The Peoria County Civil War monument now has a plaque to teach visitors some of its history.
The monument at Springdale Cemetery known as "The Shaft" was first built in 1866 and honors 607 Union soldiers from Peoria County who died.
Joe Hutchinson is the past camp commander and department commander of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
“Since this monument was erected in 1866 as one of the first ones in the public realm, especially in the state of Illinois, over the past 100 plus years it weathered away so the names were no longer readable, and you really couldn't tell what it was,” he said. “So this plaque helps the public see what this is all about.”
The monument first stood at the Peoria County Courthouse. It was taken down in 1962 during construction of the new courthouse. It was restored and relocated to its current location at the cemetery in 2019.
Hutchinson said they want to make sure people never forget the sacrifices made by the soldiers.
“People have to remember how traumatic the American Civil War was, and how many people left their homes and livelihoods, gave up their health and their lives from Peoria County,” he said. “You have to remember, 150 plus years ago Peoria County did not have a huge population, but 600 individuals from Peoria County did not return. So that's a pretty large number.”
Hutchinson encourages people to visit the monument and Soldiers Hill in the cemetery to learn some of Peoria's history. About 1,100 U.S. veterans, including 300 Civil War vets, are buried there.
