Palmerton installs statue just in time for nation’s birthday

In a town proud of its military history now stands a nearly 8-foot-tall bronze tribute to some of the areas earliest veterans, those of the Revolutionary War.

The “Sons of Liberty-1775” sculpture was lifted into place Wednesday morning outside the Palmerton Borough Police station, at the intersection of Fourth Street and Delaware Avenue.

“It represents our freedom and the dedication of the farmers around here who put down their pitchforks and went to war against what, at the time, was the strongest army in the world,” said Richard “Dick” Nothstein, who was instrumental in bringing the sculpture to Palmerton.

The sculpture was crafted by James Muir of Arizona, the same man who did the “Some Gave All” sculpture at the Palmerton Veterans Memorial. It was cast in Washington or Oregon, Nothstein said, and was most recently at an art gallery in Texas. Nothstein didn’t hesitate when he had the chance to give it a home in Palmerton.

“Our town wasn’t in existence back then, but there were settlers here,” Nothstein said. “We had 12 guys from the area who went off to war. This really represents an awful lot of things including spirit of the early American. Our town and our county has had men and women who served in every conflict since then giving their lives and their time.”

According to James Muir’s website, the sculpture depicts a typical Colonial Militia citizen-soldier on that date, the original “Patriots’ Day” of April 19, 1775. The sculpture is historically authentic in every regard as to arms, accoutrements, clothing and hairstyle. He is carrying a captured 42-inch barrel “Short Land” Model 1740 British Musket adopted in 1765 to replace the earlier 46-inch first model “Long Land” or “Brown Bess.” Powder and ball were carried either in a powder horn and pouch or preferably, as depicted, in the more military cartridge box in the form of pre-made paper or linen cartridges. A vent pick and frizzen brush hang from his vest.

After being delivered to Palmerton in May 2018, the monument was delivered from Country Harvest to the site Wednesday by forklift courtesy of Bernie Shea. It was then lifted onto the concrete pad and secured into place by Dave and Todd Wentz.

For Nothstein, the sculpture hits home.

“Our relative, Peter Nothstein, served from 1780-83, and he gave it his all,” Nothstein said. “Everyone who served did. They were all poor back then. There were no rich guys around.”

Nothstein said he hopes to add a plaque with the names of the 12 men from the area who fought in the war.

The Palmerton United Veterans Organization will host a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. July 4 at the site of the sculpture.