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Journal and personal photograph of Dorchester Civil War Soldier, William A. Cowles, (1834–1905, served 1862–1864) from Umass Boston Archives, and Photograph of Army Sargent Daniel Londono, Killed in Action in Iraq War 2005, who also grew up in Dorchester, just outside of Edward Everett Square

In order to expand the artwork at Edward Everett Square to include the shared experiences of Dorchester residents over time, EES chairman John McColgan applied for, and received, funds from the City of Boston Grass Roots Open Space Program. These funds supported artist Laura Baring-Gould to create ten additional artworks, each representing a unique set of voices of Dorchester’s history and experience. This series of artworks was inspired by Baring-Gould’s research. One example: a day after reading the journal of William A Cowles, a soldier born in Dorchester whose final entry concludes with his arrival in South Station, Laura learned that Daniel Londono, resident of Edward Everett Square was killed in Action in Iraq. Baring-Gould drew on these parallel experiences to design an intimate still-life of dog tags which honored Dorchester citizens who served their country from the Revolutionary War to the present time. The quotes used on this piece are: “I don’t know as we shall ever go home again.” Soldier (Civil War), 1863 and “For the freedom of others his life was cut short.” Mother of Soldier (Iraq War), 2005

Images courtesy of the University Archives & Special Collections Department, Joseph P. Healey Library, University of Massachusetts Boston and the Patriot Ledger