Respecting the monument to honor those memorialized
When someone cares enough to establish a monument to memorialize someone indefinitely, it is a matter of respect. It is often to pay respect for one or more people’s character, what they have accomplished or sacrificed for the benefit of others, and how their contributions have had a lasting impact or legacy that continues living on through others.
Monuments attempt to ensure that people worthy of recognition are not forgotten. They are a visual reminder that people who have lived and died before us mattered, and probably made a significant difference that still deserves people’s gratitude today.
With the passage of time a monument might fade into the background because it has always just “been there for as long as I can remember.” People may not take the time to pause, reflect, and admire it anymore. People may have never known or can’t remember the individuals memorialized. And the monument itself may become neglected or fall into disrepair. Without respect for the monument, it may no longer seem to honor the memory of those it was erected to memorialize.
The surface of the monument that stands in front of the Phillips County Courthouse was recently restored to its glossy finish so that it remains the respectable tribute paid to those that it was erected in 1962 to memorialize – all war veterans, and Robert N. and Anna M. White. Steve Seuss, from the Phillips County maintenance department, took care to find the correct way to remove the baked-on water calcification without damaging the surface. He consulted the Baucke Funeral Home staff who recommended using a griddle stone. Seuss took advantage of warmer temperatures in late January and early February. He dedicated himself to spending many hours across several days painstakingly going over every inch of the monument. He used about 20 griddle stones to complete the task.
County commissioners, at their Feb. 9 board meeting, commented on how great the monument now looks. Garold Roberts noted, “Steve did such a good job. He was the best man for that kind of work because he’s good at paying attention to detail.”
Prior to her death in 1960, prominent citizen Anna M. White set aside funds for the monument to memorialize war veterans. According to an October 11, 1962, notice in The Holyoke Enterprise, the monument is made of Minnesota Cold Springs red granite. Its base is 10 feet wide, and it is 8.5 feet tall. It was to be “erected soon” by the Jacques Granite & Marble company of Denver. Additional publicity was not located until an article appeared in The Holyoke Enterprise’s January 27, 1963, edition. The article clarified payments that had appeared in council proceedings published in the paper. Councilmen had been getting questions about these payments. The article stated that the cost of the monument was $4,000. The administrator of Anna White’s estate, Henry T. Gassert of Holyoke, paid the funds to the Town of Holyoke the summer of 1962. The monument was dedicated on Nov. 25, 1962. The granite and engraving company then later billed the Town for payment.
The monument is primarily intended to honor veterans with the large, engraved letters that state, “DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ALL WAR VETERANS.” A bald eagle symbol of the United States appears with it that adds a sense of patriotism. The generic statement is inclusive of both past and future war veterans because it was not dedicated to any particular war or range of years that any war took place. In that way the sentiment to remember the veterans lives on infinitely. Its prominent location allows passersby to pay their respect to those who fought to secure the United States’ peace and prosperity.
It is not clear if the White’s intended for themselves to also be memorialized with the monument. Nonetheless, the inscription of “IN MEMORY OF ROBERT N. AND ANNA M. WHITE” is fitting due to their many contributions to Holyoke’s early prosperity. Robert, most often referred to as R. N. White, was among the early pioneering families who settled in Phillips County in 1886. He and Anna, from Denver, married in 1906. Their home still stands at 325 So. Morlan Avenue. They were active leaders in business, church, and civic affairs. They remained in Holyoke until the time of Robert’s death at the age of 71 or 72 on November 22, 1949, and Anna’s passing at the age of 74 in August of 1960. Each one’s funeral was held at the Methodist church in Holyoke. They are laid to rest in a mausoleum in Holyoke’s cemetery.
The White’s obituaries make clear why they were considered deserving of being memorialized with the monument. Each captures the first half of Holyoke’s 20th Century history and how some of their contributions remain visible today.
The next time one might pass by the monument, perhaps they’ll take the time to pause and reflect. People of faith may even want to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the veterans, the Whites, and Steve Seuss who worked to respect the monument so those memorialized are truly honored.
Obituaries of Robert M. and Anna N. White
Available from the “Find a Grave” website. Both are noted as being transcribed by Carol Moore, The Holyoke Enterprise, December 1, 1949, re: Robert and August 18, 1960, re: Anna.
Robert N. White
Robert N. White first came to this country as a boy of 10 years of age with his parents, who were located a few miles north of the present town of Holyoke, on a tree claim. Almost his first job was driving a herd of cattle from Julesburg to Holyoke, on foot, for which he received a stipend of 25 cents. A few years later while riding his horse to Holyoke to get a doctor for a sick neighbor, he was thrown from the horse and suffered the injury to his leg from which he never completely recovered, but he never complained of his injuries and always carried an optimistic and cheerful outlook on life. He was a clear thinker with an unlimited sense of humor.
As a young man, Mr. White worked in many and varied kinds of work. He was night clerk at the old Burlington hotel when Holyoke was a division point on the railroad. Following this, he was a type-setter at the State Herald newspaper and spent three years teaching at a country school for $30.00 per month. In 1899 he was elected as county clerk of Phillips County, Colorado, and thus became the youngest county clerk ever to serve in such a capacity in the state. After his term of office as county clerk, he went into the real estate, loan and insurance business with Charles R. Sears and shortly afterward purchased the Phillips County Republican newspaper which name he changed to The Holyoke Enterprise.
R. N., as he was often called by his friends, was one of the most progressive men the town has ever had. He owned the first car and enjoyed taking his many friends for rides in it when they were not too frightened to get into his new “gas buggy.” As soon as he made the necessary arrangements, he built his own home, in 1910, where he continued to live until the time of his passing. He served as a member of the board of trustees of the town of Holyoke and as its mayor and was instrumental in securing for the town and its residents, many of its public improvements.
The water works, the well, the power plant with its old steam engines which furnished electric current until midnight for a number of years. But whether on the board of trustees or mayor or just a private citizen, he was always closely allied with those who stood for progress and civic improvement. He was always a ready listener to any suggestion for community betterment and was always ready to spend his time and money to secure those improvements. He worked for the streetlights, sewer system, the paving of main street and the curb and gutter over the town. He was one of the staunchest supporters of the swimming pool when it was being built and bought tickets which he gave to kids in the neighborhood. He continually fought for parks in the town, for good streets and roads and there was seldom a road meeting over the state which did not have as one of the delegates, R. N. White of Holyoke.
Mr. White was a loyal member of the Methodist church and in 1922 when the present new building was constructed and dedicated, too much credit could not be given him for his monetary contributions and his tireless efforts to raise money, get donated work and labor and purchase the materials which went into its construction. He never stopped that loyal support and at the time of his death was eagerly looking forward to hearing the new pipe organ which had been ordered for more than a year.
At one time or another, he belonged to almost every worthwhile organization in the community. He was a charter member of the Commercial club, the Greater Holyoke club, and the Lions club. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias and at one time was affiliated with the Elks Lodge No. 1336 of Sterling, Colorado. No civic improvement committee was ever complete without the name of R.N. White heading it or being on its roster some place.
But this man was not only a booster for the town in which he lived; he worked for his community, county, state, and nation. During World War I, he served on the selective service board of the county and contributed heavily in the purchase of Liberty loan bonds which were so necessary in the financing of the armies in the field. He served one term as a clerk in the House of Representatives at the capitol building in Denver.
He drove far and wide over Phillips County in the interests of the new courthouse to secure signers to the petitions requesting its construction. He was at one time manager of the Phillips County fair and together with George King, gathered together samples of Phillips County products and took and displayed them at the state fair in Pueblo.
Holyoke and Phillips County and Colorado were his home; he would always live with them, work for them and die in them. The town, county and state has lost a great friend, but he will be remembered always.
Anna N. White
One of 11 children of John A. and Lena A. Gassert, Mrs. White was born on October 31, 1885, at Fort Scott, Kansas. When she was 6 years old, in 1891, the family moved to Denver and there she grew to womanhood.
In 1906 she was united in marriage in Denver to R. N. White, pioneer Holyoke publisher, businessman and civic leader, and they established their home here. Mr. White bought the Phillips County Republican in 1910 and changed its name to The Holyoke Enterprise, and Mrs. White assisted him in publication of the newspaper for a number of years after their marriage. Mr. White passed away on November 22, 1949.
Mrs. White owned several business houses in Holyoke and handled her own business affairs. She was also very active in civic, social, and fraternal organizations, in addition to being a worker in her church.
She was a past president of the Holyoke American Legion auxiliary and a member of the Past President’s Parley of that organization. She was a member of the Holyoke Community club, Fidelis club, Holyoke Home Demonstration club, and a charter member of Sorosis club.
Mrs. White was past Matron of Holyoke Chapter No. 105, Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the Methodist Ladies Aid, formerly served on the board of the Phillips County Hospital, and was a member of the Phillips County Jane Jefferson club.
Survivors include two brothers, Henry T. Gassert, Holyoke and Herman C. Gassert, Denver; two sisters, Mrs. Freda Garbarino, Denver and Caroline (Mrs. Guy L.) Bereman, Holyoke; many nieces and nephews and other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and three sisters