Enoch Tanner Wickham
Encyclopedia
Enoch Tanner Wickham 1882–1970, was a self-taught folk artist who built life-size concrete statues along a rural road in Palmyra, Tennessee
. Wickham began his creations in 1950 at the age of 67 after retiring from being a tobacco farmer and raising nine children.
The first statue Wickham built was of the Blessed Virgin Mary crushing a snake under her feet. More statues followed of Tecumseh
the Indian Chief, and of World War I
hero Alvin York
. In 1961 Wickham built an equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson
. One of his largest statues was a Memorial to honor his son Ernest Wickham and other local soldiers of Montgomery County, Tennessee
who died in World War II
. Wickham continued building statues until his death in 1970. By that time, he had built over forty statues using only simple materials of chicken wire, rebar and concrete.
In 2001 the Customs House Museum in Clarksville, Tennessee
had a year long exhibition of his work.
Today some of the statues still stand along Buck Smith Road in Palmyra in spite of much aging and vandalism. The statues of Alvin York
and the sleeping dog have been restored and are displayed in the Trahern Art building at Austin Peay State University
in Clarksville, Tennessee
. Another statue of a kneeling soldier is located outside Soldier's Chapel in nearby Fort Campbell, Kentucky
.
Palmyra, Tennessee
Palmyra is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States. It is located along State Route 149 southwest of Clarksville. The town has its own post office with the ZIP Code of 37142. Palmyra has a rich civil war history where MAJ GEN Joseph Wheeler of the Confederate army...
. Wickham began his creations in 1950 at the age of 67 after retiring from being a tobacco farmer and raising nine children.
The first statue Wickham built was of the Blessed Virgin Mary crushing a snake under her feet. More statues followed of Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
the Indian Chief, and of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
hero Alvin York
Alvin York
Alvin Cullum York was one of the most decorated American soldiers in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others...
. In 1961 Wickham built an equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. One of his largest statues was a Memorial to honor his son Ernest Wickham and other local soldiers of Montgomery County, Tennessee
Montgomery County, Tennessee
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The county seat is Clarksville. The population was 172,331 at the 2010 census. It is one of the four counties included in the Clarksville, TN–KY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
who died in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Wickham continued building statues until his death in 1970. By that time, he had built over forty statues using only simple materials of chicken wire, rebar and concrete.
In 2001 the Customs House Museum in Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and the fifth largest city in the state. The population was 132,929 in 2010 United States Census...
had a year long exhibition of his work.
Today some of the statues still stand along Buck Smith Road in Palmyra in spite of much aging and vandalism. The statues of Alvin York
Alvin York
Alvin Cullum York was one of the most decorated American soldiers in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others...
and the sleeping dog have been restored and are displayed in the Trahern Art building at Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public university located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and operated by the Tennessee Board of Regents. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools .-History:...
in Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and the fifth largest city in the state. The population was 132,929 in 2010 United States Census...
. Another statue of a kneeling soldier is located outside Soldier's Chapel in nearby Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
.