When people hear the phrase "the Washington Monument" they generally picture the towering structure in
D.C. with it's own
reflecting pool. It is the most widely known monument, but it is not
the monument, and it was certainly not the first to be erected in honor of
our nation's first president. That honor lies
west of the city, in the portion of Maryland that
capitol dwellers often sneer at and look down upon as filled with
farmland and
mullet wearing bumpkins. I'm willing to bet that 95% of Maryland's residents, and a hefty portion of the politicians that work in the capitol for that matter, have no idea that a little town called
Boonsboro holds the title of the home of the first monument to
George Washington.
On July 4, 1827 the people of Boonsboro came together and decided to construct a
monument to the first
president. They didn't make this decision in one day, no the date was obviously chosen for its
importance to history. However they did manage to build the entire monument in one day, all but the
foundation, at least, which was layed out the previous day. Yes, on July 4 over 500 people gathered in the
town square at roughly 7:30am and marched behind an
American flag and a
fife and
drum corps two miles to the top of
South Mountain.
The
site was chosen because it had plenty of rocks available. Remember now this was 1827, they didn't make a whole lot out of
brick back then, it was primarily
stone construction. Anyone who visits this
area is sure to notice the
remnants of stone fences, houses and other buildings scattered about in different towns. Some are still used, some have been restored, but many are crumbling reminders of our
state's rich
history.
The 500 Boonsboro citizens gathered at the selected place and the men set to work while the women provided water and food. At noon a
dedication service was held, a cold lunch served and then work continued. At 4pm their hard work was complete. They had constructed a monument fifty-four feet in
circumference at its base, and thirty-four feet tall out of large
granite rocks that at times weighed nearly a
ton. Since there were no sources of water available for
mortar, the granite was carefully selected and cut to fit the circular wall. Stone steps were added on the inside that extended to the top, making it possible for those that ascended to see all of the
valley below.
When it had been completed the
Declaration of Independence was read from the steps of the monument, and three
veterans of the
War of Independence climbed the
tower and fired a three-round
salute.
Restoration
Fifty years after it was built the
tower fell to ruins. In 1882 it was again in the hands of it's citizens who decided to restore it to its original glory. A
canopy was added and a
railway was built to the monument. However the
construction wasn't stead fast and ten years later a
crack developed in the wall. This time it went unrepaired and again, fell to ruins. Then in 1920 the
Washington County Historical Society bought the land upon which the monument stood and in 1943 they deeded Washington's monument to the state. The
Washington State Park, upon which the monument resides, is around 108 acres of wooded mountain containing the monument, a house in which the
superintendent lives, an
exhibit center and a playground and picnic area. Finally, 109 years after its original
construction, the monument was restored to its original
design, and on July 4, 1936 a third dedication took place.
The
Appalachian Trail passes right by the monument, so those
adventurous explorers who opt to
travel the length of it will have a chance to see the first monument
resurrected in honor of George Washington. I highly recommend stopping by if in the area, as you will enjoy a wonderful view and a peaceful experience while there.
References:
The Story of Washington County, by Mary Micheal. Library of Congress, 1993.