Whether you are new in town or a life-long resident, you have probably heard about Enterprise’s Boll Weevil Monument. Listed below are some answers to questions about Enterprise’s crown jewel, and everyone’s favorite monument dedicated to a pest.
Questions and Answers:
1. Where is it located?
The Boll Weevil Monument is located in downtown Enterprise at the intersection of College and Main Street.
2. How tall is it?
The monument stands more than 13 feet tall.
3. When was the monument dedicated?
The Boll Weevil Monument was dedicated on Dec. 11, 1919. It is almost 100 years old.
4. Who decided to create a monument dedicated to a pest?
Enterprise City Councilman Roscoe Owen “Bon” Fleming proposed the idea in 1919.
5. Where was the sculpture made?
The marble sculpture was made in Italy, but the current polymer-resin replica, erected in 1998, stands in downtown Enterprise.
6. Did the monument always have a fountain?
The original monument had a fountain that sprayed water from the structure’s hands, but was replaced with a sculpture of a boll weevil in 1948. The monument has been changed various times throughout the years.
7. Why is it dedicated to an insect?
The monument’s inscription reads, “In profound appreciation of the boll weevil and what it has done as the herald of prosperity this monument was erected by the citizens of Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama. The boll weevil is responsible for forcing farmers to switch from cotton to peanuts, which brought prosperity to the area after a great time of hardship.
8. Is the monument on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes, it was placed on the register on April 26, 1973.
9. Has the monument ever been vandalized?
Yes, many times, in fact, the original monument is located in the Enterprise Depot Museum.
10. What is a boll weevil?
The scientific name of a boll weevil is anthonomus grandis. It is
native to Mexico and lives almost exclusively on cotton plants.
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