Cheshire, Massachusetts - Cheshire Cheese Monument

The Cheshire Cheese Monument isn't really in honor of the Big Cheese but rather commemorates John Leland. The plaque on the monument calls him "Eloquent preacher, beloved pastor, influential patriot" and lists some of his accomplishments, concluding with "Carried every vote in Cheshire for the election of President Thomas Jefferson and presented to him on Jan. 1, 1802, in the presence of foreign diplomats, Supreme Court judges, and the Congress, The Big Cheshire Cheese weighing 1235 lbs."

But yes, as stated previously, the monument itself is a great big concrete cheese press. It's been there since 1940. [Dean Jeffrey, 09/22/2009]

[RA: And it's a good thing it's a big cheese press... or it would be completely ignored.]

A lovely commemoration of a truly big cheese. The Cheshire Cheese Monument, Cheshire, Massachusetts (Berkshires). It commemorates the making of a massive cheese which was shipped to the President of the United States, where it was displayed at the White House. While not the greatest to look at (a cast concrete cheese press), cheese-lovers may take heart that this monstrous cheese was so honored. [Ray Coffey, 07/31/1997]

[RA: The original cheese press produced a half-ton cheese which was sent to newly-elected President Thomas Jefferson in 1802! BTW, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is the name of a crusty London pub once frequented by Charles Dickens.]