Record of the proceedings of the
"Soldiers Monument Committee" - 1899

First Meeting - of the committee appointed by the Town Board Caledonia, N. Y. on March 29, 1899. Consisting of Supervisor F. A. Christie, Town Clerk Jas. C. Foot and Justices of the Peace, Duncan D. Cameron, James A. Wilson, Duncan D. McColl and Robert W. Scott, Jr. or their Successors in office. President of the Village, Thomas Ball, or his Successor, Wilbur H. Payne and Robert M. Place, Commander and Quartermaster of McNaughton Post G.A.R. or their Successors in office, was held in "Town Room", Burgess Hall April 6, 1899. All members being present except Town Clerk, Jas. C. Foot and Justice Jas. A. Wilson.

The meeting was called to order by Supervisor F.A. Christie, who upon motion, was elected the Chairman and President of said Committee.

A motion made that R. M. Place be elected Secretary of said Committee was also carried.

It was moved and carried that said Committee be given name and to be known as "Soldiers Monument Committee" of Caledonia.

First Meeting Continued

On motion the following Sub-Committees were elected.

Charles Spring being chosen by unanimous consent as an additional representative of the "Grand Army Republic."

It was also moved & carried that the Committee of the whole can be called to meet at the option of the President, or by the Secretary upon request of three members thereof.

A suggestion made in the form of a request, by President Christie, to change the certificate of deposit for the funds now in his hands, for one in the name of the "Soldiers Monument Committee" was upon motion approved and unanimously granted.

No further business appearing, meeting adjourned.

R. M. Place
Sec'y

1899 Meeting of Soldiers Monument Committee continued

1899 Meeting of Soldiers Monument Committee on "Design and Material" held in
town room June 13, 1899. All members present.

After due examination and a careful comparison of the several designs and prices of same, the following resolution was presented for consideration.

Resolved
 That the design submitted by the firm of J. Hamilton and Son of Batavia,
N.Y., be accepted and contract for same be made as soon as sufficient money be
secured.
Carried by full vote of committee.

A motion that President Christie act as Treasurer for Soldiers Monument
Committee, also carried.

Motion to adjourn to July 1, 3:00 P.M. carried.     R.M. Place, Sec'y

1899 Meeting of Monument Committee was held in F.A. Christie Store, Saturday
evening Aug. 26, 1899.

Meeting called to order by President Christie who also called for report of
Soliciting Committee. Chairman of said committee reported the sum of two hundred &
forty (240) dollars thus far subscribed. Making a total of nineteen hundred and twenty
five (1925) dollars.

It was moved and seconded that the chair appoint a committee to execute a
contract and specifications, for submission to messrs. J. Hamilton and Son, Contractors.
Carried

President appointed Messrs. Cameron, Wilson and Place as such committee, to
be known as the "Building Committee."

Motion to obtain permission from the Trustees in writing for the purpose of
erecting said Soldiers Monument on such site as may be decided upon, within the
cooperation, by the Committee on "Location of Monument."  Carried

The property known as the John McNaughton place. Situate on the corner of
East Avenue and North Street, having been suggested as a desirable location.  Mr. Cameron was asked to confer with Executors Walker & Fraser, as to the price and on what conditions said property could be purchased.

Motion to adjourn to Sept. 1st. Carried      R.M. Place, sec'y

Adjourned meeting of Soldiers Monument Commitee held Sept. 1, 1899

In the matter of purchase of the McNaughton property. Mr. Cameron reported
that he had conferred with Executors, whose terms however, were such that this committee could not consider, lacking the means and power, with which to comply.

There being no further business, a motion to meet tomorrow Sept. 2nd at 1/2
past 1 oclock for the purpose of taking measurements for site in public square,
for location of monument.            Carried       R.M. Place, sec'y

1899 - Pursuant to adjournment the Monument Committee me in the store of F.A. Christie.
       All members present.

The Secretary reported his efforts on location as follows:

       Village of Caledonia Clerk R.M. Christie
       President Thomas Ball
       Trustees  H. Ross McKay and John H. Barks
       Caledonia, N.Y.       September 5, 1899
                                                 
Permission is hereby granted to the Soldiers Monument Committee of the Town
of Caledonia, N.Y. to erect a Monument in Memory of the deceased Soldieers and Sailors who served in defense of our country.

Said Monument to be located wherever decided upon by the Committee on
location.

                                        Thomas Ball, President
                                        H. Ross McKay} Trustees
                                        John H. Barks}

Attest
R.M. Place
Clerk

1899 Meeting of Soldiers Monument Committee - Continued

1899 Meeting of Soldiers Monument Committee on "Design and Material" held in town room June 13, 1899. All members present.

After due examination and a careful comparison of the several designs and prices of same the following resolution was presented for consideration.

Resolved That the design submitted by the firm of J. Hamilton and Son of Batavia, N.Y., be accepted and contract for same be made as soon as sufficient money be secured.

Carried by full vote of committee

A motion that President Christie act as Treasurer for Soldiers Monument Committee, also carried.

Motion to adjourn to July 1, 3:00 P.M. carried. R.M. Place, sec'y

1899 Meeting of Monument Committee was held in F.A. Christie Store, Saturday evening, Aug. 26, 1899.

Meeting called to order by President Christie who also called for report of Soliciting Committee. Chairman of said committee reported the sum of two hundred & forty (240) dollars thus far subscribed. Making a total of nineteen hundred and twenty five (1925) dollars.

It was moved and seconded that the chair appoint a committee to execute a contract and specifications, for submission to Messrs. J. Hamilton and Son, Contractors. Carried

President appointed Messrs. Cameron, Wilson and Place as such committee to be known as the "Building Committee."

Motion to obtain permission from the Trustees in writing for the purpose of erecting said Soldiers Monument on such site as may be decided upon, within the cooperation, by the Committee on "Location of Monument." Carried

The property know as the John McNaughton place. Situate on the corner of East Avenue and North Streets, having been suggested as a desirable location. Mr. Cameron was asked confer with Executors Walker & Fraser, as to price and on what conditions said property could be purchased.

Motion to adjourn to Sept. 1st. Carried R.M. Place, sec'y

Adjourned meeting of Soldiers Monument Committee held Sept. 1, 1899

In the matter of purchase of the McNaughton property, Mr. Cameron reported that he had conferred with Executors, whose terms however, were such that this committee could not consider, lacking the means and power, with which to comply.

There being no further business, a motion to meet tomorrow Sept. 2nd at 1/2 past 1 o'clock for the purpose of taking measurements for site in public square, for location of monument. Carried R.M. Place, sec'y

1899 - Pursuant to adjournment the Monument Committee met in the Store of F.A. Christie. All members present.

The Secretary reported his efforts on location as follows:

Village of Caledonia Clerk R.M. Place President Thomas Ball Trustees H. Ross McKay John H. Barks

Caledonia, N.Y. September 5, 1899

Permission is hereby granted to the Soldiers Monument Committee of the Town of Caledonia, N.Y. to erect a monument in memory of the deceased soldiers and sailors who served in defense of our country. Said monument to be located wherever decided upon by the committee on location.

Thomas Ball, President H. Ross McKay } Trustees John H. Barks } Attest R.M. Place Clerk

1900 At a meeting of the Soldiers Monument Committee held in the "Town Room" in Burgess Hall, on Saturday P.M., March 31. There were present. F.A. Christie Chairman D.D. McColl } Justices D.D. Cameron } Jno W Hannah } Robt. W. Scott Sr. M. } McNaughton Post G.A.R. Charles Spring Adjt } Jas. C. Foote Town Clerk R.M. Place Sec'y

Absent Justices James A. Wilson and Wm. S. McKenzie.

Meeting called to order by chairman and on motion of Mr. Cameron, that June 13, being the day noted by Gov. Roosevelt as the day he could be with us, that we select the 13th day of June, as the time for unveiling and dedicating our "Soldiers Monument". Carried

It was moved, that the "Executive Committee" of the "Soldiers Monument Committee", be and are, hereby authorized to make all arrangements for the dedication of monument. Carried

It was further moved and carried that said Executive Committee make the appointments of the several sub-committees.

Moved and carried that Jas. C. Foote be added to above committee.

Question arising as to proper use of the sum of money, ($50) asked for by Commander of McNaughton G.A.R. to help defray expenses of Memorial day exercises. It was moved & carried that said money, except so much thereof as may be necessary to pay for teams, flowers, flags and other necessary expenses, to the estimated amount of six dollars ($6.00) be and hereby is appropriated to and for the use of dedication of Soldiers Monument.

Adjourned R.M. Place Sec'y

1900 Meeting of "Executive Committee" of Soldiers Monument Committee held in Town Room, Burgess Hall April 5, 1900

All members present.

D.D. Cameron submitted names of citizens, from which to select several sub- committees, which upon motion were adopted, as follows:

Executive Committee No. 1 Duncan D. Cameron - Chairman Robert M. Place, F.A. Christie, James A. Wilson and Jas. C. Foot

No. 2 General Reception Committee F.A. Christie, Thos. Ball, Wm. Hamilton, W.H. Walker, A. H. Collins, W.J. Williams, Jas. Fraser, David Menzie, A.H. Peck, H. Ross McKay, J.H. Barks, John Ball, J.C. Tennent, J.D. Donahue, Hugh Campbell, Rev. H.H. Barstow, Rev. G.O. Miller, Rev. G.J. Eisler, Rev. J.M. Carmichael, Jas. Annin, Chas. A. Place, DeLancey A. Cameron, W.V. Hamilton, D.D. McColl, J.W. Hannah, J.M. Matteson, F.W. Blakeslee, F.L. Chase, F.A. Perhamus, A.K. Fowler, R.W. Scott Sr., Chas. Spring, Dr. Geo. J Borden, Dr. Robt. J. Menzie, Foster W. Walker, C.W. Blackkman, A.P. Sedgwick, J.C. Howk, Noble Bostwick, James C. Malloch, A.S. Fraser, F.W. Miller, F.D. Woollett

No. 3 Committee on Entertainment of Governor Roosevelt and invited guests. James Annin, W.V. Hamilton, F.A. Christie

No. 4 Committee on Stage Platform and Seats DeLancey A. Cameron, Charles Spring, Robert W. Scott, William Ball, Jas. Carruthers

No 5 Committee on Music Jay B. Bostwick, Rev. H.H. Barstow, Rev. G. O. Miller, O.L. Howk, C.H. Henkle

No. 6 Committee on Decoration R.M. Place, James A. Wilson, James Day, James C. Foote and D.D. Cameron

No. 7 Committee on Printing and Advertising J.C. Howk, A. P. Sedgwick and A.S. Fraser

No. 8 Committee on Carriages A.P. Sedgwick, Chas. A. Place, F.A. Perhamus, Richard Pullyblank, Jr.

No. 9 Committee on Finances James C. Foote, F.A. Christie, F.W. Walker, Charles A. Place, D.D. Cameron

No. 10 Committee on Rail Road Transportation Wm. Hamilton, John Ball and James Annin, Jr.

No. 11 Grand Marshall Charles F. Browne

G.A.R. - W.H. Payne

On motion of F.A. Christie, the chairman of the Executive Committee was authorized to invite the Caledonia Fire Department and several societies of Caledonia and Mumford to take part in the parade on June 13th. The occasion of Dedication of Soldiers Monument.

Adjourned R.M. Place, Sec'y

1900 Meeting of Executive Committee April 30 in F.A. Christie's Store, discussed monument size. Veiling & no order of business for record.

D.D. Cameron presented bill for rail road fare & other expenses on a/c monument of two dollars & fifty cents , $2.50, which upon motion was ordered paid by treasurer.

May 5. Executive committee met in Town Room. Resolution that subscription list be type written and deposited with daily papers. Caledonia Advertiser &c, &c in between bases of the monument carried.

Moved by Mr. Christie that Mr. Cameron be empowered to ascertain cost of coping around monument. Carried

By Mr. Cameron that committee all proceed to monument and take measurement, and decide kind of coping wanted, distance from base of monument, height from &c. Carried.

1900 Meeting of Monument Committee called in a.m., May 7th, to meet the contractor Mr. John M. Hamilton and to accept or reject the monument.

It was moved & carried that upon signing a Bond of two thousand dollars, $2,000, by Mr. Hamilton. " That the monument would remain as it now stands, free from knots, rust, or other imperfections for a period of five (5) years, except damage by the elements." That the monument be accepted and the treasurer authorized to pay for said work. Thereupon Mr. Hamilton signed said Bond and Mr. Christie, Treasurer, paid him $1870, by check on Bank of Wm. Hamilton & Son.

May 17 Meeting of Monument Committee to receive reports of the progress of the several committees.

END