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QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — While the City of Quincy was under renovation a landmark was removed from downtown, now, an online movement from residents calls for its return.
The petition, created by Kate Campbell, called for the statue of Abigail Adams to come back to Quincy Center, and has over four hundred signatures at the time of posting.
"There is no debate on the facts," Campbell said, "Abigail played an important role as an early advocate for women's rights, was a vital advisor to her husband, President John Adams, opposed slavery and supported women's education."
The petition went on to address Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, asking that the memorial to Adams be brought back so that tourists and residents may admire her. The Mayor's Chief of Staff Christopher Walker told WBZ's Chris Fama that the statue is tucked away in storage and will be brought back, but not to its original location at Hancock-Adams Common in Quincy Center.
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After officials renovated Hancock-Adams Common near City Hall, the statues of Abigail Adams and her son did not reappear.
"The original design for the park included those statues, the private group that commissioned them asked the City not to include them in the final design of the park, and most recently requested that the statues be located at Merrymount Park- it's a great, prominent spot where the Adams' story can be told in a little bit greater detail," Walker said.
Instead, statues of Adams' husband and second United States' president, John Adams and former president of the Continental Congress, John Hancock stand over Hancock-Adams Common's north and south entrances.
Petitioners argued that Merrymount Park does not get as much foot traffic, and therefore the Abigail Adams statue would not get the same amount of recognition that it did in its original location. Despite the poor Saturday weather, protestors against the monument's new location stood outside United First Parish Church, holding signs that read "Where is Abigail?" and "Return the statue."
"She was a pioneer in the building of our republic and our City, she was one of the first women in our country who stood up for women's rights, education for women, and even the abolition of slavery- she should be here, where she was. We're not going away," said Emily Lebo of the Quincy School Committee.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports.
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