General Dispatches and Correspondence.
:: sound the
bugle call to arms! ::
The City of Aurora IL, and the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall needs
your help! We are one of twenty-five historic sites in northern Illinois
competing in an online "popularity vote" to receive restoration funds.
Please read, vote, and pass on this announcement to your members, friends, and
families. Preservation of this historic structure is long overdue. Currently
we are in 8th place and there are only eight days left to vote.
Thank you for your support.
- David -
David Lewis, curator
Aurora Regional Fire Museum
www.AuroraRegionalFireMuseum.org
P.S. Remember to vote "Chicago-style" -- Early and often!
http://www.partnersinpreservation.com
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The National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express are sponsoring
a grant competition through the Partners in Preservation Chicagoland Initiative.
After reviewing a multitude of potential projects, twenty-five landmark sites,
including the GAR Hall in Aurora, have been selected for the community to vote
to help preserve.
Now through October 10th, you have the opportunity to cast one vote each day for
the historic site that you love. All you have to do to be a voter is to register
once and return to the website every day through October 10th to vote. You may
vote for the same site every day or you may vote for a different site each day.
Just remember, one vote per day.
The winning site will be announced in November 2007. The site that receives the
most votes via this website will be guaranteed a grant. Other sites will be
awarded funding after evaluation by the Partners in Preservation Advisory
Committee.
About the GAR
A widely recognized local landmark, the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall
was built in 1877-1878. Funded by “popular subscription” to honor Civil War
Veterans, it has continuously served this purpose. An octagonal Gothic Revival
style building constructed of locally quarried limestone, it features arched
stained glass windows and a rooftop statue of a soldier on guard duty. In the
early 1960s, public outcry saved the GAR from demolition for a parking lot.
What is the historical significance of this site?
First conceived in 1868, this landmark honors Aurora’s Civil War Veterans so
“that the soldiers who fought and sacrificed for freedom across this land should
be remembered and honored for future generations.” Along with structural
repairs, four of its stained glass windows will be restored in the grand “Angel
Room.”
How is this site currently being used?
As a community landmark, the building inspires pride in Civil War Veterans and
in the city’s heritage. Presently it is being prepared for major restoration by
the City of Aurora. During the restoration an exhibit about the GAR will be on
display across the street at the Art and History Center. When renovated, the
site will serve as a community Civil War museum that will honor Aurora’s
veterans for generations to come.
Why this site needs your vote
Masonry work, roofing repairs and window restoration will return the GAR to its
historic appearance. The restored building will function as the home for a new
regional Civil War museum.
Click Here:
http://www.partnersinpreservation.com
