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Was a Civil War Memorial Ever Erected at Dauphin Borough?
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 16, 2015
In late 1919, two newspapers reported plans to move a large boulder from Short Mountain between Lykens Township and Wiconisco Township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, to the Borough of Dauphin, which was on the Susquehanna River just south of Halifax and just north of Harrisburg. The idea was to create a memorial to area soldiers who served in the World War and Civil War. A committee was formed to raise the funds for brass plates on which the names of all area veterans would be inscribed. No subsequent follow-up articles appeared and the idea seems to have been dropped. What happened to the memorial? Was it ever erected? And if not, why?
The first article is from the Harrisburg Patriot, 9 October 1919:
SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL IS PLANNED AT DAUPHIN
Dauphin Borough, Pennsylvania, 8 October 1919 — Plans for erecting a permanent marker as a memorial to the men and women of the town who served in the World War are being considered. It will also bear the names of the veterans who served in the Civil War.
It is proposed to bring a huge mountain boulder from the mountains near town and erect it in some central section. The boulder will be smoothed on at least two sides so that the bronze tablets bearing the names may be attached. The remainder of the stone will be preserved in its original state. A number of prominent citizens are backing the project. Methods for raising the necessary funds will be decided upon later.
The second article is from the Harrisburg Telegraph of 10 October 1919:
FINDS BOULDER FOR MEMORIAL
Massive, Moss-Covered Rock to Bear Bronze Plates with Names of Veterans
Dauphin Borough, Pennsylvania, 10 October 1919 — Daniel F. Seiler, chairman of the “marker” committee of the recently organized Dauphin Memorial Association reported today that he had located a huge, rugged boulder along the slopes of Short Mountain and that it will brought into the borough next week.
The boulder weighs nearly ten tons, Mr. Seiler believes and is particularly suitable for a memorial shaft. It is massive and covered with moss. As nearly as possible, it will be allowed to remain in its natural state. It is planned to smooth three sides to allow bronze tablets, bearing the names of Dauphin and nearby veterans of the Great War, veterans of the Civil War and a record of welfare and Liberty Loan contributions on the third.
By the time the boulder is brought to the Borough, it is believe that the tablet committee, consisting of F. C. Gerberich and Charles E. Shaffer, will have secured estimates on the approximate cost of bronze with the inscriptions. from these the budget can be estimated and a drive for funds launched. It is believed that the canvass for funds will be started about the middle of next week. The names of all nearby veterans will be on it.
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The news article from the Patriot is from the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The news article from the Telegraph is from Chronicling America, a free newspaper resource of the Library of Congress.
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