The council is considering moving the doughboy and two other memorials from the corn exchange downtown to Traxler Park.
JANESVILLE — Is the ground on which memorials sit as important as the memorials themselves?
City council members will consider that question as they decide whether to allow the Janesville Patriotic Society to move three war memorials from Corn Exchange Park downtown to Traxler Park.
Council members who spoke at a recent meeting didn’t seem enthusiastic about the prospect and asked for more information.
“The thing is, I think your proposal probably raises more questions than answers at this particular point,” council member George Brunner said.
One resident who spoke said moving the memorials desecrates the sacred ground on which they stand and cuts the heart and history from downtown.
The patriotic society wants to create a patriotic center in Traxler Park, where the society already has established a veterans walk. The three memorials that would be moved are the World War I Doughboy, the World War II Tank Company monument and the World War II, Korean and Vietnam wars monument.
Society members say Traxler Park offers a more serene spot to honor veterans. The Corn Exchange is in a tiny space on the corner of Milwaukee and Franklin streets. Assembling a group of people at the location is difficult, and the city must block the street. Noise from nearby traffic can disrupt ceremonies.
The society also wants to erect more monuments in Traxler Park, such as a Purple Heart monument and one for the Iraq War.
Al Lembrich, 541 Miller Ave., told the council at a recent meeting that memorials “aren’t meant to move from their historic sites.” The Doughboy was placed at its current site for many reasons after much study and reference, Lembrich said.
He called it an important downtown historical landmark—a sacred site that is highly visible. He disagreed that ceremonies are disrupted by the noise of traffic.
Removing the Doughboy does nothing to enhance the downtown but rather cuts out its heart, Lembrich said. Historic landmarks and buildings are being removed and, “before long, there will be no historic downtown, no character, no history.”
Council member Russ Steeber said he initially thought moving the monuments was a good idea, but Lembrich’s comments “flipped a switch.” He said he didn’t know of any memorials that have ever been moved.
Steeber asked the patriotic society to investigate whether it is proper to move a memorial.
“Memorials are usually placed for a reason,” Steeber said. “I think we need to take a little bit more reflection on that.”
Council member Frank Perrotto said: “To me, that is hallowed ground where the memorial is now.”
The statue was a gift from the Lions Club, and club members might want to comment on the move, he said.
“I’m leaning more toward, ‘Why?’ I don’t seem to have a lot of answer to my ‘Why?’” he said.
Brunner said he already has received several calls in opposition, one from someone whose family member is listed on a monument at the Corn Exchange.
“It’s a very special area to her, almost a sacred area,” he said.
Traxler Park floods frequently, and Brunner wondered if the soil could even support the monument. The park also has a problem with droppings from geese.
“I think you’ve got some work to do—some additional background—without having to address a lot of money,” Brunner said. “But I’d like to give you the opportunity to come back. If you’re asking me, ‘Do I support it tonight?’ I can’t say I really support it at this particular point.”
Tom Stehura, president of the patriotic society, said his group will do some research and return to the council.
“We would like the opportunity to try to overcome all these objections,” he said.