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GAR Veterans John Clark & James Lawrence Memorial Plaque

Location: Side yard (not really visible from road) at 60 Prospect Street
GAR Veterans Plaque
The plaque reads:
"ERECTED AND DEDICATED
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN W CLARK
JAMES R LAWRENCE
G.A.R.VETERANS
MAY 30, 1934"

According to a letter from Dorothy Whipple to Betsey Conant of the Acton Historical Society (undated, but apparently in 1989), Dr. Orma Lawrence Clark lived at 60 Prospect Street.  He had this memorial plaque made in honor of his two grandfathers who both served in the Civil War and were former Grand Army of the Republic members and installed it in his yard with an accompanying flag pole.  The plaque was dedicated on May 30, 1934, attended by representatives of the American Legion and the G.A.R. during Memorial Day ceremonies.  For many years, the occupants of the house raised a flag at the site.  Eventually, the pole rotted and plants grew up around the site.  It was rediscovered in 1989.  The above picture from the collection of the Acton Historical Society was evidently taken at that time.

For more information see:
"Back yard yields G. A. R. vets' plaque," The Beacon, July 13, 1989, pages 1 and 5, (clipping at Acton Historical Society).
Letter from Dorothy Whipple to Elizabeth Conant (at Acton Historical Society), c. 1989.
"Pay Tribute to Heroic Dead in South Acton," Concord Enterprise, June 6, 1934, page 5.
"Remembers Memorial," The Beacon, Letter to the editor, July 20, 1989 (clipping at Acton Historical Society).

For information about the veterans, see Acton Memorial Library's Online Civil War Archives:
Records of John W. Clark
Records of James R. Lawrence

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