The area called Monument Park was not always a park; it began life as a cemetery (there are still graves of early settlers on South side of the lot).  In November of 1890 residents petitioned for a monument to “perpetuate the memory of soldiers and sailors who served in defense of the Union … and in the war with Spain”.  It was not until 1901 that a site was decided upon and in 1902 the contract for building the monument was awarded to Crooks and McLean.  Completed in Barre, Vermont and shipped by rail to Carthage the following year, it was erected as shown in the photo in 1902, completely by man (and horse) power.