Restoration work begins on Civil War monument

The Civil War monument in Eastern Park is receiving a makeover. Little Falls City Promotion Committee organizer Edwin Vogt began work on the project earlier this week and is in the process of restoring the monument’s wrought iron fence as a first step in the total rejuvenation of the grounds. He said the restoration work will continue in the coming weeks.

“The idea is to complete this project and then move on to the next,” said Vogt. “The thrust of the committee is to engage in one project at a time until it is successfully completed.”

He said in addition to drill brushing and repainting the wrought iron fence, the refurbishing of the site will include removal of all ground growth within and surrounding the enclosure, the installation of a bronze tablet depicting the regimental units from Little Falls who served and fought in the War of the Rebellion and the pouring of a complete cement covering inside the fenced area.

“The best part about this restoration project is that it will be privately financed from willing donors at no expense to the city,” said Vogt. “This is a collective gift back to the city.”

He added the restoration is the first of twelve projects to be identified by the members of the City Promotion Committee. Other activities under consideration include adoption of a city slogan; erection of a memorial tablet honoring the sacrifices of the city’s Palatine forebears; erection of a historic marker designating Abraham Lincoln’s arrival in Little Falls in 1861; a Bellamy Park beautification project; enhancement of the Buttermilk Falls grounds; adoption of the area as the “Hub of New York’s Heritage;” publication and circulation of a jobs promotion brochure; revitalization of Talequega Park as a potential tourism site; fostering and encouragement of a New York State Tourway project; a Goat Island beautification project and development of selected River Road attractions.

“The purpose and direction of this endeavor to create jobs and bring improvements into the city,” said Vogt of the civic-minded committee. “We will steadily concentrate on and explore every conceivable idea to attract new employment opportunities. We will market the benefits of tourism here and develop a plan that will insure recognition of this area as a main artery for tourist traffic.”

He said the bronze tablet for the Civil War monument will cost about $1,500. Donations, said Vogt, can be mailed in care of the Little Falls Promotion.

from littlefallstimes.com