Minuteman Statue - Historic Connecticut monument featured on episode No.1050/179 "The Ricardo's Dedicate a Statue" on the sitcom I LOVE LUCY/CBS/1951-61.

After Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) moved to the town of Westport, Connecticut, Lucy accidentally breaks the town's new stone "Minuteman" statue of a patriot kneeling with a musket. Attempting to cover up her blunder, Lucy pretended to be the statue herself.

The episode begins as the local historical society commissions a sculptor named Mr. Silvestri to create a "Minuteman" statue for an upcoming town Yankee Doodle Day pageant celebrating the town's Revolutionary War heroes.

Lucy, a member of the historical society is responsible for transporting the statue to the event. The statue rests in a trailer behind her Ford station wagon and is all ready to be delivered. But when Lucy's little boy Ricky, Jr. says that his dog Fred has run away, Lucy jumps into the car and speeds down the road in search of the pup.

Unfortunately, the sudden acceleration of the car causes the statue to topple out of the trailer and shatter on the ground. Frantic to get a replacement, Lucy calls Mr. Silvestri who is puzzled why Lucy needs another statue. Thinking quickly Lucy replies "Why? …Well, Westport is growing and may become twin cities like Minnepaul and St. Apolis."

But despite Lucy's pleas, Mr. Silvestri can't deliver another statue for at least two weeks, and so Lucy comes up with a solution of her own. Of course, in true Lucy style, her attempt to impersonate the statue fails hilariously after Fred the dog licks her face and she begins to laugh.

TRIVIA NOTE: The prop statue used on Episode No. 179 was designed by Silvestri Studios in Los Angeles.

The real "Minuteman" statue mentioned in the script is located at Compo Beach in Westport, Connecticut on Campo Beach Road near Compo Hill, and commemorates the famous clash between the Continental Army Minutemen and the British Troops.

The Westport Minute Man statue was created by Harry Daniel Webster and dedicated in 1910 (it's image is now part of the Westport flag created in 1985).

There are two other famous "Minuteman" statues in New England. The first is located in Lexington. Created by Henry Kitson, the statue portrays Captain Parker, the leader of the Lexington Militia on the morning of April 19, 1995 as he stood on the Battle Green as the British approached.

His now famous words to his 130 men instruct "Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

The second "Minuteman" statue stands in Concord Massachusetts. It was created by Daniel Chester French who later sculpted the famous Lincoln statue in Washington, DC.

Episode No. 179 (aired May 6, 1957) marked the first time the real Desi Arnaz, Jr. was seen. He appeared in the dedication ceremony crowd in the second act. Lucie Arnaz was not seen, however.