Candia, New Hampshire

Civil War Monument Restoration Project

The Candia Soldier’s Monument in its original splendor

Candia, New Hampshire came to the support of the Nation, during the War of the Rebellion, in large numbers from the first call of 75,000 volunteers from President Lincoln until the close of the war. Meanwhile those at home also made great scarifies to raise the necessary money for bounties and the aid of Soldiers’ families. By the end of the war, the debt of Candia had exceeded $50,000.

In early 1892, Governor Frederick Smyth, a native of Candia, New Hampshire, offered to give Candia a monument honoring its Civil War soldiers on the condition that the town provided a suitable location.

At the annual town meeting on March 8, 1892, the town voted to donate a site at the old meetinghouse and that $200 be appropriated for curbing and foundation.

On March 14, 1893, the town voted to appropriate another $100 in addition to what had already been raised.

The Governor kept his promise and the monument was dedicated Oct. 13, 1893.

NOTE: The monument was later expanded to include soldiers of other wars.

In 1958 the monument was toppled and damaged after a vehicle struck it. LeBlanc Bros. Granite Works restored the monument. The curbstones around the base are the original stones, but were sandblasted and cleaned with "speedy-cleaner."

The four walks between the curbstones and base were replaced. The base's three lower steps are the original steps, but these were sandblasted and re-cut to fit the lower section of the base's shaft. The original inscribed shaft of the base was replaced with a new one bearing sandblasted letters and a steel finish. The base's cap is the original stone. The original sculpture weighed 450 pounds. After being reinforced and sprayed with eight coats of bronze finish, the sculpture weighed 875 pounds.

The monument was rededicated on May 25, 1958, with some people present who had attended the original dedication sixty-five years earlier.

After reading an article about Alicia Frazer, Megan Smith, Becky Petrin and Erin Smith (all 10 years old) finding out that the soldier's musket had been broken off the Civil War Monument and that they were thinking of fundraising to restore the musket, Charles W. Canney Camp #5, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, based in Rochester, NH contacted the town about how the Camp could help. Camp #5 is wholeheartedly ready to assist with this endeavor.

Candia's War Memorial monument was damaged some time after Halloween, when the soldier's musket was found shattered at the base of the High Street monument. Charles W. Canney Camp contacted Rika Smith McNally & Associates, Conservators of Objects & Sculptures of Framingham, Mass., to inspect the monument.

Charles W. Canney Camp # 5, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the memory of the Civil War Veteran and the Civil War.

The Monument today

On April 16, 2004 the four Fourth-Grade girls (Alicia Frazer, Megan Smith, Becky Petrin and Erin Smith) met with Charles W. Canney Camp #5 Commander Dan Meehan and Rika Smith McNally, the Conservator chosen by Camp 5. The purpose of this meeting was to determine the amount of work necessary to restore the monument.