Silverman and Stephanie Tomei). After issuing an international RFP, and receiving proposals from as far away as Turkey and Spain, the committee ultimately selected sculptor Derek Chalfant for the task. The new public art was funded through generous donations from Mr. Doctorow's literary agent, publishing house, and family friends, as well as a $125,000 New York State grant secured by Assembly Member Amy Paulin.

The day began with City Historian Barbara Davis leading a historic trolley tour of the North End of New Rochelle (there were three 30-minute tours offered as part of ArtsFest weekend); the dedication event was followed by a Ragtime Jazz Brunch fundraiser at Wykagyl Country Club where acclaimed concert pianist (and New Rochelle native) Adam Kent performed selected ragtime tunes and professional dancers demonstrated the steps that accompanied the syncopated sounds of the music.

About E.L. Doctorow

Edgar Lawrence "E. L." Doctorow (Jan. 6, 1931 – July 21, 2015) was an author, editor, and professor, known internationally for his works of historical fiction, including Loon Lake, The Waterworks, The Book of Daniel, Welcome to Hard Times, The March and Ragtime (named one of the 100 Best Books of the 20th Century). Described as one of the most important American novelists of the 20th century, E.L. Doctorow was the recipient of numerous writing awards, including three National Book Critics Circle Awards (for Ragtime, Billy Bathgate, and The March), and the American Academy of Arts and Letter Gold Medal for Fiction. President Barack Obama called him “one of America’s greatest novelists.”