2010 04 14 Sullivan County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Background Info
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Transcript of 2010 04 14 Sullivan County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Background Info
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Phone: (845) 323-9612PO BOX 706 | 27 fisk avenue
MONTICELLO, New york 12701HISTORY.TOMRUE.NET | [email protected]
SULLIVAN COUNTY SOLDIERS &SAILORS MONUMENT
In joes park, Broadway, MONTICELLO, NEW YORK
The Sullivan County Soldiers and Sailors Monument was unveiled on October
6, 1896 at the corner of Jefferson Street an Broadway, on a small plot called"Memorial Park" next to what is today the Ted Stroebele Neighborhood
Facility. I came across a photo at the archives of the Sullivan County
Historical Society in Hurleyville taken at that ceremony. The following menwere pictured on the grandstand: Captain J.T. Anderson (lower left); GeorgeFraser, County Clerk; Colonel Fred Grant (oldest son of President Ulysses S.
Grant); and retired County Court Judge Timothy Bush.County-wide fund-raising efforts (including collecting spare change from children in public
schools) and construction of Monticello's second similar soldiers monument were led by Mary
Bush, the judge's wife. (The first was completed two years before, in the courthouse "park" atBroadway and Bank Street, it the initiative of Pluma A. Niven, wife of Thornton A. Niven,
Supervisor of the Town of Thompson and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.)Erected by the Sullivan County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Association, Incorporated,
this granite sentry guarded Monticello's Memorial Park at corner of Jefferson Street from 1896to 1972, as part of Urban Renewal that destroyed much of the northwestern end of Monticelloto make room for buildings like the County Government Center, Neighborhood Facility, and
low income housing. It was moved to a more obscure location about a half block to the eastby Irv Feinstein's (now Michael Feinstein's) Sullivan County Monument Works for $3,500. Thecost of the monument in 1896 was $2,500.
Unfortunately, when it was moved, the middle and bottom inscriptions were improperly
oriented in 1972 and remain so today, as described here: On the southern exposure the monument reads, Erected by the Sullivan County Ladies
Soldier and Sailor Monument Association, over the dates "1861-1865". This panelshould be dated 1896.
On the western exposure, "In honor of the men and women of Sullivan County whoserved in the World War no date appears." This panel ought to be associated with the
years 1917-1918. On the northern exposure, "In memorial of gratitude and love, dedicated October
6th,". The pedestal should say "1896" here, not "1917-1918". The eastern exposure pays tributes to veterans of the American Civil War over the
year 1896. The date should say 1861-1865.Once the pedestal of the monument has been turned so it correctly matches the engraved
panels on the base of the obelisk, we have a growing group of volunteers willing to donatetime to plant flowers, shrubs, and otherwise beautify the small park to add some much
needed vitality and beauty to Broadway.Those of you who are on Facebook may search for "Memorial Park (now "Joe's Park") in
Monticello, New York" and join the group for informational updates, photos and occasional
video. If you wish, you are welcome to call Tom Rue at 845.323.9612.
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8/9/2019 2010 04 14 Sullivan County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Background Info
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Phone: (845) 323-9612PO BOX 706 | 27 fisk avenue
MONTICELLO, New york 12701HISTORY.TOMRUE.NET | [email protected]
