Anyone who has traveled through the town of Ashland, Pennsylvania, in Schuylkill County, has undoubtedly seen the statue of Whistler’s Mother sitting prominently on a hill at the intersection of Routes 61 and 54. Here’s a little background on the subject of the statue, before we share how and why it overlooks the town.

American-born painter James McNeil Whistler created the painting in 1871, with his mother Anna McNeil Whistler posing for the oil on canvas while living with her son in London.

The symbol of motherhood in Schuylkill County is said to be the only one of its kind in the United States. According to information from the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Office:

“The Ashland Boys’ Association (A.B.A.), an organization of men and boys born in Ashland, raised the funds for the fabrication and erection of this monument in 1938. 

The A.B.A. was formed in the early 20^th century in response to the widespread job loss and dispersion of coal miners as mines began to fail. It was a homecoming organization that welcomed former Ashland residents back to their hometown. Men from all parts of Pennsylvania, as well as several other states, participated in these annual celebrations. The A.B.A. was the archetype of a poignant Pennsylvania story: how successive waves of industrialization and economic development create then destroy industries and communities, leaving large groups of people longing for the associations and comforts of family, friends, and home. The Mother’s Memorial stands as a symbol of this sentiment. 

At an A.B.A. reunion in 1933, it was proposed to honor all Ashland mothers by erecting a monument or memorial. Members felt that such a memorial would represent the very foundation of the organization, because their motto was, “Come on home,” and home evoked thoughts of one’s mother. A committee was formed in 1936 to investigate and plan the memorial. Some A.B.A. members, as well as many residents of the town, advocated the establishment of a library instead, but the memorial was decided upon and eventually gained the full support of the organization and the town.

The idea of commissioning a sculpture based on the painting known as “Whistler’s Mother” was a unique one. The A.B.A. responded enthusiastically and raised over $6000.00 for the project. The completed Ashland monument was made of bronze and placed atop an impressive stonework terrace built by the WPA in 1938. It was dedicated by two of Ashland’s oldest mothers, ages 81 and 88, on September 4, 1938. The three-ton, seven-foot-high three-dimensional sculpture was designed by Emil Siebern and sculpted by Julius Loester. Although they did not routinely work together, both participated in several projects overseen by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). 

Carved into Whistler’s Mother's pedestal, a line from poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge:  

"A Mother is the Holiest Thing Alive."