Holly Hill in Volusia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Merci Box Car

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux

— Dedicated December 7, 1986 —

Merci Box Car Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

1. Merci Box Car Marker

Inscription.

Merci Box Car
— Arrived in America in 1949
— A token of appreciation from the people of France to the people of America
— Built between 1872 and 1885
— They were called 40 and 8's, carried either 40 men or 8 horses during WWI and WWII
— The plaques bear the coat of arms of the 40 Provinces of France

Erected 1986 by La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux • Joseph E. Tarr, Grand Chef de Gare du Florida • Leslie E. Truelock - Grand Correspondent • Donald Kill - Grand Directeur Box Car • Stuart Carpenter - Sous Grand Directeur Box Car.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Merci Train Boxcars series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1949.

Location. 29° 14.667′ N, 81° 2.41′ W. Marker is in Holly Hill, Florida, in Volusia County. Marker is on MacArthur Circle east of Ridgewood Avenue (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling north. The Merci Box Car is located on the grounds of the City of Holly Hill Municipal Complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1065 Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach FL 32117, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker

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, measured as the crow flies. Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Ross Point Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Smokey Yunick (approx. 1.2 miles away); Seabreeze United Church (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); Dr. Josie Rogers’ House (approx. 1.9 miles away); Andy Romano (approx. 2 miles away); Seabreeze High School (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Holly Hill.

Regarding Merci Box Car. This Merci Box Car is one of 49 such cars sent by France to the United States after WWII (one car for each state, and one shared by the District of Columbia and the Territory of Hawaii). The cars were filled with gifts of French wine, perfumes, art, bicycles, etc., and were sent in response to a similar "American Friendship Train" which delivered food, fuel, and clothing to France.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. The Forty and Eight. Website of La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (English: The Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses), an organization of American military veterans. (Submitted on August 24, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.)

The Merci Box Car image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

2. The Merci Box Car

The historical marker, facing the opposite side, is mounted on the post seen to the right of the box car.

2. Mercitrain.org website about the Florida Box Car. Includes photos of some of the paintings, now in private hands, donated by French citizens. (Submitted on February 11, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

3. The Merci Box Car

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

4. The Merci Box Car

Merci Box Car Coats of Arms image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

5. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of Bretagne (Brittany) and Chinon

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

6. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of La Marche, Flandres (Flanders), Corse (Corsica), and Artois

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

7. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of Orléanais, Comte Venaissin, Languedoc, and Vendée

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

8. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of Dauphiné, Champagne, Nivernais, and Saintonge

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

9. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of Provence, Roussillon, Limousin, and Franche-Comté

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

10. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

Signs depicting the Great Seal of the United States, and the arms of historically French Provinces of Lorraine, the Comté de Nice, and Poitou

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

11. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of Bourbonnais, Bourgogne (Burgundy), Guyenne, and Touraine, along with a sign showing the box car's capacity of 40 men or 8 horses

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

12. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of Navarre (now part of Spain), Lyonnais, Île-de-France, and Savoie (Savoy)

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

13. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of Berry, the Comté de Foix, the Duché de Normandie (Duchy of Normandy), Gascogne (Gascony), and Béarn

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

14. Merci Box Car Coats of Arms

The arms of historically French Provinces of Aunis, Fully (now part of Switzerland), Auvergne, Picardie (Picardy), and Alsace, along with an emblem reading "Train de la Reconnaissance Francaise au Peuple Americain" (Train of French Gratitude to the American People)

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

15. The Merci Box Car

One end of the car, with an 40 & 8 emblem showing its capacity

Merci Box Car Rededication Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, August 15, 2010

16. Merci Box Car Rededication Plaque

The monument was rededicated on March 29, 2008.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,696 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 23, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. submitted on August 24, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.