Condition of the Civil War Soldiers Monument

The Confederate Soldiers Monument is the most famous site in Hampshire County. For over 140 years it has been honored in an annual ceremony as citizens of Hampshire County remember "her heroic sons who fell in defence of Southern Rights."

Although it was restored in the 1970s, the Monument is showing signs of serious deterioration. On the west facing back the name are badly eroded. Several places on the stone are stained, and there are troublesome cracks at different places in the stone. If it is to last another 150 years, the Monument must be professionally cleaned and stabilized. Hopefully, the work can be accomplished by September 26, 2017, the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the initial dedication. We owe that to not only the "heroic sons" whose names appear on the Monument, but to those who have preserved and honored this site over the years and to those who will come after us to carry on the tradition.
Click on small image to see larger photo.

The engraved name of the stonemasons in Baltimore who created the Monument for the Monument Association.
The staining on the names of the officers on the top row of names.
The staining on the names that were added to the bottom of the monument at a later time.
Photo showing the badly deteriorated back side of the monument which faces the weather from the west.
Stains on the urn at the top of the monument and on the emblem of the dying soldier.

Timeline:

• June 1, 1866 Women of Hampshire County decorate Confederate graves
• June 1867 Money is raised to order a monument from Gaddis Bros. of Baltimore
• Sept. 14, 1867 the Monument is delivered to Romney
• Sept. 26, 1867 The Monument is dedicated at Indian Mound Cemetery