Having driven past the Civil War Monument off Route 209 in the area known as Northern Liberties in Jim Thorpe, and having attended the Memorial Day services at that site, I was curious to learn more about it.

Local historian Bernard Krebs posted photos of the program that was distributed for that dedication, and he shared with me a photo of the dedication service from his collection.

On Memorial Day, May 30, 1922, two important events happened. In Washington, D.C., the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Howard Taft (the former 27th president of the United States).

Closer to home, the Civil War Monument was dedicated in the area of Northern Liberties.

Northern Liberties was one of the area small villages that no longer officially exists. Its location was chosen due to its proximity to the Lehigh River and the Switchback. Fifty families called that area home. And it was from those 50 families that 56 men joined the Civil War to fight for the Union. Most, if not all, served in the 81st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under the leadership of James Miller.

The 81st Regiment was made up of six companies from Philadelphia and four from Carbon and Luzerne counties. It formed in Easton.

According to an article in the Mauch Chunk Times-News, from Friday, Dec. 16, 1921, “The sounding of the tocsin of war in 1861 when the call ‘To arms, to arms’ resounded thru out the nation, arousing patriotism of the people, calling them to the defense of the Union, was answered by the men and boys joining the advancing columns and nearly depleting the village.”

Several families lost multiple family members in the war. There was an obituary for Mrs. Margaret Mulligan, who passed away in 1924. She was the daughter of Daniel and Ann Burns. Three of her brothers — Patrick, Daniel and John — died while serving in the Civil War.

Andrew Meighan served as a private with the 81st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company G. He was discharged on Surgeon’s Certificate due to a leg wound.

The monument to those 56 men was dedicated on Memorial Day, May 30, 1922, at 3:30 p.m. by committee President B.S. Erwin, M.D.; First Vice President Robert E. Smith; Second Vice President Nicholas R. Barrington; Secretary James F. Corkill; and Treasurer Richard S. Ruddle.

The bronze plaque reads, “This monument marks the site of the Northern Liberties, from this village of fifty families, fifty-six men enlisted for the defense of the Union in the War of 1861 -1865.”

Those who were honored by the memorial were: Patrick Burns, Daniel Burns, John Burns, John Billingsley, August Butler, Michael Boyle, John Connerty, Thomas Connerty, William Clemmons, Frank Crilley, Oliver Crilley, James Crilley, Patrick Curran, John Dougherty, Edward G. Dodson, Daniel Dugan, John Dugan, Patrick Dixon, James Dixon, Jerry Dixon, James Edgar, Aaron Henry, Thomas Hanlon, Jonathan F. Hatrick, Alexander Johnson, Hugh Lyons, Owen Lyons, Thomas Lynch, James Lynch, Jesse Mills, John McClocky, Edward G. McClocky, James McElvain, John McGeady Sr., John McGeady Jr., Edward McGeady, Henry Meighan, James Meighan, Matthew Meighan, Andrew Meighan, William Mullen, John Mullen, John McClellan, Douglas McLean, Isaac McLean, William McGinley, Samuel Petit, James Scott, Robert Scott, Benjamin Scott, John Scott, Adam Stahr, Samuel Sherry, Robert Tait and Edward Ward.

Located behind the large rock monument is a cannon. That cannon was originally located at the Civil War monument next to the Carbon County Courthouse. According to Krebs, a car came down Packer Hill and destroyed the wooden carriage on which the cannon sat. The cannon was then relocated to its present location and dedicated in honor of the men from Northern Liberties who lost their lives in the war.

“They served faithfully and loyally to the end of the war, many of them sealing their devotion with their life-blood.” (Mauch Chunk Times-News, Dec. 16, 1921).