Bedford - Civil War Soldier at Cemetery - GPS Coordinates: 40.660000 by -94.734900

This monument was dedicated in 1914 by "Comrades and Friends." It is unusual to have two such monuments in the same town - Bedford also has a large soldier monument at the courthouse. Thanks to Helen Janson for information about this monument. The City Cemetery is in the SW part of town on Cook Street. It should not be confused with the Fairview Cemetery in the same area - the City Cemetery is west of Fairview. Photos taken 5/16/09 and 9/14/17.

Bedford - Civil War Soldier at Courthouse - GPS Coordinates: 40.668033 by -94.720183

This monument is in a great location at the front entrance to the courthouse. This is a spectacular looking courthouse with a white dome. Streets are brick and many of the downtown buildings are restored.

According to the Taylor County History, the monument was built at a cost of $4979 in 1916. It is Barre granite, 25 feet high and weighs 116,323 pounds. The sculptor was Septia Grezzetti of Italy who also sculpted many of the other soldier monuments in the region. The dedication was on July 4, 1916 with a crowd of 5000 and 117 CW Veterans in attendance. There were speeches, a concert, minstrel show, and auto polo match to celebrate the occasion.

The town of Bedford is just off Highway 2 to the south and the courthouse is north of the business district. Photos taken 5/16/09. Thanks to Danny Krock and David Shedlock for the old photos.

Blockton - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 40.616033 by -94.475100

This monument is of granite and is 20 feet high. It was dedicated in 1917. The design is very similar to others in Taylor County. The park also has a railroad caboose. Blockton is a small town 5 miles south of Highway 2. The park is a couple of blocks west of the road coming into town. Photos taken 10/14/17.

Clearfield - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 40.798050 by -94.478616

This nice soldier monument, 18 feet high, is in front of the school in Clearfield. Thank you to Helen Janson, Taylor County Historian, for information about this monument. It is similar to other Taylor County monuments. It is in the south part of town off County Road J23. Photos taken 5/16/09 and 10/14/17.

Gravity - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 40.762150 by -94.744600

This monument has beautiful red polished granite. It is about 20 feet high and was dedicated in 1917. In front of the monument is a time capsule to be opened in 2033. There are also pavers with names of 45 soldiers from the region. The example shown is of B. F. Akers who also has been recognized as the last living soldier of Taylor County. Gravity is 6 miles north of Bedford and lies west of Highway 148. Take Main Street north to a city park on the edge of town. Photos taken in July 2010 and October 2017.

Guss - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 40.850050 by -94.852600

This very attractive soldier monument is in the Guss Cemetery just north of the small town of Guss. The polished red granite is similar to the monuments in Gravity and New Market which are also in Taylor County. Guss is in the NW part of the county - take 130th St. which runs east/west between Highways 71 and 148. Thank you to Historian Helen Janson for notification of this monument. Photo taken 10/22/17.

Lenox - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 40.881250 by -94.563633

This monument of Vermont marble is 21 feet high. It was dedicated in 1916. It is in a city park by the swimming pool on the west side of town. The monument has some staining. Photo taken 11/26/07.

New Market - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 40.730199 by -94.902450

This is a 20 foot monument with striking red polished granite. It is very similar to the one at Gravity – only a few miles away. New Market is on Highway 2 – take 4th Street west to the city park where the monument is located on the west side of town. Photo taken 11/27/07.