Complex sentence: The monument's foundation was laid during the winter of 1889 and the erection of the monument began in April 1890, but was delayed for nearly a month when several of the large granite pieces failed to arrive with the rest of the monument.
Split into simpler sentences: The monument's foundation was laid during the winter of 1889. The erection of the monument began in April 1890, but was delayed for nearly a month when several of the large granite pieces failed to arrive with the rest of the monument.