Civil War monument report due Thursday at HPS annual meeting

A report on the restoration process of the Civil War Monument at Greencastle's Forest Hill Cemetery will highlight the 2013 annual meeting of the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County on Thursday evening.

The HPS will meet at the Putnam County Museum, beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Preservation Society members will elect new board members, review 2012 activities and learn about HPS goals for 2013.

Fritz Herget, president of Arsee Engineers Inc., will report of the condition of the Civil War Monument and what can be done to preserve it for future generations.

Throughout 2012 and continuing this year, HPS has been coordinating and developing a coalition intent on stabilizing the unique Civil War memorial. Herget's remarks are expected to help continue to education the community on the process of restoration and the importance of timely stabilization.

The 142-year-old structure is a memorial to the 321 Putnam County soldiers who perished during the War Between the States. Titled "Western Soldier on Guard," it was sculpted by Thomas David Jones, who has essentially a twin monument on display in Pomeroy, Ohio.

"We have a gem that's sort of been allowed to be overlooked over time," HPS board member and former president Phil Gick has understated in describing it recently.

To date, HPS has helped secure donations and/or pledges totaling some $13,000 toward assessing and stabilizing the 29-foot-tall monument located in the southwest corner of the Greencastle cemetery.

Overall, HPS goals for 2013 have been listed as:

-- Growing the membership of HPS.

-- Facilitating funding of the Civil War Monument restoration.

-- Reviving the Heritage Preservation Fair.

-- Partnering with Main Street Greencastle.

-- Developing Historic District brochures and tours.

-- Reaching all Putnam County communities.

Individual members in the HPS are available at $25, while a household membership is $35. Other levels of membership are advocate, $50; guardian, $100; and preservationist, $200.