The Civil War Memorial in Fountain Park in Sheboygan was built in 1889
The inscription on the finished monument reads: “In memory of the heroes who fought for the Union, 1861-1865.”
SHEBOYGAN – The American Civil War left a deep impression on the citizens of Sheboygan, and in the 19th century following the war there was an effort to erect a memorial.
On July 14, 1888, at a regular meeting of the Gustavus Wintermeyer Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, it was resolved “to erect a monument at a suitable location in the city of Sheboygan in honor and memory of all the fallen and dead heroes of the Civil War of 1861 to 1865, and to make efforts to raise the necessary funds.”
A 1989 newspaper clipping provided by the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center states that the park had become known for patriotic events and a memorial monument was just what the park needed.
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According to a 1937 Sheboygan Press clipping, the monument was erected in 1889. The construction of the monument was made possible by the Soldiers’ Monument Committee. The trustees included early Sheboygan leaders James H. Mead, George End, Thomas M. Blackstock, Michael Winter and John M. Kohler, who ensured that funds were available to build the monument.
Henry Scheele was awarded the contract to build the monument. His budget was $6,000, but the actual construction budget was $5,000.
The stone chosen for the monument was cut and carved in the quarries in Barre, Vermont. The quality of the stone was considered so durable that no bronze plate was used, as the inscription was carved into the third layer stone that formed the base.
The monument weighs 80 tons and took six wooden flatcars to transport it from the quarries in Vermont to Sheboygan.
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The monument was inaugurated in October 1889.
A newspaper clipping from the Milwaukee Sentinel on October 18, 1889, said of that day:
The dedication of the monument, erected to commemorate the soldiers of Sheboygan County who died in the war, was celebrated on October 17, 1889, with the most impressive ceremony Sheboygan has ever seen.
Hundreds of visitors arrived from all parts of the county in the early hours of the morning, and all the arriving trains were full of people eager to witness the unveiling of the finest soldier’s monument in this part of Wisconsin. The music of the bands and the noise of the drum corps began at dawn and continued almost continuously throughout the day. The U.S. steamer Andy Johnson came into port in the forenoon and added the noise of its cannons to the general din of the celebrations.
Mayor Seaman had issued a proclamation ordering the closure of all businesses, and for the most part, this order was obeyed..
Among the guests of honor in attendance were Governor Hoard, Senator Spooner, Secretary of State Timme, State Treasurer Harshaw, Insurance Commissioner Cheek, and Attorney General Estabrook.
Upon the arrival of the train from Milwaukee, the gentlemen were escorted to a car and the parade began its march. There were over 40 organizations in the procession, the largest number ever in the history of the city. Every GAR post in the county and the Andy Johnson Marines were among the 2,000 people who marched in the procession. There were probably 10,000 visitors in the city that day. The Governor, Senator and state officials marched into the parade from their cars on Ontario Street between 6th and 7th Streets.
According to the UW-Madison Library Archives, Senator Spooner’s speech reflected on the courage and sacrifice of Civil War soldiers and called on the community to ensure that “none of them die feeling forgotten and abandoned.”
The finished monument bears the inscription: “In memory of the heroes who fought for the Union, 1861-1865.”
Even today, the lone Union soldier atop the monument keeps a sharp lookout for Sheboygan.
Gary C. Klein can be reached at 920-453-5149 or [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @leicaman99.
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