Preface: The story which you are about to read was originally written by Mr. John Earl Hambright. I would love to give you some information about Mr. Hambright, but as of this time, have not been able to find any such information. So...you will have to read the story knowing that it is more than likely true. One way or another, it still makes for a good read!
It was an ordinary day. Typed in the name of John Earl Hambright on my keyboard and hoped for the best. Did get some rather interesting information, but couldn't document that it was written by or about Mr. John Earl Hambright. Story dealt with Lancaster's historical monument that sits at the intersection of King and Queen Streets in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. So, my story begins by telling you that there is no harder rock than what came out of Westerly Rhode Island many years ago. And, there was no harder working rock band 150 years ago than the one from Hartford, Connecticut that consisted of Carl, Jimmy, Danny, Charlie, Frank and Fortunato who were the talented gang that created the forever centerpiece in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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| The rock band, alias workers, who worked on the monument in the center of Lancaster, PA |
These men and boys, most of whom were born in Italy, worked at the Hartford, Connecticut firm that was first called Batterson's Monument Works and later New England Granite. This was the group of stone cutters and sculptors that produced the Soldiers and Sailors memorial that has occupied the heart of our fair city of Lancaster since July 4, 1874. James Batterson was New England Granite's owner. His highly prized white stone came from a quarry close to the sea in Westerly, Rhode Island not far from the Flying Horses -- the oldest continuously operated carousel in the USA -- and, more recently, the beachside home of Taylor Swift. After Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox, orders for Civil War monuments poured into Batterson's from cities and towns all over the North and later the South. The profits would eventually fund Mr. B's founding of Travelers Insurance company, sponsor of Hartford's iconic PGA golf tournament.  |
| The sculpture standing in the center of Lancaster, PA |
The old daguerrotype was produced as a 3-D stereopticon card Batterson's sent to prospective customers all over the country. You notice anything familiar? Look closely and you'll spot one of Lancaster's sculptures. It's the soldier resting on his rifle which is labeled INFANTRY on the monument in Penn Square. The statue, which would spend many years guarding the Fulton Bank and Vic the Bookie's soft pretzel stand had just been completed when this photograph was made. But, then there was a hitch. Isn't there always? The rifleman almost didn't come our way. The financial panic that began in late September, 1873, threatened to put the kibosh on Lancaster's plans to unveil its Civil War memorial on July 4, 1874. What happened next is the stuff of legend, as you'll learn in the upcoming final episodes of the continuing story we've been calling LADY IN OUR MIDST. In the meantime, though, I couldn't wait to share this remarkable picture of the boys in our very first rock band. Viva, Fortunato! Or did they call him Rocky? I never tire of trips to visit the monument to take photographs of it. Seems that every time I make a new visit, I find something that I hand't seen the time before. How lucky can I be that my home town, the city known as Lancaster, Pennsylvania had enough foresight to take photographs of the new monument as it took shape in the center of town. And, if you ever have the chance to visit Lancaster, please make a stop and visit the monument in the center of our city. Take a photograph and make sure you touch the monument that holds so much history in Lancaster as well as in our state and country. And, thank you Mr. John Earl Hambright, wherever you may be, for writing the majority of my story today that I have in turn shared with all my readers. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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