The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-05-26
In Memory
OF Soldiers of 1875 Who Sleep In I'm
known Graves.

OF Soldiers of 1875 who Sleep In I'm
known Graves.
The monument erected by Russell
Post, G. A. r. on the soldiers lot in the
South cemetery in this town is not a
soldiers monument in the usual sense.
1t is simply an unpretentious stone
erected in memory of those who went
out from our town during the war of
lS6l-5 to serve their country, who died
from wounds or disease and whose re-
mains rest in unknown graves.
1t is usual in Maine towns for the pub
lie, the citizens as whole, to erect a
fitting monument upon which are in
scribed the names of all the soldiers and
sailors who entered the service from that
town, testimonial of the public to the
patriotism of these soldiers and recogni-
tion of their sacrifices and services.
This is proper and commendable in
citizens of any town.
In our town instead of erecting a
monument in public place a memorial
room was set apart in our public library,
where memorial window, and bronze
tablets bearing the names of all the
soldiers and sailors who went out from
our town, were placed to record in an
imperishable form, the names of our
townsmen who served their country in
time of great emergency.
This modest memorial shaft recently
erected in the South cemetery is of
chaste and pleasing design. The specif-
cations were made by Z. w. Marble of
the firm, Baker & Marble of this town,
who was very helpful to the committee,
because of his large experience his artistic
taste and skill and his excellent Judge
ment in this line of work. He made the
design, securing the true artistic proper
tions, gave valuable information and
made valuable suggestions to the COM
mittee and declined to receive compen.
sation for his time or his skill. The COM
mittee feel under great obligation to him
for his generosity, and well they may.
The base of the monument is composed
of the best Dodlin granite, four feet
square, one foot five inches high eight
cut work. The second base is three feet
square of Dodlin granite, one foot two
inches high, ten cut work. The die is
two feet three inches square at the base,
four feet ten inches high, of extra, dark
Quincy granite, best quality, free from
any defect. The four sides of this die
are polished and traced with emblems on
each side, viz; muskets, sabres, cannons
and anchor. The lettering on the front
or southerly side is cut in sunken letters
and is as follows:
RUSSELL Posi- G.. A. II.
TO THE
SOLDIERS OF SKOWHEGAN
1S6l--1S65
WHO SLEEP
IN UNKNOWN GRAVES.
The die as described above is sur
mounted by a polished sphere one foot
and ten inches in diameter cut out of the
best Quincy granite. The lot is graded
with an elevated section in the center
around the structure to correspond with
the shape of the base and at each of the
four corners of the lot are granite posts,
surmounted by 10 inch spherical shells,
to correspond in design to the ball upon
the apex of the die.
The contractor for the erection Of the
monument was Mr.. c. X, Miller of Nor.
ridgewock, the work is pronounced
thorough and substantial in every par
ticular, and Russell Post is TO be con.
graduated upon securing a structure sc
beautiful and enduring.