I called the Sangamon Valley Collection (Lincoln Library's genealogy section) and asked to speak with the Springfield Historian, Mr Ed Russo) Years ago, he helped me so much! I found that he retired. However, the person that I spoke with,( I think it was Mr. Mann) instantly knew the answer to this delimia. Mamma was wrong! No WW1 memorial in Oak Ridge. Mr. Ross, you are right, and I stand corrected. I was told, just as you said it was taken down in the 1960's and thought to be lost. However, they found out it was damaged. It had been melted down so it is completely gone. What a shame. If anyone would like further info on this or any thing concerning Sangamon Co IL, here's how. www.lincolnlibrary.info scroll down and see the email connection, and then just submit your question. Now, I'm off to talk to mamma! (grin) Sue in IL > As to how a monument can get lost, well -- > > Back when the (former) State Capitol Bldg, uptown, which had become the > Sangamon Co. Bldg, was torn down, stone by stone, and a huge excavation dug beneath > that block-sized site for several tiers of parking, AND the IL State > Historical Library, they had to move all the markers, stones, signs, etc. that had > been placed on that block of land. > > The granite stones of the building were numbered one by one as they came > down, so they could be put back up in exactly the same positions. The stones, > while the parking tiers, Library, etc., were being constructed, were stored at > the IL State Fairgrounds. Several years later, the building was reconstructed, > just as it had been when Lincoln made his House Divided speech there, but > without the 1-story bottom level that the county had added when THEY took it over. > > The street south of the block was closed and a small court was erected to > place all the markers on stone or concrete pillars, so they could be saved, and > read. > > However, years later, someone found another marker, one that had, I believe, > been placed by the Springfield Chapter of DAR, in the weeds behind some > buildings on the Fair Grounds. I believe members of the DAR retrieved the marker > and placed it in an appropriate place, but I'm not sure just where., Nor do I > know what marker it was. I am by copy of this email, sending this info to Mrs. > Wm. Thomas, a past Regent of Spfld. Chapter, who can perhaps answer at least > one of the questions about a "lost" marker or memorial. It was not a huge > monument such as the VietNam or Korean monuments at Oak Ridge, but was very > important, nevertheless. > > I hope this answers at least one question - although perhaps not the one > about a marker for WW I - I'm pretty sure there was NOT a MONUMENT to WWI, but the > DAR was very good at markers on which were listed many, many names, so > perhaps that marker is at least to be found, somewhere. > > D.Ross > > > ==== ILSANGAM Mailing List ==== > Visit the Sangamon County Biography pages! Many biographies with lots > of pictures, too! >