An Early Memorial

The Soldiers Monument in Bristol, Connecticut was placed on January 20^th 1866, one of the earliest memorials.

The Bristol Soldier’s Monument Committee was formed in 1865.  With the suggestion of Josiah F Peck Sr, the committee set out to get a contribution of $1.00 from every member of the town of Bristol, Connecticut.  There were 3500 people living in Bristol, but not all were able to give money, and so a subcommittee made up of seven women and six men organized a Strawberry Festival to supplement the needed funds.  An agreement was reached October 16^th 1865 with James G Batterson of Hartford, Connecticut to furnish and erect the Soldier’s Monument.  Peck purchased the land for the monument, completed a foundation and provided the transportation for the monument.

The Soldier’s Monument is located on a hill in West Cemetery, in Bristol.  It is six feet six inch at the base and is twenty five feet high, made out of Brown Portland Stone.  There is an inscription which dedicates the monument to the soldiers who fought and died for their country from the town of Bristol.  There is an eagle at the top of the monument.  It was placed on January 20^th 1866.

The monument was rededicated by the town of Bristol on May 30^th 1988.

One Of The First Veteran's Monuments

Josiah F Peck and James G Batterson reached an agreement on October 16^th 1865 to place a monument in Bristol, Connecticut for the town’s veterans.

A committee was formed in 1865, under the suggestion of Josiah F Peck Sr, known as the Bristol Soldier’s Monument Committee.  The purpose was to raise money to create a memorial to its veterans.  It was decided that all of the town’s 3500 residences should donate one dollar towards the Monuments creation.  The committee also set up a subcommittee to organize a Strawberry Festival to raise additional funds.  On October 16^th 1865 Peck reached an agreement with James G Batterson; a cemetery memorial salesman from Hartford, Connecticut, to furnish and set up the Soldiers’ Monument in Bristol.

The Monument was to be six feet wide at the base, and thirty-five feet high.  It was to be made out of Brown Portland Stone, quarried in Portland, Connecticut.  There was to be an inscription for the soldiers from Bristol who had fought and died in the late war to save the Union.  At the top of the Monument, facing east is an eagle carved out of the brownstone.  It is located in the West Cemetery, on the highest hill in the cemetery.

If you would like to see more about the Bristol Soldiers’ Monument  This is a good web site.