G.A.R. Statue
Historic Pottstown Walking Tour
A memorial to veterans of the Civil War, this statue was given to G.A.R. Post No. 595 by Miss Annie Richards in memory of her brother Mathias Edgar Richards. The dedication took place on July 4, 1893 at 11:00 am. At the ceremony, a gavel carved from a tree that stood on Maryes Heights during the Battle of Fredericksburg was presented to the newly formed G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) Post No. 595 named for Richards. Mathias served as an adjutant in Cake's 96th Pennsylvania Regiment from Schuylkill County and as an aide on General Bartlett's staff from 1862-1864.
The statue was originally placed on the northwest corner of High & Charlotte Sts. in front of M. Augustus Withers' building with the understanding that Mr. Withers would supply water to the fountain from his artesian well as long as he owned the building. In summer, his sidewalk had sections which were removed to place ice around the pipes to cool the water to the fountain. The two basins at the bottom on either side were for horses, the smaller ones for dogs. There were also a faucet and a basin for people. CDR. W.H. Jones of the post was the first person to drink from the fountain. When Miss Annie Richards died in 1917, she left money for maintenance of the statue that was used in the 1920's for repairs. For several years, the statue stood at the corner of High & Washington Sts. On the 4th of July in 1999, the newly renovated fountain was placed on the northwest corner of High & Evans Sts. and rededicated.
-David R. Kerns
Marker is at the intersection of High Street and Evans Street, on the left when traveling east on High Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
