Confederate Memorial in Mayfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Confederate Memorial in Mayfield
|
|
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Courthouse lawn, Mayfield, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Built | 1920 |
| Architect | McNeal Marble Co., Marietta, GA |
| MPS | Civil War Monuments of Kentucky MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000697 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1997 |
The Confederate Memorial in Mayfield is a special monument and fountain in downtown Mayfield, Kentucky. It stands on the lawn of the courthouse. This memorial helps us remember a time in history.
Mayfield and the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the town of Mayfield strongly supported the Confederate States of America. The Civil War was a big conflict in the United States from 1861 to 1865. It was fought between the Union (Northern states) and the Confederacy (Southern states).
In May 1861, leaders from seven counties in western Kentucky and twenty counties in western Tennessee met in Mayfield. They talked about creating a new state that would join the Confederacy. However, this idea was stopped when Tennessee decided to leave the United States on June 8, 1861.
Later, in 1864, Union soldiers took control of Mayfield. They made the people living there help strengthen the courthouse. Sadly, the courthouse was destroyed later that same year. The courthouse you see behind the memorial today was built much later, in 1889.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The Mayfield chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy helped get this fountain. This group works to honor the memory of Confederate soldiers. They bought the fountain in 1917 from the McNeal Marble Company. It cost them $1,650 back then.
The memorial is a tall, thin structure called an obelisk. It is about 10 feet (3 meters) tall. It used to be a fountain, but water no longer flows from it. The obelisk has two "wings" that stick out, and these wings also serve as benches where people can sit.
At the ends of these wings are two light posts, each about 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall. These posts are about eight feet away from the center obelisk. The post on the north side has the year 1861 carved into it. The post on the south side has the year 1865. These years mark the beginning and end of the Civil War. At the very top of the center obelisk, you can see three different Confederate flags. They are made of copper and stand out from the stone.
A Historic Landmark
On July 17, 1997, the Confederate Memorial in Mayfield was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is an official list kept by the United States government. It includes important buildings, sites, and objects that are worth preserving. The memorial was one of 61 Civil War monuments in Kentucky to be added to this list at that time.
It is part of a larger group called the Civil War Monuments of Kentucky. Another monument on this list, the Confederate Memorial Gates in Mayfield, is also nearby. It is located in Maplewood Cemetery, just north of downtown Mayfield. Other monuments on the list that are also fountains include the Confederate Monument of Cadiz and the Confederate Memorial Fountain in Hopkinsville.
