Eight monuments on Rock Island County’s historic courthouse square will be refurbished and a new Civil War monument with a new bronze soldier will be added after the Rock Island County Board OK’d the project on Tuesday, June 18.
Board members approved without dissent a $356,670 proposal by the firm of Leyda, Burrus, & Metz of Burlington, Iowa, to create the new monument and update others on the large, expansive lawn created after the demolition of the old Rock Island County Courthouse.
This new project will be financed through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA funds).
Monuments scheduled for refurbishing, according to a county news release, include:
- Spanish American War Memorial.
- Cowl Vent from the USS Maine (Spanish American War).
- Cuba Bronze Circle (Spanish American War).
- Multi-War Monument.
- Two Grand Army of the Republic plaques (Civil War).
- 1869 Civil War Monument (modification and refurbishing).
- Gettysburg Address plaque, which is being refurbished by the Joint Manufacturing Technology Center on the Rock Island Arsenal, will get a new granite base.
The long-awaited new Civil War Monument is necessary due to the years-long deterioration of the existing one, the release said.
New statue, base needed
A countywide fundraising effort to help save the memorial and the crumbling marble statue of a soldier on top of it was launched almost a decade ago. It was led by concerned citizens and now-retired Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Ron Erickson with the help of the Rock Island County Historical Society
“The concept of a new monument stems from concerns over the original monument’s longevity for generations to come,” the county said in its news release.
After the 1869 war memorial was assessed, “it was determined that minimizing the weight and strain on the base of the monument would be best for the longevity of the monument,” the county release added. “This will be accomplished by removing the top spear of the monument and respectfully incorporating it near its base, as well as creating the new monument for the new bronze soldier and name plaques.“
The overall project will be completed in phases. Work will begin in the coming weeks. Most items are expected to be completed by this October and completion of the new monument by June 2025. Moving forward, leaders added, regular cleaning, inspections, and maintenance will be included in capital planning, to ensure the memorials are properly maintained.
Rock Island County Board Chairman Richard “Quijas” Brunk said this following the vote: “This important project will restore glory and dignity to these monuments, which honor and memorialize our country’s war fallen, from the Civil War forward. We are committed to honoring their sacrifice.”
