THE MONUMENT AT THE TOP OF THE HILL

Submitted by Anita M. Mance, Historian, May 2025

Ninety-five years ago on May 30, 1930, our first war monument was dedicated in Edmund Lyon Park. Honoring those who had served in World War I, the granite tablet and cannon have an interesting history.

In 1916, the first park in our community was dedicated. Once a heavily forested swampy area named Vanderbilt Park, the land had been purchased by Kate Gleason. Kate brought in workers from her father's company, Gleason Works, to excavate and clear out the area. The park was named after Edmund Lyon, a friend of Kate Gleason's and a founder of our village. At the top of the hill on the corner of Main and East Ivy Streets a flagpole was erected on the highest elevation in East Rochester.

During the years following World War I, community members felt a memorial was needed to honor our soldiers. The Ladies’ Auxiliary of Jules Verne Fish Post, American Legion took up the cause. After many plans were submitted by representatives from village organizations, it was decided that a tablet of Barry granite eight feet high would be appropriate with a bronze plaque face listing the 197 names. Above the plaque would be a spread eagle in bas-relief. The cost would be $1500.00. The monument would be placed at the top of the hilt in Edmund Lyon Park. It was felt its placement there would enhance the appearance of the park. The cost of the memorial would be paid by donations from organizations, businesses, and individuals. Pages from a ledger in our files show that contributions ranged from 50 cents to $65.00. The donations, large and small, were given with a sense of pride to our community.

A German cannon also became part of the memorial. In 1920, an act of Congress provided for the distribution of captured enemy artillery as war memorials for American towns and cities. Captured German war material was given to communities in proportion to the number of men and women who had served in the war. And so, East Rochester was selected to receive one of the cannons.

Finally, on Decoration Day (now called Memorial Day) May 30, 1930, our World War I memorial was dedicated. The celebration was a major event for the village. The day began with a large parade of bands and civic and fraternal organizations. The ceremony in the park included music, an invocation, roll call, decorating of crosses, three volleys by the Post firing squad, the playing of TAPS, the singing of the national anthem, and a closing benediction, The day concluded with a dinner at the Parkside Methodist Church.

On Veterans Day 2018, another plaque was installed next to the monument. It honored the eight men from our village had who died in World War I— Jules Verne Fish (the first man from East Rochester to die in the War), Keith Edward Brown, John Clancy, Luigi Musolino, Filippo Cimino, Romolo Epicoco, Ray C. Hopkins, and Timothy O'Brien.