Civil War Monument in Bristol rededicated
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BRISTOL- The oldest Civil War monument in the state and the second oldest in the nation was officially rededicated at a ceremony Saturday at Bristol Township Center, where the large white marker stands in the center of the park.
The Trumbull County Historical Society and Bristolville Township Historical Society worked together to get the monument prepared for the special ceremony that included many Civil War re-enactors and President Abraham Lincoln. The day also included Civil War encampments, period music and local history exhibitors.
The marker honors and bears the names of 14 Bristol soldiers who died between 1862 and 1863, with the marker dedicated Oct. 15, 1863.
Named are infantry members Charles Brooks, Calvert Miller, James Sage Jr., Henry Collar and Jacob Ryan. Calvary members are Charles Munson, George Crozier and Almanza Chaffee. Artillery members are Jacob Kagy, Truman Chaffee, James Thorp, James Hottel, Lester Sprague and George Sprague,
Savannah Moss, collections and research manager for the Trumbull County Historical Society, said the rededication of the monument was a way to thank everyone who helped by making donations to restore it. She said more than $14,000 was raised to restore the monument.
“Veterans of all wars are deserving to be honored and remembered. This is another way to do that. Veterans were here 160 years ago to remember and celebrate them,” Moss said.
The re-enactors included those who represented the 14 men on the marker.
In addition to the monument dedication and the re-enactors’ peformances, the Bristol Historical Society had the historic town hall and church where the society has its museum open for public viewing as were an historic doctor’s office and barbershop.
“It was a great opportunity to have the entire park and buildings open today. It is a once in a lifetime event,” Moss said.
Moss said as a historian, it is amazing that the oldest Civil War monument in Ohio is in Trumbull County. She said the oldest marker dedicated solely to the Civil War is in Pennsylvania, with Britol’s being second.
“President Abraham Lincoln felt the personal toll of the losses of the Civil War. He saw the fallen soldiers not as anonymous statistics, but as men who sacrificed their lives for the survival of the Republic and human freedom. He developed a close relationship with Union troops walking through Washington hospitals and meeting soldiers directly. Lincoln always maintained a spirit of compassion calling for national healing and reconcilation,” Raidel said.
John King of Rock Creek, who portrayed Lincoln, said over the years, people have fought in wars both in the United States and overseas to protect this nation whether the Civil War, World War I and II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War.
“If we had not been successful during the Civil War, we would have been more than one country. We would not be the prosperous country that we are today. We would not be able to take the call when it comes from other parts of the world. I thank you for coming here to remember those whose names were read today and are honored on this marker. This marker will be here for generations to come. We as a nation with God’s help can be here to defend the world,” King said.
Raidel said the monument is important to the Bristol community because of the importance to the township’s past, present and future.
“The monument is a reminder of the loss of the men and the importance of remembering them,” she said.
Raidel said work on the monument took about 18 months.
She said the two societies met and knew something had to be done so the marker would continue to stand in the park.
“The monument’s condition was a concern to us. We knew we had to have some preservation work done on it. The project was at times a challenge and quite a process. The donations and help from the community shows that people care. This monument is focal point of our community,” Raidel said.
She said she remembers coming to the park as a child and rolling down the hill where the monument stands.
“Even today when we have events here, I still see small children rolling down the hill,” Raidel said.
Kathleen Seemann Clutter, president of the Bristol Historical Society, said originally there were no plans to have the local Bristol buildings open to avoid competing with the monument rededication, but the society felt doing so would enhance the event.
She said the monument was dedicated in 1863, but there were other local soldiers who died during the Civil War whose names are not included.
“This monument is here for generations ahead of us. I hope this event today and the rededication of the monument will get young people more interested in history,” Clutter said.