For generations, people have
been going to Wisner Park to meet with friends, gather for celebrations, speak out
about various causes, shop for summer produce, and simply sit and enjoy the
green space. In 1875, the Elmira Daily
Advertiser declared the spot “one of the pleasantest in this city and
hardly equaled in any place in the state or country." It is also a spot to
commemorate local heroes. The park is dotted with nearly a dozen statues and memorials.
 |
| View of the eastern half of Wisner Park from above, c. 1950s |
Thomas K. Beecher Statue, 1901
The
first statue erected in Wisner Park was dedicated to Thomas K. Beecher. In
1854, Beecher came to Elmira to preach at the Independent Congregational
Church, now known as Park Church. He served as minister there for 46 years.
Just two days after his funeral in 1900, Col. William C. Buck called for a
suitable monument to be erected in Wisner Park to honor Beecher. Eminent
sculptor Jonathan Scott Hartley was hired to create the statue and it was
dedicated in 1901.
 |
| Postcard showing children posing near the statue of Thomas K. Beecher, c. 1910s |
Exedra, 1924
In 1919, at the end of World War I, a Victory Arch
was built across Main Street near Wisner Park. People gathered there to welcome
home the soldiers of Company L. A temporary honor roll inscribed with 96 names
of local soldiers who died in the war was erected there as well. On Memorial Day 1924, a permanent
monument to those who served in the war was dedicated . Exedra
stands “in honor of the heroes” and “in memory of those who gave their lives.” Terzo Cenci, a young sculptor who was also a veteran of the war, designed and modeled the monument, and Ernest S. Leland was the architect. In
1936, Harry B. Bentley Post 443 of the American Legion added an eternal light
in front of the monument.
 |
| Postcard showing the temporary honor roll, 1919 |
 |
| Postcard showing permanent Exedra monument, c. 1920s |
The Hiker, 1929
In 1929, a second war monument was added to the
park. “The Hiker” statue honors those who fought in the Spanish-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Philippine-American War. Elmira’s statue is one
of at least 50 copies throughout the United States. The original statue was
created by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson for the University of Minnesota in 1906.
The Common Council of Elmira and the Chemung County Board of Supervisors each
contributed $2500 to purchase and erect the monument.
 |
| A gathering of veterans at The Hiker statue, date unknown |
World War II Monument, 1949
During World War II, a temporary marker was placed
in Wisner Park in memory of local soldiers who gave their lives in service. In
1949, the Harry B. Bentley Post erected a permanent monument honoring the 292
people who died and the 12,000 who served from Chemung County.
 |
| World War II monument, 2018 |
Korean and Vietnam Wars Monument, 1987
A monument honoring Chemung County men and women who served their country and gave their lives in Korea and Vietnam was dedicated on Memorial
Day in 1987.
 |
| Korean and Vietnam Wars monument, 2018 |
Fallen Officers Memorial, 2000
On November 11, 2000, the Elmira Police Department
unveiled a monument dedicated to fallen officers. It lists four men – Chief John J. Finnell, Sergeant Charles Gradwell, Officer August R. Michalke, and Sergeant John C. Hawley – who gave their lives
in the line of duty.
 |
| Fallen Officers Memorial, 2018 |
Other Monuments
While
walking around Wisner Park last week, I noticed there were several other
smaller monuments that I had not noticed before. Near the Exedra monument are
two black stone monuments carved to look like books. They are dedicated to two
local Medal of Honor recipients, Thomas P. Gere and John Denny.
 |
| Medal of Honor monuments, 2018 |
 |
| Flagpole monument, 2018 |
Lovely!
ReplyDeleteI am proud to be an ancestor of Civil War hero, and Medal of Honor recipient John Denny. My father, William D. Green was also a WWII war hero, who was awarded the Navy and Marine Corp Lifesaving Medal. In life, he was a lifelong Firefighter. A hero until the end. He lived in the hotel, turned apartment complex across the street from Wisner Park, where he could see the monument of his ancestor outside his window.
ReplyDelete