How a Rink saved the Michigan Monument Dedication

With the approaching 25th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg (1889), the Michigan legislature passed Act No. 215, authorizing Governor Cyrus Luce to appoint Commissioners to purchase and place monuments to commemorate the Michigan soldiers that fought there. Twenty thousand dollars was allocated for monuments representing the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 16th and 24th Infantry; the Michigan Cavalry Brigade (1st, 5th, 6th, and 7th regiments); Battery I (9th Michigan light artillery) and the Michigan companies of Berdan’s sharpshooters.

In September 1887, Commissioners Col. George Briggs, Lt. Peter Lennon and Lt. George Crawford met with Dr. Bachelder of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, to locate where the monuments would be sited. Small “R” and “L” markers, designating the regiment’s flanks, were to be added. On January 1888, circulars were sent to the leading granite quarries, inviting designs and costs to create the monuments. The Michigan infantry and cavalry monuments were budgeted to $1500, while the Sharpshooter’s was $500, with each company’s history assigned to a single panel.

Three quarries provided granite for the Michigan monuments; Ryegate Granite Works of Rutland, Vermont; Mitchell Granite Co. of Quincy, MA; and the Q. Smith Quarry of Westerly, Rhode Island. The Smith Quarry was originally owned and operated by Orlando Smith from 1834 until his death in 1859, when his wife, Emeline, took over. Working with architect William Burdick, and highly skilled immigrant stonecutters, craftsmen, sculptors, statue and letter carvers, “made it possible for the company to produce great works of art that by the 1880s were being transported throughout the United States. Impressively, many of the monuments erected by Union regiments at Civil War battlefields, including at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and at Antietam Battlefield in Maryland…”

The Smith Quarry created the First, Seventh, Sixteenth Infantries, Battery I and Berdan Sharpshooters monuments, using “White Statuary” grade [granite]. . . Owing to its fine grain it takes a very high polish, and at the same time is exceedingly strong. At the United States Arsenal at Watertown, Mass., in 1907, a compression test…showed a resistance of 39,750 pounds per square inch

The American Bronze Works of Chicago, Illinois cast the Michigan coat of arms that was affixed to each monument.

The Dedicatory Service

The night of June 11th was electrified by the arrival of 1200 Michigan veterans, dignitaries and families checking in to the Eagle Hotel. The next morning dawned to the sound of thirteen cannon firing salutes from Cemetery Hill. Unfortunately, “The 12th of June was ushered in by a steady, gentle rain which made a departure from the printed programme necessary…The air was very hot and sultry, and the steady rain made it impracticable to hold the dedicatory exercises at the forum in the national cemetery as had been planned. Preparation for such an emergency had, however, been made by the thoughtful and efficient officer of the day, Col. Pittman. Anticipating such a possibility, he had risen early, and after studying the signs of the day and obtaining the opinion of some local weather prophets, he had concluded that the rain would prevent any out-door exercises, at least in the forenoon. He promptly secured the rink** and although the platform had to be changed and the seating re-arranged, before the time arrived for the exercises to begin, everything was in readiness, and a comfortable place was provided for the large audience….Promptly at the hour designated, a procession was formed at the Eagle Hotel and, preceded by the Gettysburg Band, marched to the rink, which was soon filled to its utmost capacity.

The President of the day, Gen. B. R. Pierce, called the meeting to order, and in a few well chosen words welcomed his comrades to the pathetic and sad, yet grateful duty for which they had assembled…The programme of exercises as published and distributed to the audience was then carried out.”

**A what??? What kind of “rink”? I soon discovered 1880’s Pennsylvania was caught up in a roller skating craze. Merri Lou Schumann’s research revealed that by 1885, roller rinks were operating at Mt. Holly, Mechanicsburg, Shippenberg, and Carlisle, (but not Gettysburg). I contacted Roseanne Zajko of the Adams County Historical Society, explaining how rain forced the Michigan dedication indoors to a Gettysburg “rink”. Roseanne was intrigued and asked Chief Historian Tim Smith. Despite Tim’s encyclopedic knowledge of Gettysburg history, even he was stumped. Fortunately, Roseanne located the answer in the November 1888 Gettysburg Compiler newspaper:

(Nov 5, 1888): SKATING RINK.-Messrs Stonosifer and Klepper commence work to-morrow on a skating rink in West Middle Street, to about 50 by 180 foot, and first class in all respects. The total of hands engaged is about twenty-five, and work is to be pushed from the start, insuring the completion of the rink in thirty days.

(Nov 30) The National Gettysburg SkatIng Rink-Grand Opening: The Skating Rink will be finally opened in to the public on Saturday next.The Carlisle Cornet band will be present and expert professionals from abroad will give an exhibition in skating. The proprietors,Messrs. Stonesifer and Klepper come highly. recommended as gentlemen of reputable standing, and assure us that their purpose is to make the Rink a first-class one in all respects and that nothing will be tolerated which any lady or gentieman could reasonably object to. They have expended a great dent of money in fitting up the Rink with the best appointments, cloak rooms. roller skates. etc. The building is 50 by 180 feet. Admission to the building is 20 cents; children half price. Ten cents additional will entitle a person to the use of skates and privilege of the foor.

Originally Michigan Governor Cyrus Luce was to present the Michigan monuments to Pennsylvania Governor John Beaver, who was to accept them on behalf of the Battlefield Commission and the State of Pennsylvania. However, Gov. Beaver was still coordinating rescue and recovery efforts for Johnstown, that two weeks earlier had been wiped out by a dam burst that killed 2000 residents.

The highlight for veterans and visitors alike, was speeches given by the surviving officers of the infantry, cavalry and artillery organizations that commemorated their comrades valor and sacrifices during the three days battle that led to the victory at Gettysburg, and the ultimate restoration of the Union. There was no representative to speak on behalf the Michigan Berdan Sharpshooters.

As Reverend Jas. A. Potts closed the benediction, a second volley of the cannons announced the ceremony’s end. Visitors filed out of the West Middle Street skating rink and made their way to the National Cemetery to place flowers on the graves of Michigan soldiers.

At 2:30 PM, Michigan veterans, dignitaries and families, traveled to their monuments to hold regimental reunions. There was no formal dedication on Little Round Top at the Sharpshooter Monument, “Gen'l Berdan, who commanded the two regiments of sharpshooters was present, but aside from him less than a dozen of the original men who ‘clutched and held that trembling hill’ on the second of July, 1863” stood with him.

The sharpshooter's monument is on the southeast side of Little Round Top, and is in honor of the four companies of Michigan sharp-shooters, companies C, I and K, First regiment, and company B, Second regiment.

It is of Westerley granite, 4x4 feet at base and
seven feet three inches in height. Upon the base is the name of brigade division and corps in raised, polished letters, while on the die appears the bronze Michigan coat of arms and corps badges. Three sides of the cap are raised and polished and upon the front cap are the words, Michigan Sharpshooters, and upon four polished panels of red granite are the following inscriptions:

Company C, First regiment U. S. Sharpshooters, mustered in at Detroit, Mich., August 26, 186I, served until the war ended; fought upon this field July 2, near Sherby house-here July 3. One officer and five men wounded, one man missing-total, 7.

Company I, First regiment U. S. Sharpshooters, mustered in at Detroit, Mich., March 4, 1862. Served until the war ended. Fought upon this field July 2, near Pitzer's Run-here July 3. One officer killed, one officer and three men wounded-total, 5.

Company K, First regiment U. S. Sharpshooters, mustered in at Detroit, Mich., March 20, 1862. Served until the war ended. Fought upon this field July 2, near Sherby house-here July 3. Four men wounded.

Company B, Second regiment U.S. Sharpshooters, mustered in at Detroit, Mich., Oct. 4, 1861. Served until the war ended. Fought upon this field near Slyder house, on extreme left, afterwards at this point, July 3, on Cemetery Ridge near center of line. Four men wounded.

The Gettysburg Dedication program included photographs of the new Michigan monuments, except for the Sharpshooters, that was later included in the Michigan at Gettysburg memorial edition.

The Gettysburg Michigan Monuments dedication:
https://suvcw.org/sites/default/files/2025-01/PA_Gettysburg_Michigan_Monuments.pdf

Q. Smith Quarry history:
https://smallstatebighistory.com/the-smith-granite-company-of-westerly-a-short-history/

Roller Skating craze:
https://gardnerlibrary.org/encyclopedia/1880s-roller-skating-by

Bill Skillman
Berdan Sharpshooters Survivors Association