What happened to this beautiful monument dedicated to Abraham Lincoln on July 4, 1909 in Scranton, Pennsylvania? Today, all traces of this 16-foot high monument have vanished. And no one living seems to know why it's gone or where it went.
Dedicated at the Nay Aug Park in Scranton in the centennial year of Lincoln's birth, the monument was obviously beautifully carved and contained an impressive looking bust of Lincoln at the top. There were bronze lions and eagles around the base of the structure as well. All in all, it might have been one of the most beautiful monuments ever erected to Lincoln.
This article from the Associated Press tells the story of the monument and relates how another photo from the dedication day exists showing men, women, and children surrounding it. A local postcard collector found this real photo card I've shown in the above image, but he doesn't remember the statue at all while swimming at the park in Scranton as a boy in the 1930's and 1940's. Obviously, the monument wasn't in place at the park then for even 30 or 40 years.
Historians in Scranton and the surrounding areas are completely baffled. No documentation has been found relating what happened to the statue. It's as if this monument has vanished into thin air. Let's hope that the case of the missing Abe might be solved in time for the bicentennial of his birth next year.
5 comments:
Having grown up in the Land of Lincoln (where two of our grade school field trips were to New Salem State Park and Lincoln's Tomb), this mystery especially fascinates me. My thought was that it might have been dismantled for its bronze during a scrap metal collection during World War II. I would think that would have been noted at the time, though.
I hope the bust is found.
Leanna Loomer
One sad possibility is that if the bust was not being displayed in 1918--I might have gone to the "War Effort" and melted down. Just a thought-- a lot of historical items were lost in this way.
The Bust of Lincoln on a Tall Pedestal on a raised paved area of NAY AUG PARK, Scranton, Pennsylvania was there when I accompanied by my wife and Cousins on a walk thru Nay Aug Park Late Summer 2007.
Suggest seek the Monument in the park. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it. I had not known of it previously. It is approximately 16 foot tall.
Try looking at what happened during the Johnstown flood in PA in that area!
Geoff
Have you been able to contact Dick E about his siting
and do you still have the photo of the bust
we are possibly doing an article in a a local paper about lincoln in ne pa and would like to reference the subject and may want to illustrate it
go to http://www.newsfax.com/lincoln.htm to contact ken
Post a Comment