Soldiers' Monument in Bristol, Connecticut facts for kids
The Soldiers' Monument is a special memorial in Bristol, Connecticut. It stands tall on a hill in the city's West Cemetery. This monument looks like a tall, thin pillar called an obelisk, with a cool brownstone eagle on top. It was built to remember the brave people from Bristol who fought and died for their country. There's also another marker nearby that honors veterans from other wars.
The monument has four sides, and each side remembers different people and battles from the American Civil War.
- The east side lists 14 Bristol residents who died and mentions the Battle of Antietam.
- The north side lists 13 residents who died as prisoners of war, and two who were lost at sea. It also mentions the battles of Fredericksburg and Plymouth.
- The west side lists 13 names and the battles of Fort Wagner and Irish Bend.
- The south side lists 12 names and the battles of Gettysburg and New Bern.
Contents
How the Monument Was Built
Planning and Fundraising
In 1865, after the Civil War, a man named Josiah F. Peck Sr. had a great idea. He suggested building a monument to honor the soldiers. A group called the Bristol Soldiers’ Monument Committee was formed. Their main goal was to collect money for the monument.
The committee thought everyone in Bristol should give $1.00. However, it was hard to reach all 3,500 people living in town. Not everyone was able to contribute. The committee also created a smaller group. This group organized a fun event called a Strawberry Festival. The money they earned from the festival helped pay for the monument.
Building the Monument
On October 16, 1865, Mr. Peck made an agreement with James G. Batterson. Mr. Batterson was a businessman from Hartford. He agreed to build and set up the Soldiers’ Monument in Bristol.
They decided the monument would be about six and a half feet wide at the bottom. It would stand twenty-five feet tall. The monument would be made from the best quality Brown Portland Stone. It would also have a special message carved into it. This message would honor the soldiers from Bristol who fought and died for their country.
Mr. Peck agreed to prepare the ground for the monument. He would also arrange for the monument to be transported. He bought the land where it would stand. He also helped set up the monument. Finally, he paid Mr. Batterson $1,500 for the monument and its carvings.
The Monument Today
New Memorial Efforts
Some people in Bristol worried that the old monument was wearing away. They wanted to build a new memorial to honor veterans. Their goal was to place this new monument on Memorial Boulevard. They hoped to dedicate it on Memorial Day in 2011.
To raise money, they sold small cards and artificial roses. Each item cost $1. They aimed to collect $15,000 for the new memorial. In 2011, a new monument made of pink granite was indeed built. It now stands on Memorial Boulevard.
