A spire to inspire
Monument symbolizes Steuben County through the generations

By LEE SAUER

Question: What one landmark most readily identifies Angola and Steuben County?
A. courthouse
B. old jail
C. a lake, any lake
D. Soldiers Monument

Yes, you can use a lifeline and ask any area resident. Whoa! 98 percent pick the Soldiers Monument.

Is that your final answer?

You bet, it's the Steuben County Soldiers Monument rising high above downtown Angola.

* * *

The exact center of Angola always seemed special. For years, a well brought water to the surface there and visiting farmers hitched their horses nearby. Perhaps because of the well, the nearby ground was never developed and the town simply sprung up around it.

In the early 1900s, as events marched the world toward its first all-encompassing war, elderly Civil War veterans looked back at their own contribution to history. A trend of sorts developed in which small towns and large cities alike began to memorialize the achievements of previous generations through monuments.

It appears Steuben County tried several times to build a Civil War veterans' monument, but early efforts stalled. Then, in the spring of 1916, Angola's B.J. Crosswait Post of the Grand Army of the Republic formed a monument committee. Its members included Raymond E. Willis and Erastus M. Hetzler. Willis would become nationally known for his leadership skills when he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1940. Hetzler could provide technical expertise to any stone memorial: he owned and operated Angola Monument Works.

The committee circulated a petition and support for a monument began to build. At a July 1916 meeting, the Steuben County Commissioners approved the project and passed it on to the county council for funding. In September, the council appropriated the entire construction cost of $15,000 (the City of Angola would donate $1,000 worth of work on the grounds, bringing the total monument cost to $16,000).

The commissioners chose a design by Mansfield, Ohio, architect J.M. Ayres. The plan included a base 19 feet, 6 inches square. At its corners stood statues representing the four branches of military service ­­ infantry, artillery, calvary and navy. From the center of the foundation rose an upright obelisk. The focal point reaching 70 feet above ground level would be the statue of Columbia, a female figure representing the republic. In one hand Columbia held a wreath for crowning heroes, in the other a furled flag.

Bids for the work were received and, at their Jan. 18, 1917, meeting, commissioners chose Hetzler and his company to create the monument. The services of an expert in erecting large stonework ­­ Matt Haley of Boston ­­ also were secured.

Hetzler worked out of a barn-like building one block north of Maumee Street and one block west of Wayne Street (approximately where the Angola Fire Department building now resides). When walking nearby, Angola residents heard clanking of machinery and the chink of heavy chains.

Hetzler and his workers had to rush to get the large slabs of Barre granite ready. The train on which granite for the base rode wrecked on its way to Angola. Its arrival on Aug. 13 simply didn't give Hetzler enough time, so dedication ceremonies were pushed back two weeks.

After a frenzied few weeks of work in Hetzler's shop, the scene shifted to the center of town. An age-old block-and-tackle assembly was employed to lift the 30-foot obelisk into place. Once again, fate seemed poised to sabotage the project. On an first attempt to raise the obelisk, a pole snapped. Luckily workers and the granite shaft escaped serious injury.

Finally, it came time to put Columbia on her pedestal. She didn't reach her high position without controversy. Some local folks thought she should face west, where she could greet visitors to town arriving on the daily trains. Local veterans wished for her to turn toward the south, where they had fought to save the union she represented. Her final position, it seems, owes itself to the whim of inanimate objects. According to legend, the statue became entangled as workers tried to hoist her into position. The contractor in charge decided to leave well enough alone and Columbia took her frozen pose facing east.

The excitement grew. G.A.R. committee member Willis ­­ along with his brother, Edward ­­ ran the Steuben Republican newspaper at the time. In its Sept. 5, 1917, issue, the newspaper could barely contain itself in promoting the event. A font size usually reserved for circus posters shouted, "Soldiers and Settlers' Reunion." "Gigantic Street Parade," and "Greatest Day ever held in Steuben Co."

The event spread over two days. On Wednesday, Sept. 12, three regiments of Civil War veterans held reunions. That evening, a "public campfire" was held at the Christian Church, 500 W. Maumee St. The program, the Republican reported, included "short, snappy talks by the soldiers and others, as well as some excellent musical numbers." Yet another reunion of Steuben County "old settlers" met in the Methodist Church, 220 W. Maumee St., at 10 a.m. the following morning.

By the time monument ceremonies began, Thursday, Sept. 13, 1917, had grown unseasonably warm. The temperature may have affected the size of the crowd. The Angola Herald ­­ the Republican's arch political rival ­­ would report in a surprisingly short story that the crowd was "very much smaller than had been anticipated."

Enthusiasm of those that did gather, however, seemed unaffected.

At 1 p.m., festivities began. The town fairly shone after having received the touches of a professional decorating service. In the opening parade, old soldiers were joined by the Women's Relief Corps and Boy Scouts in marching before a reviewing stand set up before Hotel Hendry (the site of today's Dollar General store). The crowd cheered a re-enactment of Archibald M. Willard's famous painting "Spirit of '76," complete with a wounded fife player and little drummer boy (the latter played by Paul Smurr of Angola).

After the parade, a round of speeches followed. Orlando Summers of Kokomo, commander-in-chief of the G.A.R., gave an eloquent summation of the lasting effects of the Civil War in his dedication remarks.

Summers pointed out that the world and America itself did not view the United States as a wholly integrated unit before the war. The north and Abraham Lincoln ­­ as the President eloquently stated in his Gettysburg Address ­­ defined the nation as one living entity; it would live or die as a whole. Only after the war proved this view true did America take its place a a leader of nations throughout the world, said Summers.

After Summers' speech, Allie Truesdell, known as one of Angola's most patriotic women, walked into the center of attention. While the band played "Spirit of '76," Truesdell pulled a rope. Curtains covering Columbia fell away, revealing the statue to the appreciative crowd.

Meanwhile, four young granddaughters of veterans, all dressed in white, removed a large American flag that had been draped over the base of the monument. The unwrapping revealed plaques bearing the names of 1,278 county men who had enlisted in service to the Union. Of that number, 280 never came home.

Although the Republican reported all attempts had been made to avoid having a meeting of a "frivolous character," the ceremonies ended with lots of fun.

A hot air balloon went up and demonstrated a"double parachute drop." A vaudeville troupe gave a round of "open air" performances that included three shows by the the Marshall Trio Minstrels. Cutting-edge technology provided "moving picture" shows while an old-fashioned local drama group known as the Home Talent Players presented a play titled, "The Runaways." Plus, the Angola City Band gave a concert.

Finally, at 8:30 p.m., the ceremonies concluded in an all-out expression of joy, termed simply by organizers as "public dancing on the public square."

As they danced around the monument, revelers knew they were part of something that would last a long time, but they couldn't have realized the central role the granite would play in the life of their community.

From that time forward, the Mound ­­ as the monument grounds affectionately came to be called ­­ would be included in many of the area's triumphs. Like visiting an immobile relative, generations of county residents would bring their celebrations to the center of town. It became tradition to circle the Mound after an area wedding, or after a notable sports or band competition victory.

With area lakes and all the summer recreation they offer, Columbia and her soldiers came to symbolize an attitude, a way of thinking. When generations of children saw Columbia, they knew where they were:

On vacation.

Nor would the old lady be present only for party times. She stood like the hub of a wheel of the area's work-a-day world, a silent observer as the traffic rushed around her.

And she's been with the community through the tough times.

The area folk who danced around Columbia almost 83 years ago couldn't have known it then, but they were standing on the threshold of the bloodiest century in history. As Orlando Summers pointed out, the nation was growing into a world leader, a position of tremendous opportunity and mind-boggling responsibility.

Some of the women who danced that day may have noticed an unusually short supply of men partners. No one then would have had to guess why.

Just that Monday, Steuben County's Company B, 3rd Regiment, had left town for further training.