Lincoln's Statue

Photo: Present day Lincoln Statue - Bunker Hill IL

    In the center of the intersection of Washington and Fayette Streets in Bunker Hill stands a statue of Abraham Lincoln, a gift to the city by Civil War commander Captain Charles Clinton, as a token of appreciation to the Bunker Hill men who served in his company during the war.

    The unit was Company B of the First Missouri Volunteer Calvary, which was raised by Captain Clinton of St. Louis and was comprised of men from Illinois, Missouri, and other states.  Company B was organized at Jefferson Barracks August 1, 1861.

    After the war, Captain Clinton had high regard for Bunker Hill and became friends with Mrs. Moses True, widow of the founder of Bunker Hill.  He indicated to her his desire to do something for the men who had been in his command, and the statue of Lincoln was decided upon.

 Photo: Captain Charles Clinton

    The cost for the base of the statue was raised by local subscription.  the bronze casting of Lincoln was shipped from Philadelphia and the granite for the lower part was shipped from Vermont.  The Lincoln statue was sculpted by William Grandville Hastings, and English artist, who died in 1902 at the age of 34, before any of his statues were mounted.  Captain Clinton collaborated with the artist in designing the monument.

Photo: Bunker Hill's newly donated Lincoln Monument (circa 1904)

    Captain Clinton donated a similar statue, complete with the kneeling "Liberty" to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Two other castings of the sculpture were cast.  Neither have the kneeling "Liberty".  One is located in Jefferson, Iowa, and the fourth is in Sioux City, Iowa.  These were donated by persons other than Captain Clinton.

    The statue was unveiled September 7, 1904.  A plaque mounted on the statue has inscribed:

1904

In Ever Lasting Memory of

the Conflict by Which the Union

In Which they

Took Part This Statue of

Abraham Lincoln

was presented

To the Citizens of Bunker Hill

By the Soldiers of Company B

of the

First Missouri Calvary,

Charles Clinton

Photo: Postcard photo of the Lincoln Statue (postmarked June 15, 1908)

    

Photo: Postcard photo of the Lincoln Statue (postmarked July 14, 1909)

...Read more about this and other Bunker Hill, IL historical stories at https://bunkerhillhistory.org/
 
 --Cite this story: The Bunker Hill IL Historical Society. "A Look Back in Bunker Hill History." Bunker Hill Gazette-News, August 30, 2012.

The Bunker Hill Soldier's Monument

The Soldier's Monument

On November 11, 1865, the preliminary steps were taken for a soldier's monument to be placed in the cemetery in Bunker Hill.

The soldier's monument was erected in 1866 and is dedicated to the memory of the brave men who lost their lives in the Civil War.  For many years, Memorial Day military tribute has been paid to veterans of all wars in ceremonies held at the base of the monument.

On three sides are the names of the men who died in the Civil War, the place where they died, and the cause of death.

The work of putting back the fallen monument after the tornado of 1948 was done by Floyd Spickerman, James Vaughn, and Malvern Allen.  A gin pole, blocks and tackle, and plenty of rope was employed to hoist the heavy stones.  Burlap sacks were placed under the ropes to keep them from being cut on the sharp corners of the stones.  The big pieces, which caused the men no little concern, was taken up in five hitches, using a tractor for power to pull the two blocks hitched to a sling on the stone.  

The monument suffered rather badly in the tornado.  The center section, bearing a coat of arms, was broken on one corner and the lower spire and foundation was also chipped and broken.  The eagle lost a large part of its tail and left wing in its flight to the ground.

The engraving on the monument is:

To the memory of

The brave men

Who died in the service of their Country

During the war

For the suppression of the slave holders'

Rebellion of 1861

This monument is erected

by their fellow citizens

1866

...Read more about this and other Bunker Hill, IL historical stories at https://bunkerhillhistory.org/

--Cite this story:  The Bunker Hill IL Historical Society. "A Look Back in Bunker Hill History." BUNKER HILL GAZETTE-NEWS, August 23, 2012, sec. 1. Republished 13 November 2014.

The Bunker Hill Brick Plant

 

Pictured: The Bunker Hill Brick Plant

    The Bunker Hill Brick Plant stood on the ground on the south side of Alton Street adjoining Meehans Plaza and possible, some on the north side.  When the property was bought in 1987, There was still part of the old kiln in the basement.

  There is a brick in the basement wall with the date May 26, 1899 and the name John Herbst scratched into it.  A brick in the old carriage house is marked "built in 1910".  The patio is made out of six-inch square blocks, one having the date August 19, 1889.  There are several bricks with the Star of David imprinted on them.  One brick in the sidewalk has the initials J.H.

    The carriage house had room for the buggy on one side and the other side was a place for the horse.  These displayed bricks are all from the old Herbst Brick Factory location.   --Compliments of Charlotte Thyer

...Read this and other Bunker Hill, IL historical stories at https://bunkerhillhistory.org/

--Cite this story: The Bunker Hill IL Historical Society. "A Look Back in Bunker Hill History." Bunker Hill Gazette-News, August 16, 2012.