GAR Monument—Private
The GAR Monument was erected in 1873 in the Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot by the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization composed of Union veterans of the Civil War. The monument was intended to act as a memorial for local men who lost their lives during the War. The property is part of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), the largest of three governmental agencies who oversee National cemeteries across the United States. The monument consists of a bronze Union Soldier atop a light gray granite base. Mounted on the base are four bronze plaques which list the names of the dead, as well as two medallions with reliefs of Abraham Lincoln’s head.
EverGreene was contracted to assess the monument as part of a larger nationwide survey, which involved a variety of monuments, memorials, and historic objects at thirty eight national cemeteries. The objectives of the assessment were to document the conditions of the monument, make recommendations for its conservation, and provide a budgetary cost estimate for the recommended work.
According to cemetery staff, the monument had been treated approximately ten years prior to EverGreene’s arrival on site. However, the statue had been over-cleaned and coated with a thick, heavily pigmented lacquer, which covered areas of green corrosion and widespread pitting, an original casting flaw. The Lincoln medallions had been over-painted with several layers of yellow and brown paint, as well as mounted with inappropriate hardware.
EverGreene performed conservation treatment based on the recommendations from the earlier assessment. The goal of the work was to clean, stabilize, and repair the monument. Treatments included removal of all inappropriate previous coatings using solvent based strippers and the removal of light soiling and bio-growth using appropriate methods for the material, including detergents, biocides, pressurized heated water, and brushes. The bronze elements were repatinated to even out the coloration and homogenize the appearance. Failing joints between the monument sections and around the plaques were repointed or recaulked as necessary. Holes in the granite base were patched as necessary to create a more unified appearance and prevent the damage from worsening. The inappropriate mounts on the Lincoln medallions were removed and replaced with specially fabricated hardware.
