Unveiling of Soldier's Monument

The elevated view in this photo suggests it may have been taken from the 2nd floor of the Electric Light Plant.

The following Tampico Tornado articles were submitted by Joan Johnson:

SOLDIER’S MONUMENT IN REAGAN PARK (Referred to as “depot park” in these articles)

Tampico Tornado Newspaper Article Date unknown –

The City Park

The matter of erecting the Soldier’s Monument and of beautifying the Depot Park has been dropped from the sight of the people for several months because of the tie up in the city council and their inability to pass an ordinance regarding the improvement and maintenance of same. Since the ordinance has been passed, work will begin at once. A cement sidewalk will be built upon the south and west sides of the park. On the south side the walk will be placed thirty feet into the road, saving same fifty feet wide at that place. The west Walk will be placed upon the property line and will be built only to the railroad line which reaches seventy feet to the south of the track. The Burlington will probably complete the walk to the track. It is also probable that some grading will be done this year that the grounds will be in readiness for the erection of the monument next spring. The bandstand will be moved but will be left upon the grounds. Some objection has been heard again as to this location for a park but it is probably the best to be had. The monument committee are experiencing some trouble in collecting the amounts which were pledged for the monument.

Tampico Tornado
Friday, February 9, 1906

T. O. STEADMAN and Robert COLLINS of the G. A. R. Post addressed the council in regard to assistance in erecting the soldier monument. They stated that $217 had been raised and proposed that the council assist by voting funds to improve the depot park. After the same had been deeded to the village, a committee consisting **********

The Grand Army committee in charge of the monument project met last week Saturday at Smith’s Hardware store and looked over some designs brought here by M. DORAN of Fulton. The committee has practically decided on one design which calls for a granite shaft 20 to 23 feet tall and surmounted by a life-size soldier in the uniform of 1865. The shaft will be square and about half way up will have a capstone. The monument will rest n several pedestals. The cost will be about $875 or perhaps $1000 of which about $700 has been raised for subscription. It will be set in the depot park of which a lease for 99 years will be given to the village.

Robert COLLINS requests all who have subscribed to the soldier’s monument fund to call at Smith’s Hardware store and pay Fred SMITH.

Tampico Tornado
March 16, 1906
Inspect Monument

*********** The J**ttemers state that it is planned to have the shaft of the Tampico monument taller than the one at Prophetstown and that the names of the battles will be on the base. Above this on the ***** smooth sides will be ******** the names of the soldier dead.

Tampico Tornado
Friday, April 6, 1906

WILL VOTE ON MONUMENT

Council Decides to Put the Matter in Hands of the People at Village Election

The people of Tampico will now have a chance to say whether the proposed soldiers’ monument shall be erected or not. At the meeting of the village council Monday evening the board unanimously decided to put the question on the ballot at the *****ing city election and permit the people to say whether they wished to lease depot park for 99 years and vote improvements on the same to the amount of $500. It is estimated it would require that sum to construct the cement works around the park and to the monument besides the grading etc., required.

The owners of the park, J. W. GLASSBURN and Kate BURDEN have agreed to lease the park to the village for ** years with the stipulation that it not be sub leased, no buildings to be erected on it, the grounds to be ornamented with flower beds, trees, etc. and the village to keep and maintain the same. Comrades Fred SMITH and Robert COLLINS of the Post were present and addressed the council on the subject.

The members of the council thoroughly discussed the project and all favored it but hesitated about voting so large an expenditure on leased ground before referring it to the people.

A whole gist of cement walk were ordered constructed by ordinance on the following streets:

Along the north line of E. REMINGTON’s property extending one block east.

From WIMMERS’ northwest corner extending one block south. From Thomas DILLON’S property extending west to James STURM.

From Mrs. BOOTH’S north corner tending south to BOOTH street.

The petition signed by property owners on Main Street was ****** the clerk, and after a little discussion, members of the Grand Army Post here are during their friends and the citizens to vote for the little ballot on ******************* which will be on a separate small ballot.

A fine monument would unquestionably be a big improvement to our already nice village and according to the stipulation of the ninety-nine year lease of the depot plot a fine park will be assured which will be a beautiful little spot set down near the business center and where a good impression will be made by people going through here on trains.

Tampico and vicinity sent many brave men to do the country’s battles and it is fitting that their memory should be cherished in imperishable stone, that records may speak of the valiant men when the last one has answered the taps on high.

Tampico Tornado
August 16, 1907
Monument is Erected

The soldiers monument was erected this week by W.J. MOOR and his force of men from Sterling who finished the work Thursday noon. The shaft xxx xxx xxxx xxxx his left that xxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxx. From what glimpses of it that could be secured through the heavy staging the monument is a pride of the village and worthy tribute to those who went out in defense of the union in 1861-65. The entire heighth [sic] of the granite shaft from the ground is 18 feet 10 inches. There are four bases including one of concrete. The first granite base is rough finished, and mounted on this is another base on which the words "Erected by the G. A. R., W. R. C., and Loyal Citizens" is graven. On the four sides of the first die the following battles are engraved: Pea Ridge, Gettysburg, Atlanta, Reseca. The dies are surmounted by a life size soldier. The monument weighs 13000 and cost $699.

The date of the unveiling has not been set but it will probably be the latter part of this month or early next. The committee will see Co. F.O. LOWDEN at the Old Settlers picnic and ascertain when he can be present and then set the date accordingly.(this article submitted by Les Niemi)

Tampico Tornado
Friday, August 30, 1907
UNVEIL MONUMENT SEPT. 7

G. A. R. And W. R. C. Have Nearly Completed Program - - Secured Excellent Speaker

The soldiers’ monument will be unveiled and dedicated to the memory of the veterans Saturday, September 7. The addresses will be given by Capt. HARDWELL of Dixon an old soldier and a splendid talker.

The unveiling exercises will begin at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and will be in charge of the Grand Army post and Women’s Relief Corps. The band has been engaged for the occasion and it will be a gala day for Tampico.

The Woman’s Relief Corps will make a veil for the monument to replace the old covering now on it. The new veil will be so arranged that by pulling a cord the drapery will drop off and reveal the monument. The Relief Corps will probably have four small girls dressed in white pull the cord to unveil the monument. All the merchants are planning to decorate their places of business and the day promises to be a notable one.

The Tampico Grand Army Post extends a very cordial invitation to all old Soldiers and also to the Spanish American veterans to be present.

Tampico Tornado
Friday, September 6, 1907
THE UNVEILING PROGRAM
Old Soldiers and W. R. C. Have Everything Complete for Unveiling of Monument

Everything is ready for the dedication of the soldiers’ monument, Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 o’clock p.m. The Post, visiting veterans and Spanish American War soldiers will form at Woodman hall at 1:30 p.m. The line of march will be as follows: North on Main Street, as rear of column reaches the Pitney house it will be joined by the Relief Corps and school children who have formed on Market street. The procession will be headed by the Tampico band and automobiles containing speaker and officers. From the Pitney hotel the line of march will be north on Main street. To Second street west on Second to Lincoln, south on Lincoln to Glassburn street east on Glassburn street to Park.
1. Song – “America” – School children & audience
2. Flag Salute and unveiling of monument by four young ladies
3. Prayer – Rev. J. G. Armstrong
4. Music – Glee Club
5. Presentation of Monument to city by Capt. Bardwell
6. Acceptance – Mayor
7. Music - Glee Club
8. Oration – Capt. Bardwell, Dixon
9. Music – Glee Club
10. Short Talks – Judge Ward and others
11. Music – Band

No collection, the patriotic and generous people have fully subscribed for the monument.
• President of Day – Fred W. Smith
• Marshall – T. O. Steadman
• Asst. Marshall – Barney McGrady
• Post and visiting comrades will be under charge of J. H MILLIGAN, commander of Samuel G. STEADMAN post.
• Monument committee: Robert COLLINS, chairman; Fred W SMITH, Treas. And Secretary; James LEAHY; Barney McGRADY, T. O. STEADMAN.

Tampico Tornado Friday, September 13, 1907
THE MONUMENT IS UNVEILED

Capt. A. C. Bardwell, Orator of Day Makes Fine Address To Large Crowd

Over 1000 people gathered in Tampico last Saturday afternoon to witness the unveiling of the Soldier’s Monument. There were delegations of veterans present from Prophetstown and Rock Falls and the crowd, Bags and bunting made it a gala day. The exercises began with a parade at 1:30 o’clock. The parade formed on Main street and was made up as follows:

Marshals Steadman and McGrady
Tampico Band
Mayor, Judge Ward
Veterans in Line
City Council
W. R. C. Ladies
School children with Flags

The parade marched north on Main Street to Fred ALLEN’S then west two blocks and the south across the railroad to the Methodist church, thence to the park. On its arrival there the children and W. R. C. formed, around the monument and after singing America and giving the Flag salute, four young ladies dressed in white pulled red, white and blue ribbons which released the veil of bunting and revealed the monument amid the cheers of the crowd.

Prayer was said by Rev. J. G. ARMSTRONG and good music was rendered by the Glee club composed of P. H. LIKES, E. W. MEREDITH, James and Christian JOHNSON. The monument was presented to the city by Capt. A. C. BARDWELL of Dixon who said:

To Comrade Robert COLLINS is due the credit of building a soldier’s monument in Tampico. He introduced the subject at the annual G. A. R. and W. R. C. installation on the night of Jan. 9, 1906 at which tie the place the following committed was appointed to secure funds to build the monument: Chairman of the committee, Robert Leahy and ********** monument fund.

The old soldiers of Tampico and vicinity contributed to the fund about $250.00

The Woman’s Relief Corps, $65.00
Mrs. Alum BALDWIN, Mrs. J. F.
LEONARD and H. H. DOW of California, $12.00
Mrs. J. C. REEVES of Champaign, Illinois, $10.00
Will Robinson Post at Sterling, Illinois, $10.00.
Dr. GRAY of Morrison, $10.00.
Senator HOPKINS, $10.00.
Congressman LOWDEN $10.00
The citizens of Hahnaman, Fairfield Hume and Tampico contributed the balance. Total cost of the monument was $782.42. To (sic) much credit cannot be given Comrades COLLINS and James LEAHY for the able manner in which they solicited funds.

The beautiful park upon which the monument stands was donated to the village by Mr. J. W. GLASSBURN, Thomas and Charles BURDEN. The citizens of the village by an almost unanimous vote, approved the project of voting an appropriation of $500 to lay sidewalks and otherwise beautify the park. Great credit should be given president John Daley and the members of the Village Board of two administrations for the able manner in which they have helped along the monument project.

Mayor DALEY replied as follows:

Mr. chairman, G.A.R., W.R.C. and Fellow citizens, I have no other justification to offer you at this time for the transfer of these proceedings by the genial and accomplished master of ceremonies to myself for a short space of time. Then in behalf of the people of our little city, I desire to express to the G.A.R., W.R.C. and loyal citizens, our grateful appreciation for the gift just so ably presented in your presence.

With National colors flying and flowers and flags in our hands we have gathered around the monument that has been erected in honor of the Nation’s dead that are sleeping. On an occasion of this kind it is fitting for us as a village officer, to be here accompanied by the other village officers, it is appropriate that the soldier’s widow is here and the soldier’s son and daughter, it is appropriate that here are assembled, in numbers growing less each year, the scarred survivors of our late and great civil war, it is appropriate, also, that these exercises in honor of comrades dead should be and are conducted by comrades still surviving. For too soon the day will come when monuments must be dedicated and soldiers graves decorated by hands unused to implements of war, and when these speeches must be made by lips that never answered to a roll call.

As citizens of the village of Tampico, to ourselves as well as the living and dead soldiers, we owe a duty to which we will discharge. Monuments, and dedication days declare the patriotism of the living no less than the virtues of those who they commemorate. Read the words inscribed on monument , they do not speak of riches inherited or honors bought, or hours in leisure spent but of service done. A life’s most precious blood he yielded up for the welfare of his fellows. This is a simple story which proves that it is now and ever has been more blessed to give than to receive and we would fall short of our duty as citizens if we were to content ourselves with praising the dead and complimenting the living and fail to make preparations for the responsibilities which present times and conditions impose upon us. We build on the foundation which we find already laid and those who follow take up the work where we leave off. Every generation leaves in its successor and unfinished work – the work of human progress and civilization is never completed.

Those who fought and fell forty years ago did nobly advance the work in this day, they gave their lives, that the Nation might live and for that ***** gift, become of the *******from which it came, and to the old soldiers ***** are here today I would say that ***** citizens do appreciate such a gift, ****blem of National honor, because of the example you gave us as good ****** citizens, because of your courage in the hour of duty and because you have returned to us from the battle where you fought to preserve the union and give life to young America, and because you were a patriot when you took your place in the ranks and offered your body to protect the flag, *** it is gratifying to know the opportunity was not or is not wanting for women to show their love of country, much credit is due them, the W. R. C. and the wives and mothers of soldiers, the soldier’s wife was a patriot when she bade her husband farewell and gathered her little children about her over which she had to exercise both a mother’s and a father’s care, and if there be degrees in patriotism, the mother stands first as a patriot because she gave to the nation her sons, the divinely appointed support of her declining years and she thanked God who had given her strength to rear strong and corageous sons for the battlefield.

We are glad the old soldiers and W. R. C. are here today and hope you will live to see this park become more beautiful than it is present time, we hope you will come and see it often. You are welcome to our city, to our hearts and to our corner.

Capt. BARDWELL was the orator of the day and gave a splendid address, space preventing its publication. He told what the war meant and what it had cost the nation and Whiteside County. He made eulogies to the president, the W. R. C. and told the old soldiers they should do duty now as good citizens.

Judge WARD also made an address which was followed by a few remarks by Atty. J. J. LUDENS, both made good talks.

Fred W. SMITH was master of ceremonies and publicly complimented the Tornado and George ISHERWOOD for the co-operation and interest taken.