NITRO, W.Va. — Nitro officials and the Nitro Historic Commission broke ground Monday on a new Doughboy Memorial representing the city’s ties to World War I.
The 30-foot tall monument, located near interstate 64 before Exit 45, is aimed at raising awareness about the city’s founding during the war as a gunpowder production facility.
“We’re wanting to give travelers an idea of what is at the next exit,” said Rich Hively, the president of the Nitro Historic Commission.
The statute of a World War I soldier will be 15 feet in height. Local landscape architect Laura Cox designed the statute. The Nitro Historic Commission bought the property for building a statue, which is being supported financially by the Nitro City Council.
“Nitro has a unique history that none of the towns around us have,” Hively explained. “All the other towns are older than we are, but we’re just very unique in that we were formed for one specific purpose.”
Work on the statue is expected to be completed next spring.