--A Granite Reminder-- On Wednesday, October 25, 1905 at 2:00 p.m.-one hundred and nine years ago this month-veterans of the Battle of New Market met on the old field to unveil a brand new monument dedicated to the memory of the fallen members of the 54th Pennsylvania Infantry. The monument was impressive in both design and stature. It was created by J. L. Smith of Johnstown, PA and cost $2,500, $2,000 of which was provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was made of Barre dark gray granite and towers to a height of 17 feet. The bottom base footprint measures 7 feet square and the expertely rendered soldier figure at parade rest measures 6 feet, 6 inches tall. All in all it weighs in at 36,000 pounds or 18 tons. The unveiling ceremony on the 25th was hampered by continous rains. Even so, 500 people were in attendance including 33 members of the 54 PVI, members of the 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry and New Market Cadets, Peter Roller and James S. Larrick. This small piece of real estate remained the property of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania until it and monument was transferred to the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park on September 16, 1984. The park continues to maintain the monument today. Images: The first image is a conceptual drawing of the monument from the October 26, 1905, Shenandoah Valley newspaper. The second image shows Mr. Jacob E. Bushong and friend at the monument in the late 1920s. The third, fourth and fifth images show the monument today. The final image shows a ribbon from the 1905 Reunion of the 54th PVI
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:47:40 +0000
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