Soldier's Monument and Band Stand in the Woodstock, IL Square Park (Colorized Postcard 723)

Soldier's Monument and Band Stand in the Woodstock, IL Square Park (Colorized Postcard 723)

The monument to Civil War soldiers was dedicated November 9, 1909. The Women's Relief Corps, founded in 1883 as an auxilliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, raised the $3,000 needed for the statue. It took the women 12 years to accumulate the funds. They gave "dime" socials and ten-cent teas, they operated an "eating house" at the fair grounds, they sponsored a ball and a lecture series. When they had collected half the amount needed, they passed the hat among the citizens of Woodstock who responded with pledges of $100 or less, depending upon their means.

Antonio Zoia got the contract for the monument, which was carved of Barre and dark Quincy marble by a firm in Vermont. Several locations were considered: in a cemetery, then in one of the four corners of the park, and finally in the center of the Square where an ornamental fountain had been previously. Zoia erected the pedestal surmounted by a soldier standing at rest.

3,000 people attended the unveiling including 800 Woodstock school children, civil war veterans and their families, and military dignitaries.

The band stand was also erected in 1909.

Wm. G. Hoffman was in business producing postcards from 1908 until 1924. There are few clues in the photo to determine the date it was taken and there is no postmark on the back.

Jim Keefe Collection

C1910