Fri Feb 03 2012
By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
ATWATER — The Civil War marker that lays in ruin in the Atwater Cemetery will have a new life soon, thanks to a gift from an area business.
The 60-year-old monument, dedicated to the last surviving Civil War veteran in Ohio, was destroyed last month when an uninsured driver crashed into it.
Atwater Township Fiscal Officer Rebecca Bennett said a “local contractor from Ravenna” will repair the monument free of charge, with work scheduled to begin April 20. The company wishes to remain anonymous, she added.
“I’m ecstatic about it,” Bennett said. “I’m very excited, and so are the other residents in town, to preserve the honor of John Grate.”
Grate, Ohio’s last surviving Civil War veteran, died in Atwater on June 7, 1949, at the age of 103. The memorial was dedicated a little more than one year later by the Ohio Department of the Sons of the Union Veterans. It honored Grate and his 40,010 Ohio comrades who served in the war.
When erected, the monument stood nearly six feet tall and was between six and eight feet wide.
Prior to the gift announcement, the township sought out estimates that ranged from $3,900 to $34,200 for repairs and $25,800 to $40,625 for replacement.
“We’ve been assured we will not even see a crack,” said Bennett. “It’s just fabulous.”
Fund-raising started with the Sons of the Union Veterans and the Auxiliary of the Sons of the Union Veterans back in 1949. Those organizations still co-own the monument.
Nancy Greenwalt Hilton, who is the president of the Auxiliary of the Sons of the Union Veterans, said the groups were thrilled to learn of the heavy burden lifted from their shoulders.
“We couldn’t have paid for it,” she said.
“We are beyond excited.”
The Atwater Lions Club and the Atwater Historical Society are working with the Civil War organizations to plan a dedication ceremony for Oct. 10 to coincide with the tentatively titled “Great Day” event to honor Civil War veterans.
“We didn’t even realize the significance of the John Grate Memorial,” said Danny Derreberry, an Atwater Township Trustee. “We are now finding out about that. It’s been a good wake-up call for Atwater.”
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4 Total Comments
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Posted by draygreen06 April 10, 2009
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what happened to the first responce? i didnt see anything wrong with it.. rc covering up for portage marble?
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Posted by draygreen06 April 10, 2009
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i agree with billanddoug where is the guy that hit the marker? is he in jail for driving without insurance? why isnt he going to be working on the marker with D&C ? someone needs to talk to someone and i cannot wait to see them work on the marker and does anybody have there number? i need some work done around my house for spring
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Posted by BillandDoug April 10, 2009
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I too believe that the driver should pay for all repairs. In this bad economy why should a local business pay for the damage of someone else? Hats off to D&C for stepping up and helping Atwater. Maybe the driver should do community service in Atwater to try to make up the difference?
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Posted by DoWhatsRight April 10, 2009
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Why didn't the insurance company of the driver of the car pay for repairing it? If the driver did not have insurance then the drive should have to pay for it. Either way, my business will not go to Portage Marble.
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