140 YEARS: CONDITION SUMMARY
Among the conditions which are affecting the longevity of the memorial are:
Severe spalling (crumbling, friable) of the surface of the granite
Corrosion damage from moisture permeation at the joints on three sides
Lettering is chipped, broken or missing
Accumulations of airborne and waterborne pollutants, including black discoloration from vehicle
exhaust
Fence damaged by motor vehicle accidents
Cannons settled below grade and foundations broken
SUMMARY OF ACTION PLAN
Accomplishing the restoration and preservation work will be a joint effort. Each item will be addressed according to
available time and funds.
The Highway Department has agreed to work on the replacement and repair of the missing fence segments.
The Highway Department together with willing volunteers will replace the foundation stones and reset the cannons.
Mass. Highway has been asked to assist with granite curbing around the entire circle
Scaffolding must be erected around the entire obelisk for a safe work environment
A conservator will work on location to
Bush chisel all loose granite, blending and feathering for a uniform surface
Chisel and smooth out damaged letters
Create drainage holes at joints
Pressure Wash
Epoxy and fill damaged edges, upper tier
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HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT (1866-2006)
Brimfield was among the very first of countless New England communities to commemorate the War of the Rebellion
and to honor those native sons who gave their lives in defense of the Federal Union. There are only a few monuments
erected in Massachusetts before 1866, within two years of the end of our nation’s bloodiest conflict. Like ours,
the earliest memorials were all obelisks, simple and dramatic compared to the more elaborate and ornamental figural
monuments that came later, often designated by vendors offering standardized elements, catalog-fashion.
Ours was designed by the Hon. William N. Flynt of neighboring Monson, who furnished the bluish granite from his
own quarry. In March 1866, the town voted to pay up to $1250 for a suitable memorial. It was dedicated on July 4
of the same year. The handsome cast iron fence was a gift from Silas C. Herring, proprietor of the Brimfield Hotel
at the time.
The dedication was quite a community event! Dedicatory remarks were delivered by Capt. Francis D. Lincoln. The
Brimfield Rifle Company, a militia unit founded in 1828, was represented by forty veterans, commanded by their
first captain, Cyril R. Brown, Esq. The Southbridge Cornet Band furnished music for the occasion, which included
a procession to the church, where a prayer was offered by Rev. C.M. Hyde and the Declaration of Independence was
read by Newton S. Hubbard. The throng then marched to the monument for a formal address. The day closed with an
ample dinner at the Town Hall (not the one that stands today) furnished by Edward S. Sherman of the Brimfield Hotel.
More addresses and sentiments were offered under the leadership of James B. Brown, toastmaster.
THE SOLDIERS MEMORIALIZED
In 1864, the whole number of Brimfield men between the ages of 18 and 45 totaled 184. Of this total, some 114
served in the Union military. Their names are memorialized on the marble tablets in the Great Hall of the Town
Hall. Think about that: 63% of all the adult men served in the war. Then consider that 18 died. That’s ten percent
of the adult male population, and about 20 percent of those who served. An almost equal number were wounded and
discharged, some with life changing disabilities.
A large number of Brimfielders enlisted in the 27th, 34th and 46th Massachusetts Infantry. Two joined the cavalry
and one enlisted in the navy. They died in far off places: Millen Prison, Roanoke, Newburn, Andersonville Prison,
Urbana MD, Gettysburg, Camden NC, Alexandria, Skinner’s Ford, Piedmont, and Petersburg VA.
Numbers may demonstrate the staggering commitment, but the individual soldiers have stories that must not be lost
in the statistics: who they were, their stations in life, their experiences in the war. The Historical Commission
is compiling bio-briefs on the 18 soldiers – and one sailor – whose names are inscribed on the memorial:
| Henry W. King |
George W. Paige |
| Rufus A. Parker |
Edward E. Parker |
| Edgar F. Manning |
Alexander N. Manning |
| Marcus H. Smith |
George H. Dimick |
| James Crosby |
Alonzo W. Latham |
| H. Wilson Robinson |
Silas Phelps |
| George W. Allen |
William Kenney |
| Lyman P. Parker |
Charles E. Alexander |
| John Cronin |
Patrick Barry |
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