HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
697
On the evening of June 19, 1869, a meeting of the citizens of Aurora was held in the grand jury room of the City Hall Building, and after exchange of views a committee was raised to prepare a constitution and by-laws for a Soldiers' Monument Association, to be submitted for the consideration of an adjourned meeting. The report of this committee was accepted and adopted at the adjourned meeting, and L. D. Brady was elected President; F. 0. White. Secretary; and Abner Hard, Treasurer of "The Aurora Soldiers' Monument Association." The Association was reorganized under the new State law, and became a legal corporation, December 24, 1872. In October, 1870, "The Ladies' Auxiliary Monument Association" was formed in aid of the undertaking, and after mature consideration it was decided to erect a memorial building, not only to commemorate the valor of Aurora's patriotic volunteers whose lives were sacrificed in the service, but also to honor the living veterans, and to preserve such interesting mementos of the great struggle as might be obtained. Through the enthusiastic and indefatigable efforts of Post No. 20, Grand Army of the Republic, of the Department of Illinois, and of the above mentioned local organizations, an artistic and desirable building was erected upon the island in the very heart of the city, beside the City Hall and Postoffice, and now adjacent to the new Carnegie Library. It is octagonal in form, of ornamental Gothic type, yet very heavy and enduring, one story in height and constructed of rock-faced ashlar sand-stone, with cut-stone trimmings and with iron flnials and cresting. Its dome is surmounted by an impressive, well-executed statue in bronze, representing an infantry soldier at parade rest. This was con: tributed by the Grand Army Post, and cost $800. The interior was arranged for the Post Room and repository of memorials. Its walls were beautifully frescoed, adorned with striking battle scenes, and well-executed portraits of Washington. Lincoln, Thomas, Farragut, and other famous army and naval heroes. Marble tablets are inscribed with the name of every soldier who enlisted from Aurora and the names of members of Post No. 20, and one is dedicated to the revered memory of "The Unknown Dead." Around the room are cases with glass doors for the reception of war relics, and such other articles of a historical or scientific character as shall be deemed worthy of preservation. Handsome frames are also hung, in which are grouped photographs of each comrade of the Post. An exquisite life-size, pure white marble statue, emblematic "f the Recording Angel, adorns the center of the room. This most beautiful, and exceedingly appropriate and useful structure, was completed and dedicated July 4, 1878, at a cost of about $8,000, of which the ladies furnished $2,000. It should be ever remembered that this splendid tribute was erected by voluntary individual contributions, and the taxing power was not invoked.
In 1881 the City Council, by ordinance, established a Free Public Library and Reading Room, and its Board of Directors, composed of Prof. T. H. Clark, F. O. White, W. S. Beaupre, Mrs. Pierce Burton, J. J. McLallen, B. Denney, Mrs. Thomas Gait, F. L. Bartlett and Isadore Leins, arranged with the above associations for the construction of an annex to the building, the whole structure to accommodate also the library and provide a pleasant reading-room. Such annex, harmonizing in style and material with the original building, was immediately erected at a cost to the city of about $6,000, and opened for public use in March, 1882. The Library Board is now transferring its equipment to the elegant new building, recently erected; and when this is completed the Post will come into possession of the whole Memorial Building for its comfort and use until the sad, and not distant day, when the last "Veteran Comrade" shall be mustered into the silent ranks of those who rest on "Fame's Eternal Camping Ground."
In 1901-2 a committee of three public-spirited and patriotic ladies, viz.: Mrs. Bowers, Mrs. Calhoun and Mrs. Ryan, raised a fund by private subscription of the people, and erected upon a conspicuous location in the beautiful and carefully kept cemetery at St. Charles, an enduring and impressive monument upon a broad foundation of solid masonry. Its first base is six feet square and twenty inches high, the second base four feet two inches square and sixteen inches high, and the square plinth and shaft are seven feet in height, giving it a total elevation of fifteen feet. It is chiseled from the best gray granite, and cost $1,000. The inscription deeply cut in the base is:
"TO OUR VOLUNTEERS"
It was dedicated May 30, 1892.
Dundee Area History
