Spanish American War Memorial
Location: Main Street (north side), Acton Center, between the Town Hall and Acton Memorial Library
Previous Location: Acton Town Common, moved in 2011 to make way for the Veterans Memorial
Previous Location: Acton Town Common, moved in 2011 to make way for the Veterans Memorial
This stone was erected in 1912 by the town of Acton. The town report for the year ending 1 February 1913 showed payments to Julian Tuttle for the foundation ($15) and to D. C. Harris for the monument stone ($200). There were also expenses for the dedication ceremony and luncheon.
The August 21, 1912 Concord Enterprise reported the installation of the red granite stone on "the little triangular piece of the common facing the monument." An October 16 article about the dedication ceremony held on 12 October 1912 included a transcription of the address given by Reverend F. P Wood. The Acton News of March 28, 1913 reported that at the monument's location (before it was moved) "it will be eventually shaded by a tree which was set in commemoration of the treaty by which the Spanish-American war was brought to a close."
Note that William G. Rodway, an Acton resident who joined a Boston regiment and died of disease while in service, was omitted from the listing. A blog post gives further information about him. Others who were considered "of this place" in 1898 were "Aleck Losaw and a young man whose correct name is not learned, a farm hand at J. Coffey's." (Concord Enterprise, 3 November 1898, page 5). The 22 December 1898 Concord Enterprise (page 8) described a reception for Acton's veterans of the war and listed those present. In addition to names on the stone, the list included T. Marion. Alec Losaw was present at the reception but was said to be from Boxboro.
See also:
The Acton News, 28 March 1913, page 4
"Lest We Forget," The Acton Citizen, 11 November 1994
Concord Enterprise, 16 October 1912, page 3.
Acton Centre news, Concord Enterprise, 21 August 1912, page 10. (The article mistakenly reported that the names on the stone were of Civil War veterans.)
Presentation, Proposal to Acton Historic District Commission about Veterans Memorial and Relocation of Spanish American War Memorial, undated but probably October 2011, includes pictures of the Spanish American War Memorial in its previous location.
Acton Historical Society also owns pictures of the memorial on its former site on Acton Common. [See for example PH 97_23B_1 & B_3.]
The August 21, 1912 Concord Enterprise reported the installation of the red granite stone on "the little triangular piece of the common facing the monument." An October 16 article about the dedication ceremony held on 12 October 1912 included a transcription of the address given by Reverend F. P Wood. The Acton News of March 28, 1913 reported that at the monument's location (before it was moved) "it will be eventually shaded by a tree which was set in commemoration of the treaty by which the Spanish-American war was brought to a close."
Note that William G. Rodway, an Acton resident who joined a Boston regiment and died of disease while in service, was omitted from the listing. A blog post gives further information about him. Others who were considered "of this place" in 1898 were "Aleck Losaw and a young man whose correct name is not learned, a farm hand at J. Coffey's." (Concord Enterprise, 3 November 1898, page 5). The 22 December 1898 Concord Enterprise (page 8) described a reception for Acton's veterans of the war and listed those present. In addition to names on the stone, the list included T. Marion. Alec Losaw was present at the reception but was said to be from Boxboro.
See also:
The Acton News, 28 March 1913, page 4
"Lest We Forget," The Acton Citizen, 11 November 1994
Concord Enterprise, 16 October 1912, page 3.
Acton Centre news, Concord Enterprise, 21 August 1912, page 10. (The article mistakenly reported that the names on the stone were of Civil War veterans.)
Presentation, Proposal to Acton Historic District Commission about Veterans Memorial and Relocation of Spanish American War Memorial, undated but probably October 2011, includes pictures of the Spanish American War Memorial in its previous location.
Acton Historical Society also owns pictures of the memorial on its former site on Acton Common. [See for example PH 97_23B_1 & B_3.]
Back of Monument
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Side of Monument
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