I live right
around the corner from the Monument at Vet’s Park across from the hospital. I
knew that there were going to be some big renovations happening at the
monument, but I was unprepared for what I saw as I drove by Tuesday afternoon.
Virtually the entire base has been torn out, and it appears there will be a lot
more work done. It will take most of the
winter to get the marble back in place, fully repaired. According to the
Mayor’s office, the work should be completed in time for Armed Forces Day on
May 19, 2018.
In a phone
conversation with 5th Ward Alderman, Rick Abbott, I learned that
when the renovations were done in 2005, more extensive damage to the base of
the monument was discovered. “The repairs that were needed were more extensive
than previously realized. As a result, the whole base had to be removed to
ensure the monument would continue to stand.”
Seeing the
work being done on the monument triggered some memories of growing up in that
neighborhood, and I thought I might share a little history about the park and
the obelisk. In 2006, the Niagara County
Historians Office published a booklet, “They All of Them Fought Like Heroes”
which detailed most of the veteran’s monuments around Niagara County. Much of
the history will be coming from that booklet, which I helped to compile.
Frank Byron
sponsored a resolution on October 13, 1902, to acquire Lot N on East Avenue,
known as the Douglass property, in a state tax sale. At the Common Council
meeting November 3rd, the Council passed a resolution to set aside
to set aside that property as a public park, and that the park should be known
as “Bryon Park.” Despite being unanimously passed, a follow up resolution on
November 10th eschewed the naming of the park as “Byron Park.” It
was a split decision, 7-3, with Byron leading the fight to keep the name, but
ultimately losing.
Alderman
Allen Few proposed on December 29th, that “the portion of Lot N,
East Avenue which has been dedicated as a public park, be and the same shall be
called East Avenue Park.” The resolution was passed unanimously.
On January
28, 1903, the City of Lockport acquired a lot on East Avenue across from the
Lockport City Hospital for $49. Some sources show the name of the park as
Byron-Douglass Park, but in most of the Common Council minutes, it is referred
to simply as East Avenue Park. In the
1908 atlas, it is referred to simply as City Park. In the 1928 Sanborn Map, it
is named “East Avenue Park.”
As early as
1924, plans were put into motion concerning the erection of a soldiers and
sailors monument at East Avenue Park. The Lockport Men’s Community Club hosted
a minstrel show to raise money for the project. The Men’s Club broached the
subject over several years, bringing special attention to the subject in
February of 1928. They believed that it would be a symbol of the city as a
whole in recognition of the service of each solider, sailor and marine. An
early design, based upon a similar memorial in Aurora, Ontario for Canadian
soldiers, would have been constructed of Barre granite, nearly 75 feet in
height, with a beacon at the top that would be perpetually lit in remembrance
of those fallen service members. Congressman S. Wallace Dempsey assured the
group that he would have several cannon added to the memorial once it was
complete.
By 1929, the
Common Council agreed to contribute $5,000 as long as the public raised the
rest of the $30,000 price tag. At the meeting of May 27, 1929, Alderman Dolan,
who was a veteran, declared that “all veterans are not much in favor of a
monument as might be supposed. If the money to be spent on the monument were
placed in a fund and the income devoted to the care of the needy veterans,
their widows and families, it would be much more appreciated.”
Alderman O’Shaughnessy
felt that a community hall which could be used by veterans and their families
would be a better use of $5,000. Despite the misgivings by Dolan and O’Shaughnessy,
both appreciated the efforts put forth by the Men’s Club, and the resolution
adding the money to the 1930 budget was unanimously passed.
On May 24,
1930, John T. Symes, Treasurer of the Fund Committee, announced that $25,222.76
had been raised, and he requested the promised funds from the city. The Council
agreed, but added another caveat – the monument needed to be completed within
one year, or the money had to be returned. Ground was broken on August 11, 1930.
Memorial Arts Company of Buffalo was awarded the contract. The space required
for the foundation measured about thirty square feet and just over six feet
deep so that it would rest on solid rock. On August 26th, the
foundation was complete, larger than originally anticipated. It was still
thirty feet square, but fell to a depth of ten feet to ensure it could hold the
weight of the Georgia marble.
All the
marble was on site October 24th, ready to be formed into the
monument. Anticipation was that the new memorial would be dedicated on
Armistice Day that year, with Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt invited to the occasion.
Due to delays in construction and weather concerns, the November date was
passed up in favor of another date. It was suggested that the dedication could
be part of the 1931 Independence Day celebrations. Again, that date was
considered to be too soon. It was expected to be dedicated at the bicentennial
of George Washington’s birth in 1932, or sometime in 1933.
There was
good news amid all the turmoil. The monument was lit for the first time on June
8, 1931. A 200-candlepower light shone from the top of the shaft and colored
lights played off the dancing waters of the fountains at the four corners of
the monument. The colors in each of the fountains were red, white, and blue. These
colors also reflected off the marble at the base of the obelisk. The lights
were controlled by a clock that would turn the lights on and off each evening.
Interestingly,
it was reported that the Community Club had a bronze box, filled with
historical items, which was to be placed in the cornerstone of the monument. At
a Common Council meeting, March 20, 1933, the Club explained they had the box
and were formally tendering ownership of the memorial to the City of Lockport.
When I spoke to the contractor who worked on refurbishments in 2005 and in
2017, he said he knew of no time capsule, nor had he found any evidence of one.
Further research does not tell the tale of this mysterious bronze box.
Raphael Beck
designed the Veterans Obelisk in 1929, using his daughter, Phyllis, as the
model for the statue. Born on November 16, 1858 in Lancaster, PA, Beck was
named Raphael after the Italian Renaissance artist. His father, Augustus, was a
sculptor as well as a painter who received the contract for the bas-relief on
the interior of the Washington Monument. He also designed the fireplace mantles
in the White House. Beck learned painting from his father and then traveled to
Munich and Paris to further his education. Upon returning to America, he lived
in Lockport, and took trips to the Netherlands, Venice, Switzerland, and Paris
for advanced study.
Beck painted
the large mural depicting the opening of the Erie Canal on the wall of the
Lockport office of the Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company. It was later
taken to the Lockport High School Auditorium, where it was glued to the wall.
He won first prize at three international expositions and earned many other
honors. Beck maintained a studio in Buffalo, commuting daily. Each year on his
birthday he walked the 23 miles from his home on Willow Street to Buffalo.
When
President McKinley spoke at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901,
Beck sketched him as he spoke to a crowd of 50,000 near the Triumphal Bridge.
With just the initial sketches completed, Beck left for New York City for
business, where he learned of the President’s death by assassin. He immediately
completed the portrait President McKinley
Delivering His Last Great Speech at the Pan-American Exposition, Sept. 5. 1901.
The portrait was hung in the US Senate for many years, and is now the
property of the Buffalo History Museum.
The monument
is a very large, pink Georgia marble obelisk and base, standing in the center
of Veterans Park. The base consists of a circular two-step dais bisected by a
substantial square plinth. A Latin motto, based on Horace’s Odes is carved into
the stone. “Dulce et decorum est pro
patria mori,” which means, “There is no greater honor than to die for one’s
country.” On each side of the of the plinth are bronze tablets. Above them and
below the obelisk are four large bronze eagles standing at each corner. The
spire is topped by a statue of Lady Liberty seated 40 feet above the ground.
She grips a staff with a rectangular sigh inscribed “Lockport” with a small
eagle atop and a tassel below. A World War I helmet rests on her head. The
eastern and western plaques are authentic to the monument. Originally the
monument had fountains on all four corners and draped bronze flags in two
sides, but these were later removed – possible for a scrap drive.
The Georgia
marble chosen as the main building material came from Pickens County in
northern Georgia, which lies at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. This
area is renowned for its exceptionally pure marble which was employed by the
Native Americans as early as 800AD. Georgia marble has been used in the
construction of many notable buildings including the Lincoln Memorial, House
Office Building, National Air & Space Museum, New York Stock Exchange
Annex, and the Bok Singing Tower in Florida.
The monument has been in almost constant need of repair since it was
erected. At a Common Council meeting on March 20, 1933, it was reported that
children playing on the monument had broken the mountings for one of the bronze
eagles, loosened one of the fountains, and had broken all the lights in the bowls.
The company who constructed it refused to do the repairs, stating that any
further work was not in their contract. At the same time, the ownership of the
structure remained in doubt as the City politely ignored the gifting attempt by
the Lockport Men’s Community Club.
Mr. Kinsley, the president of Memorial Arts Company of Buffalo, was appalled
at the condition of the monument in a letter to the Common Council in October
1933. He was disgusted with the way the
memorial looked. It started an argument among members of the Council.
“I was driving through Lockport recently and
I stopped to look at the soldier’s memorial which we erected a few years ago.
It is only natural that I should take a decided interest in any work which we
have erected, and I am putting it very mildly when I say I was thoroughly
disgusted with the condition of so beautiful of a memorial.
In the first place instead of it being an asset to the city of
Lockport, in its present condition it is a decided eyesore. There is a
statement somewhere in print to the effect that people of a community are
judged by the memorials they erect in memory of their heroes and defenders.
This memorial was in perfect condition when it was turned over to the
committee. It is, of course, necessary that the joints be repointed at
intervals. This is true of every public memorial which has ever been erected or
any structure of its nature.
It has been brought to my attention that the children of that vicinity
use it as a playground. In fact, while I quote only from hearsay, there must be
some truth to the following statement: On last Fourth of July, some of the children
removed the rosettes from the memorial and used the openings to shoot their
firecrackers. They ride the eagles, and in general, use the monument as a
gymnasium.
I would advise that the monument be repointed whenever necessary before
the cold weather sets in. I want to assert myself on this point: it is
absolutely necessary that it be done; otherwise the frost will add to the damage
already done by the mischievous children.”
Alderman Donald G. Jones erupted when the letter was read. Considering
the monument was not quite three years old, damage to the joints should have
been minimal. He stated during the meeting, “That man should be ashamed of
himself. It was never put up right. Either they didn’t use the right kind of
filler or else they didn’t put the filler in right.” He added that the company
should make the necessary repairs immediately. Despite the uproar, neither the
city nor the builder deigned to undertake any repairs. Throughout the spring of
1934 into late summer, the monument was roped off by the Streets Department for
safety reasons. For the winter, the obelisk was wrapped in waterproof paper to
keep water from seeping into cracks and furthering damage.
By 1935, repairs were still on the table. A work crew from the WPA did
the minimal work at the worst of the damage.
During the evening of May 26, 1936, a large slab of marble fell from the
monument, shattering on the base below. The fallen piece exposed the bricks that
made up the interior of the shaft. It was speculated that a lightning strike
could have dislodged the stone.
Spanish-American War veterans approached the Common Council on June
15, 1936, demanding that the monument be torn down. According to William J.
Hooper, adjutant, all the members of Lockport Camp 83 agreed that the memorial
was unsightly and disrespectful to the memories of the fallen soldiers, sailors
and Marines. A week later, members of B. Leo Dolan Post 410 stated that they
believed the shaft should be razed while the base remained as a compromise to
tearing the whole thing down.
The Common Council approved during recess action on October 13, 1936,
to hire W.H. Pikey & Sons, of Buffalo, to dismantle the shaft of the
memorial and crate it for protection over the winter. In the spring, Pikey
would be employed to make repairs and rebuild the shaft. Pikey declared that
the whole structure was not built to specifications. He said that the combination
of wind sway and the excessive two-and-a-half-ton cap contributed to its rapid
deterioration.
Pikey’s plan entailed razing the shaft down to the base, crating the
pieces worth saving, and then building a new shaft in the spring. The updated
shaft would be solid. The Georgian marble slabs would then be attached to this
solid shaft. The costs for this work would be $2,800. He showed the aldermen
that the construction should have been concrete rather than brick and mortar,
and he wasn’t sure if the same shortcuts were taken in the construction of the
base.
Again in 1965, repairs were again needed. The Lockport Community Club
raised $30,000 to make repairs. “It is regrettable that weather conditions over
the past 35 years, and vandalism, have caused this once beautiful memorial to
deteriorate to its present condition. The bronze draped flags have been
removed, the fountains are dry and the light on Patriotism’s staff no longer
shines.”
Merely a decade after the Community Club repair, the city was faced
with even more renovations to keep the monument standing. On October 15, 1975,
the city engineer forwarded the following report to the Mayor and Common
Council:
On October 1, 1975, the Council was informed of the deteriorated
condition of the Monument in East Avenue Park. It was indicated that further
investigation was necessary to determine if there was a foundation and if there
was, the condition of it.
I contacted Paul Reynolds of Memorials Art-Crawfod, and met with Larry
Martin and myself. This meeting and some excavation at the monument have
revealed the following:
a. There is a foundation under the Monument to a sufficient depth to
provide frost protection.
b. The upper portion of the foundation around the outer edge has
deteriorated.
c. Due to freeze-thaw cycles, the outer ring of stone has been pushed
out beyond the foundation 2 to 4 inches.
d. The entire Monument is in need of caulking and cleaning.
It is the recommendation of the Engineering Department, that the outer
ring of stone be removed and the deteriorated portion of the foundation also be
removed and replaced. Also, the foundation should be extended at least 1’0”
wider than the existing foundation to support the portion of the outer ring of
stone that has moved outwards. It is our opinion that the entire project should
be put out to bid, including cleaning and caulking. A very rough estimate at
this time would put the cost at $10,000 to $12,000. If there are any questions,
please contact me.
Respectfully
submitted,
Allan
R. Rutter, Acting City Engineer.
At the end of August, 1976, the Engineering Department reported on the
work that had been completed on the monument in this new round of repairs:
Through a fine spirit of co-operation and participation by the 102nd
Engineering Battalion, Bricklayer Local 15, Labor Local 91, and Municipal
employees Local 855, the renovation of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is in
its final stages.
The generous monetary donation of the Navy-Marine Club of the City of
Lockport has purchased material, and the remaining balance should cover
approximately one-half of the cleaning and caulking necessary to complete the
renovation.
I would request that the Common Council authorize the remaining amount
necessary to match the Navy-Marine Club’s donation, (should other donations not
be forthcoming), and it be taken from Account No. A.1990, Contingency.
It is estimated that $1,550.00 will suffice for the City of Lockport’s
contribution.
This monument was erected in 1930 by solicitation, and it was
originally estimated that contractual expenses would have cost the City of
Lockport approximately $13,000.00 for renovation to its original condition. The
final cost to the City of Lockport is representative of the time and effort
exerted by so many, accomplishing this worthwhile civic project.
Sincerely,
Robert
J. Ramer, Assistant City Engineer
James Budde, an alderman who lived across the street from the park and
the monument, went on a one-man crusade to fix the obelisk once again in 1981.
He addressed the Common Council, asking that it be refurbished, and the
fountains and lights be restored. Mayor
Rotundo put Budde in charge of a committee to supervise the project. It took
four months to complete.
The City decided to change the name of East Avenue Park in 1985. It
would be named Veterans Park while the original Veterans Park on Elmwood Avenue
would be changed to Joseph E. Kibler Park. All the monuments at the old park
were removed to East Avenue to accompany the towering spire of the Beck
Monument.
In 2005, the monument was again in need of repairs. The community
donated $80,000 towards the project, and a Veteran’s Walkway was added around
the base, consisting of bricks inscribed with the names of local veterans. The
walkway was extended in 2006 to branch out from the base to both LeVan and East
Avenues. During the rededication on May 31, 2005, Phyllis Beck VanDeMark, aged
96, arrived with her grandson, US Marine Sergeant Adam VanDeMark, pushing her
wheelchair. They had arrived at the monument in the “Junior R,” A
one-of-a-kind, green and black, four-door convertible automobile built at
Harrison Radiator in 1923. Mrs.
VanDeMark’s father designed the monument, and it is her likeness portrayed in
the face of Lady Liberty at the peak of the spire.
At the ceremony, thirteen-year-old Allison Bartkowiak played “Taps”
and a KC-135 Cargo fuel plane flew over just as the statue was being
rededicated by Commander Michael F. Lombardi. Mayor Michael Tucker served as
Master of Ceremonies. Members of the Middleport Rod & Gun Club, dressed in
uniforms of soldiers from the French & Indian War, the Revolutionary War,
and the War of 1812, joined the Marine Corp League in a rifle salute.
When the work was being undertaken in 2005, it was noted that there
was a lot more damage than had been initially thought. City leaders knew at
that time that it was only a matter of time before they would have to commit to
a more thorough refurbishment. In October 2017, work began to fix those earlier
issues with a longer lasting solution. The expectation is that by May 2018, the
outer steps of the base will be reset, the marble blocks will be reset,
resealing the entire structure, repairing cracks on the marble, cleaning the
entire monument, and adding a light to the top of the statue will be complete.
Mayor Anne McCaffrey said, “We want to make sure it is structurally
sound ad that we as a city can preserve it for years and years to come. We’re
paying tribute to those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving our
country.”
The monument has stood sentry along East Avenue for 87 years. It’s had
more than its share of issues with deterioration, but through it all, it has
honored the men and women of Lockport who served in the armed forces of the United
States and never made it home. While researching for this article, I discovered
a lot more about the monument than I ever knew before, even after researching
for the book that the Historian’s Office published.
I knew there were once fountains at each corner, but I never knew that
there were red, white, and blue lights playing on that water as it flowed each
night. How wonderful would it be to reintroduce that aspect back to the
memorial? I know the city doesn’t have the funds to do that intensive of a
project right now, but if the citizens of Lockport could raise $30,000 to build
it while suffering through the first year of the Great Depresssion, we can do
the same today. Maybe we won’t be able to get it included in this round of
renovations, but maybe someday. It could be a goal that we work towards –
working fountains and lights. It would be just like Raphael Beck designed in
1929.
On this day, ninety-nine years ago, the guns finally fell silent to end
the War to End All Wars. The Great War was over. In 1919, Congress declared
November 11th to be Armistice Day to remember all those who had
perished in World War I. In 1954, it was renamed Veterans Day to honor all
veterans of all wars. Today we remember all those men and women from every war.
That includes making sure the memorials left to remind us of them are not
forgotten either.
We Lockportians look with pride at our beautifully designed monument
on East Avenue. It reminds us of all that we have to be thankful for, and
hopefully transcends the petty bickering that so often becomes part of our
social discourse. We should take the time to pause a moment at, not only this
memorial, but also at the many others around the community. We should take the
time to thank the people each of those stones honor. We should make sure that
their stories are never forgotten or be allowed to crumble.
Craig Bacon is the Deputy
Historian for Niagara County.