Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-12
SOLDIERS MONUMENT HISTORY.
Something That Many do not Know and
Remembered by but Few.

Editors of the kennebec Journal:
The present state of war will recall the
terrible days of the war of the rebellion
when battle was on and victory hung n
the balance. when care for the sick and
the wounded and honoring the dead was
the duty and desire of all the living. that
Il few of our patriotic citizens inaueur-
ated plan to procure funds for the cree
ton of Il suitable monument to perpetratc
the memory of our dead soldiers.
The following facts, copied from the re
cords of the WaterVille soldiers Monu-
ment Association. viii interest those who
We're living then: should interest the
young. to whom they are new. and prove
of value to the future historian of our
city
Thousands of people cross our little
monument park: hundreds of pupils have
been fitted for college within sight of the
bronze soldier from whom the park takes
its name, and how often the inquiry has
been repeated: Who designed this monu-
ment? how as it built?
Forgetting the details myself. | have for
many months been trying to refresh my
memory by inquiry and reference to re-
cords without success, until within a
week | found the records of the associa-
ton which built it in the hands of +. L.
Getchell. Esq, to whom ! am indebted
for the following facts:
On the evening of the 18th of March.
1864, concert was given in this village.
the proceeds of which, ny previous an
nouncement. We're to hc donated in aid of
erecting a suitable monument 10 the
memory of our soldiers who had fallen in
defence of the Union. or who should
thereafter lose their lives in the same
holy service
The names of these performers. which
all will agree should appear upon the
first page of this record, were
Mrs. j. f. Dow. Miss G. NJ. Barney.
Miss f. Piper. Miss A. NJ Bates. Miss l..
S. Carroll, Miss H. g. Marston, Miss S.
f. Ransted. Mr.. VIM. \. Caffrey. Mr. ].
ID - NJ
Phillips.
During the ntermission. a proposition
to form permanent organization for the
more speedy and certain accomplishment
of the work was introduced: and after
some explanations and discussion, a com
mittee was chosen to prepare IL plan OF
organizatio to he submitted at a flu
ture meeting. with a list of officers &c.
The following gentlemen We're put upon
this committee: j. Nye J. B. Foster. G.
A. Phillips. L. G. Meader, and &. NJ.
Morse.
A second concert IN aid of this object
was given by the same individuals on the
evening of the 23d of the same month. at
which time the committee named above
reported the following constitution. which
was unanimously adopted. The following
list of candidates was also presented,
and after the adoption of the constitu-
ton, they were chosen to the several Of
fees for which they We're severally desig-
mated.
G. "A. fnlliipS. president. w m. "A. cam
rey vice president: Daniel r. Wing sec
rotary; Geo. l., Robinson, treasurer:
Jones r. Eden E. G.. Meader, c. NJ.
Morse. trustees.
Art. 2 of the constitution reads as fol-
lows.
THE object of this Association shall be
to procure the erection. at such time and
in such place within the town as shall
hereafter be designated, of a suitable
monument in honor of those of our fell
loW-citzens. residents of Waterviile VINO
shall have died in the military or naval
service of the United States during the
present war.
Appended to the constitution are the
names of 231 persons.
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING FOR
CHOICE OF OFFICERS, ETC.
On the evening of the 9th of November
1865. d concert in aid of the Soldiers Mon
umcnt Association was given at the town
hall in Waterville by the following per-
sons:
Miss l.. S. Carroll. Miss f. Piper. Miss
H. c. Marston, Mrs. Blanchard. Mr. G.