Near Elmira in Chemung County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Newtown Battlefield Reservation
A Remarkable History
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 30, 2010
1. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
Inscription.
Newtown Battlefield Reservation. A Remarkable History. , In 1879, a crowd of thousands celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Newtown and dedicated a monument built by the Newtown Monument Association atop the hill that figured prominently in accounts of the battle. Soon after, the monument fell into disrepair, collapsing in 1911. ,
Here upon an elevation , commanding a view , of the entire valley, , the Indians made a stand. , "What We are Celebrating," Elmira Advertiser, August 23, 1879. , The following year, the State of New York acquired the small park and built a new monument to memorialize General John Sullivan. Designated Newtown Battlefield Reservation, the park soon expanded and became a popular picnic ground., (Photo captions from top left, clockwise): , Built of locally quarried stone, the park's first monument was dedicated at the centennial celebrations on August 29, 1879. Visitors could reach the top of the monument by stairs inside., By 1892, the first Newtown Monument had already fallen into disrepair, with a gaping hole in one corner and its marble inscription shattered on the ground. According to one later story, children playing with explosives caused the initial damage., On the night of the battle's anniversary in 1911 the crumbling monument collapsed in a storm., In 1912, New York State built the monument that stands today, often called Sullivan's Monument., Thousands of people turned out for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Newtown on August 29, 1929. The naval airship Los Angeles flew above the event, which was held at the bottom of this hill., According to 1879 newspaper accounts and a plaque inside the first structure, Alfred Searles gave 15 acres to the Newtown Monument Association to build the monument. The "donation," however, does not appear to have been a legal transfer of ownership. His daughter, Hattie Elliot, legally deeded the original park to New York State in 1912 as well as several surrounding parcels in subsequent years., After the monument and the road leading to it were built in 1912, the Newtown Battlefield Reservation was used principally as a picnic ground and had several rustic shelters for the purpose., In 1935, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1251 arrived to develop the park. This African-American company became one of only two commanded by African-American officers. Most of the buildings you see today were constructed by these young men. To learn more about Company 1251, visit the sign located near the picnic lodge.
In 1879, a crowd of thousands celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Newtown and dedicated a monument built by the Newtown Monument Association atop the hill that figured prominently in accounts of the battle. Soon after, the monument fell into disrepair, collapsing in 1911.
Here upon an elevation
commanding a view
of the entire valley,
the Indians made a stand. "What We are Celebrating," Elmira Advertiser, August 23, 1879
The following year, the State of New York acquired the small park and built a new monument to memorialize General John Sullivan. Designated Newtown Battlefield Reservation, the park soon expanded and became a popular picnic ground.
(Photo captions from top left, clockwise): Built of locally quarried stone, the park's first monument was dedicated at the centennial celebrations on August 29, 1879. Visitors could reach the top of the monument by stairs inside.
By 1892, the first Newtown Monument had already fallen into disrepair, with a gaping hole in one corner and its marble inscription shattered on the ground. According to one later story, children playing with explosives caused the initial damage.
On the night of the battle's anniversary in 1911 the crumbling monument collapsed in a storm.
In 1912,
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New York State built the monument that stands today, often called Sullivan's Monument.
Thousands of people turned out for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Newtown on August 29, 1929. The naval airship Los Angeles flew above the event, which was held at the bottom of this hill.
According to 1879 newspaper accounts and a plaque inside the first structure, Alfred Searles gave 15 acres to the Newtown Monument Association to build the monument. The "donation," however, does not appear to have been a legal transfer of ownership. His daughter, Hattie Elliot, legally deeded the original park to New York State in 1912 as well as several surrounding parcels in subsequent years.
After the monument and the road leading to it were built in 1912, the Newtown Battlefield Reservation was used principally as a picnic ground and had several rustic shelters for the purpose.
In 1935, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1251 arrived to develop the park. This African-American company became one of only two commanded by African-American officers. Most of the buildings you see today were constructed by these young men. To learn more about Company 1251, visit the sign located near the picnic lodge.
Location. 42° 2.735′ N, 76° 44.021′ W. Marker is near Elmira, New York, in Chemung County. Marker is on Newtown Reservation Road, in the median. Located at Newtown Battlefield Reservation State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Elmira NY 14901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Built of locally quarried stone, the park's first monument was dedicated at the centennial celebrations on August 29, 1879. Visitors could reach the top of the monument by stairs inside.
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
5. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
By 1892, the first Newtown Monument had already fallen into disrepair, with a gaping hole in one corner and its marble inscription shattered on the ground. According to one later story, children playing with explosives caused the initial damage.
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
6. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
On the night of the battle's anniversary in 1911 the crumbling monument collapsed in a storm.
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
7. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
In 1912, New York State built the monument that stands today, often called Sullivan's Monument.
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
8. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
9. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
Thousands of people turned out for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Newtown on August 29, 1929. The naval airship Los Angeles flew above the event, which was held at the bottom of this hill.
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
10. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
After the monument and the road leading to it were built in 1912, the Newtown Battlefield Reservation was used principally as a picnic ground and had several rustic shelters for the purpose.
In 1935, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1251 arrived to develop the park. This African-American company became one of only two commanded by African-American officers. Most of the buildings you see today were constructed by these young men. To learn more about Company 1251, visit the sign located near the picnic lodge.
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
11. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
12. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
According to 1879 newspaper accounts and a plaque inside the first structure, Alfred Searles gave 15 acres to the Newtown Monument Association to build the monument. The "donation," however, does not appear to have been a legal transfer of ownership. His daughter, Hattie Elliot, legally deeded the original park to New York State in 1912 as well as several surrounding parcels in subsequent years.
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 30, 2010
13. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 21, 2015
14. Newtown Battlefield Reservation Marker Battle Monument in Background
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 30, 2010
15. The Second Monument and a Portion of the Reservation
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 30, 2010
16. National Historic Landmark Plaque
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,336 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on July 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on November 6, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 13. submitted on July 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 14. submitted on November 6, 2015, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 15, 16. submitted on July 23, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.