Haymarket Martyrs' Monument facts for kids
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Haymarket Martyrs' Monument
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Haymarket Martyrs' Monument in
Forest Home Cemetery |
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 Location in Greater Chicago
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| Location | The Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois. |
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| Built | Dedicated June 25, 1893 |
| Sculptor | Albert Weinert |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000343 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 18, 1997 |
| Designated NHL | February 18, 1997 |
The Haymarket Martyrs' Monument is a special sculpture found in Forest Home Cemetery. This cemetery is in Forest Park, Illinois, which is a town near Chicago. The monument was officially opened in 1893.
It was built to remember people involved in the Haymarket Affair of 1886. This event was about workers' rights and a bombing that happened during a protest. On February 18, 1997, the monument was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place.
History of the Monument
After the Haymarket Affair, several people involved were buried at German Waldheim Cemetery. These included August Spies, Adolph Fischer, George Engel, Louis Lingg, and Albert Parsons. This cemetery later joined with Forest Home Cemetery.
A group called the Pioneer Aid and Support Association helped raise money for a monument. In 1893, the Haymarket Martyrs' Monument was put up. It was created by a sculptor named Albert Weinert.
The monument is a tall granite shaft, about 16 feet high. It has a carved stone at the top. At its base, there's a bronze statue of a woman standing over a fallen worker.
The monument was officially opened on June 25, 1893, after a march from Chicago. The year "1887" is carved on the steps. This was the year the people were executed.
There is also a famous quote on the monument. It's from August Spies, said just before his execution: "The day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you are throttling today."
On the back of the monument, you can find the names of the men. At the very top, a bronze plaque has text from a pardon. This pardon was later given by the Illinois governor, John Peter Altgeld.
About 8,000 people came to the dedication ceremony. Union flags and the American flag were placed on the monument. Many groups from Europe and America sent flowers. Later, many other activists and labor leaders were buried nearby. Michael Schwab and Oscar Neebe were also buried at Waldheim. Only Samuel Fielden from the Haymarket group is not buried there. For many years, people held yearly events to remember the monument.
Since the 1970s, the Illinois Labor History Society has owned the monument. They are in charge of keeping it in good condition. They also offer guided tours of Forest Home Cemetery from May to October each year.
Searching for a Time Capsule
In October 2016, volunteers and scientists dug near the monument's base. They were looking for a lost time capsule. This capsule was buried under the monument's cornerstone on November 6, 1892, when it was being built.
During their search, they found an urn. It was made of stone or concrete and had a marble top. The urn was about 24 inches (62 cm) tall and 12 inches (30 cm) wide.
Records from the Pioneer Aid and Support Association list what the lost time capsule should contain. It is believed to have old newspaper articles and letters. There might also be photos of the men and their families.
Other items expected are trial papers and essays. Letters and statements from labor unions are also listed. It might even hold a statue of August Spies. The search for the time capsule is still happening.
The group that found the urn also discovered a smaller concrete cube. They think this might be a special container for the ashes of Oscar Neebe. He was one of the Haymarket people pardoned by Governor John Altgeld. Oscar Neebe passed away in 1916.
Gallery
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Utah Phillips speaking in May 1986. This was during events to remember the 100th anniversary of the Haymarket affair.
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A close-up view of the Haymarket Martyrs' Monument.
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An inscription at the base of the Haymarket Martyrs' Monument. It reads: "The day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you are throttling today."
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The back side of the Haymarket Martyrs' Monument.
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The National Historic Landmark plaque at the site of the Haymarket Martyrs' Monument. It was added in 1997.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a los mártires de Haymarket para niños
