Perry Monument: A Beacon of the Community

Perry Monument: A Beacon of the Community. . Perry Monument commemorates the victory of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813. Erected by the Continental Construction Company of Erie and dedicated September 10, 1926, the monument quickly became a beacon of community pride., The Perry 200 Commission , The Commission was created by the Jefferson Educational Society to organize Erie's bicentennial commemoration of the War of 18 12, and to unite the community with a sense of pride surrounding Commander Perry's achievement. Thousands of citizens assisted with over 70 events which drew over 500,000 people throughout 2012 and 2013. The Perry 200 was the largest public service project in the history of Erie and one of the largest bicentennial commemorations in the nation., Lighting the Monument , A natural gas torch once illuminated the bronze tripod at the top of the monument. Strong winds often extinguished the flame which led private citizens to assist in keeping the torch lit. The torch was removed in 1963 during renovations to the monument leaving only the lighting at the base to illuminate the monument. The top of the monument would remain dark until September 8, 2013 when a solar powered, multi-color LED lighting system was illuminated restoring this beacon of community pride as part of the Bicentennial Commemoration., The dedication and fundraising efforts of the Presque Isle Partnership made the new lighting system and over $150,000 of park improvements to the Perry Monument and pavilion possible., Did you know? , The monument stands 101 feet above lake level, measured 8.5 feet at the base and tapers to 6.5 feet at the top. The bronze tripod measures 8 feet 3 inches in height., Text from the two plaques on the monument:, Erected by the State of Pennsylvania , to commemorate the victory of , Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry , in the , Battle of Lake Erie , September 10, 1813, Perry Memorial Commission , appointed by Gov. Gifford Pinchot, David Nye McBrier , Harry W. Moomey , E. Maclay Gearhart , Frederick H. Schutte, Jane W. Pressly , William M. Spencer, Chairman , Fuller and Stickle and Paul P. Cret , Architects.