1876 Centennial Monument
Original story written by Nettie Kaiser for “Along the Saucony,” Vol 7, No 3
Early in the year 1876 were sounding over the whole country proclamations from President Grant and John F. Hartranft, Governor of Pennsylvania, inviting and urging people to plan for a worthy celebration of American Independence. They suggested that in every section of the land special pains be taken to gather in one place scattered facts of its past history, put them in print and transmit them to the people of 1976.
As a result of the above recommendation, July 4th, 1876 a monument was erected on the front lawn of the Keystone State Normal School. This monument designed by Mr. Philip Wentz, a resident of the Kutztown, consisted of a granite stone weighing two and one half tons, on this rested an octagon die which supports an octagon spire, both of Italian marble. On the spire was an octagon cap surmounted by an eagle. On the four larger sides of the die were inscribed the following mottos:
English: "Virtue Liberty and Independence"- the motto of the Commonwealth;
German: "Wie Gott mit unsern Vaetern war, so sei er auch mit uns"- As God was with our Fathers, so let Him be revered by us;
PA Dutch: "Unser Frei Schul Wesakumt fun da Pennsilfownish Deitsha har. Der Govaner Wolfe hat's geplant un g'start un der Ritner un der Shunk hen's ausg'fuehrt"- Our free school system comes from the Pennsylvania Germans, planned by Governor Wolf, Ritner and Shunk carried it thru;
Latin: "Nec scire fas est omne"- Nor is it necessary (right) to know all.
In 1876 the following articles were deposited in the monument:
The History of Kutztown and Maxatawny, the latest newspapers of the County, ancient coins, almanacs and coins of 1876, a catalog of the Normal School for 1876, the names of contributors to the monument the latest census of Kutztown, continental script and a silver quarter dated 1776.
The monument was discarded by the Normal School in 1907. It seems that things Pennsylvania German were unpopular at the time. The Patriot along with concerned citizens of Kutztown displeased with the action of the Normal School decided to rescue the monument and place it in the Kutztown Park. A restoration fund was started asking for a donation of one dollar. Because of great interest both in the Borough and from people who had moved away, enough funds were raised to restore the monument and on August 17, 1907 it was re-dedicated in the Kutztown Park. The address was given by Conrad Gehring who hoped that the Liberty Centennial Monument would represent its original purpose and be guarded safely against all danger. It was at this time that the Latin inscription was removed and replaced by: "This monument was erected on the K.S.N.S. campus July 4, 1876, removed and re-dedicated in the Kutztown Park 1907."
The monument was safe until 1936 when at the request of the Pennsylvania German Society and Dr. Q.A.R. Rohrbach, it was dismantled and returned to the campus of the now Kutztown State Teachers College. The WPA workmen who moved the monument found a mysterious box inside which they turned over to the Bursar of the College Mr. E.D. Baver. It was put in the safe overnight, replaced in the monument the next day without ever being opened.
Over the years the students were unkind to the eagle surmounting the spire, decorating, painting even removing and hiding it. Therefore it was removed and stored. In 1984 the spire and its cap were also missing but they were found in one of the garages at Kutztown University.
In 1984, through the courtesy of Kutztown University, the 1876 National Centennial Monument was moved from the campus to the grounds of the Kutztown Area Historical Society on July 17, 1984. It was reassembled and re-dedicated on September 14, 1984.
Sad to say the eagle is still missing and no box of artifacts was ever found. However for anyone researching this monument in the future there is a 1984 penny between the two and one half ton granite base and the Italian marble octagon die.
REFERENCES
1. ERMENTROUT, JOHN S. "A Centennial Memorial Historical Sketch of
Kutztown and Maxatawny"
2. The Patriot: June 29, 1907
3. The Patriot: July 13, 1907
4. The Patriot: July 20, 1907
5. The Patriot: August 17, 1907
6. GRAEFF, ARTHUR D. & MEISER, GEORGE M. IX: "Echoes of Scholla"
August 25, 1940; Page 164
