Public Art in Union County

By the time the Civil War concluded in 1865, it had ravaged the population. By the end of the conflict, an estimated 620,000 were dead in total— an entire generation of young men had been sent away to fight and, ultimately, die. This left the nation grappling with how to cope with their loss, how to pay respect to their memory, and how to honor their beloved. In dealing with the grief of such loss and devastation, many often find it therapeutic to turn to art to cope. The erection of monuments served as a form of solace for many grieving families— a way to ensure that their loved ones would not be forgotten. For Maura Lyons, professor of art history at Drake University, these works of public art are a means of paying tribute to our collective history. “[They] still speak to people,” she says of monuments that address historical events. “There is a relevance to historical artworks too, in terms of how we think about where we got to where we are today”.

Excerpt of an interview with Maura Lyons, professor of art history at Drake University.

At the time of the war, Union County had a population of approximately 15,000. An estimated 500 men joined the ranks of a number of different infantries. From Lewisburg, seventy-six young men joined the Company G of the 4^th Regiment of Pennsylvania. Additionally, ninety-eight men from Union, Berks, and Northumberland Counties joined Company E of the 74^thRegiment as well. Therefore, the area that Bucknell occupies may not have experienced the war torn destruction of areas where the battles raged, but the community had to grapple with the grief of loss all the same. Although it is not precisely known how many Union County men perished in battle, the number was large enough to create demand for a form of remembrance.

Although it would not be erected until 1901, the Union County Civil War Memorial fulfilled a need for a memorial. The monument consists of a 45-foot tall obelisk made from Vermont granite. At the top of the length is a statue— a soldier carrying a flag to victory. Two bands run along the length of the obelisk, each side naming one of the battles that Union County men fought and died in. Eight are named in total: Antietam, Appomattox, Fredericksburg, Gettysbug, Malvern Hill, Petersburg, Vicksburg, and Wilderness.

Two figures, cast in copper and over seven feet tall, guard the base; one a soldier with a shooting iron, the other a sailor with a sword. However, over time the copper statues began to show wear— especially after the cannon at the base of the obelisk proved ineffective in protecting the statues from a number of unfortunate run-ins with vandals over the years. They were eventually removed from the base of the monument and stored in the county courthouse basement for their protection. They remained there for over twenty-five years, until in 1995 they were taken out for restoration and rededication.

For many Bucknell students, the statue may be familiar as a fixture of Lewisburg’s historic downtown. It additionally serves as a stop on the Stadler Center poetry path, where the accompanying poem “Here, Bullet” by Brian Turner is inscribed on a nearby plaque. The final line of the poem reads: “Each twist of the round / spun deeper, because here, Bullet, / here is where the world ends, every time”. By encouraging public art and poetry to go hand in hand, the poetry path strengthens connections between art and history.

Another prominent example of public art in the area is the Northumberland Civil War Memorial, found at the intersection of Market Street and 3^rd Street in Sunbury. The cornerstone was laid on May 30, 1874, several months before the war would even officially conclude. However, the work was completed in 1879 with the unveiling of the monument itself on Independence Day. In pure form alone, the memorial appears to be aesthetically similar to the one in Lewisburg. Both feature a large obelisk, a soldier perched on top, and cannons guarding the base. However, the Sunbury monument goes the extra length of naming the soldier who stands at the top. An inscription along the base of the monument identifies the figure as Colonel James Cameron. Killed at the first battle of Bull Run, he was the first man from Northumberland County to perish in the bloody battles of the Civil War.

Furthermore, text on the South side dedicates the monument to the many soldiers from the area who fought and died for their nation. The inscription reads “Erected to the / Memory of the gallant soldiers / of Northumberland County / who fell in the / battles of the Great Rebellion”. Additionally, twelve of the battles that Sunbury troops fought in are inscribed along the shaft of the monument as well— Antietam, Appomattox, Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Fair Oaks, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg, Vicksburg, Wilderness, Williamsburg, and Winchester.

*An inscription on the Northumberland Civil War Memorial dedicating the monument to fallen soldiers.*

The purpose of monuments is to both memorialize and educate. Ensuring that important figures and events are memorialized in public art form is a means of ensuring the preservation of history. “Thinking about the history behind the monuments— when they were created, for whom, who they speak to, who they don’t speak to, how people connect that to societal issues today,” says Lyons, “I think that’s one great example about how art history isn’t just something that happens in museums, and it’s not just something that is a kind of nostalgic look at the past”. Bringing art out of the hallowed halls of museums and onto the streets allows its impact to reach farther than ever. Public art is essential in bringing beauty to the community and history to the forefront of discussion.

Full Interview with Maura Lyons

Recommended Reading/Works Cited

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