Location: In park at Park Ave & Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401

Visited: August 13, 2009, 8:20am

Transcriptions of markers:

East face:

In grateful remembrance of
Stephen N. Harris
who served his country well
as a soldier and citizen
Private, Co. B 2nd Ga. Infantry
1898
Cdr. Worth Bagley Camp No. 10 Dept. Ga. U.S.W.V.
1932
Commander Dept. of Ga. U.S.W.V
1900       1931
Adj. Gen. United Spanish War Veterans
1928       1929
Chief of Staff, Council Of Adm. Ga. U.S.W.V.
1937       1938
His character and leadership inspired his
comrades and fellow citizens.

North face: [Spanish War Veterans’ insignia]

West face:

A tribute to that
Soldier · Comrade · Citizen
William L. Grayson
1870       1941
1st. Lieut. Co. “M” 1st Regt. Ga. Vols.
Spanish American War
Commander Department of Georgia U.S.W.V.
1925 — 1927
National Commander in Chief U.S.W.V.
1928 — 1929
His distinguished service has endeared him
to all veterans of all wars
1946

South face (front):

To those
Georgians who
volunteered and
served their
country in the
Spanish American
War

My impressions: This marker was high on my “want to visit” list for our trip to Savannah, because I found out about this through finding a Spanish-American War memorial in Portsmouth, VA and the linkage made by an editor of The Historical Marker Database to other markers that feature The Hiker, by sculptor Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson.

It is kind of amazing to see something familiar and apparently unique (until one learns the fuller story) in two different settings, nearly 500 miles apart. And that isn’t diminished too much by the fact that I knew I would see it and had planned the visit in Savannah.

I remember, early on in my days at Markeroni seeing somebody refer to “their marker,” a marker near their home with which they felt a strong affinity. At the time, before I’d started being intentional about snarfing (and before I’d logged any markers on the site), I didn’t really understand it. It clicked in for my last month, as I was in Portsmouth, VA for about the third time to find markers. That day I was “on a mission” to complete visiting a series of markers (for the city’s Path of History), but my walking route took me past several markers that I’d previously snarfed…and there was a familiarity that made it almost as though I was passing an old friend, because I had visited these markers, taken their photos, transcribed them, and written about them. So, standing in a park in Savannah, the first time I’d ever done more than drive through the state of Georgia, I felt at home…even though, I still know woefully little about the Spanish-American War.

Markeroni status: Not yet logged (and it appears I also did not log the similar monument in Portsmouth, VA yet).

Credit: Thanks to hmdb.org and their page on this monument for their transcriptions of this marker.

Location: Historic Jamestowne, Colonial NHP, Jamestown, VA 23185

Visited: July 4, 2009, 1:45pm

Transcription of monument:

[north side]

Virginia Company
of London
Chartered April 10, 1606
Founded
Jamestown
and sustained
Virginia
1607 — 1624

[west side]

This monument
was erected by
the United States
A.D. 1907
to commemorate
the three hundredth
anniversary of
the settlement here

[south side, at same level as other engravings]

Jamestown
The first permanent
colony of the
English people
The birthplace of
Virginia
and of
the United States
– May 13 — 1607 -

[south side, on the base]

“Lastly and chiefly the way to prosper and achieve good success is to make yourselves all of one mind for the good of your country, and your own, and to serve and fear God, the giver of all goodness, for every plantation which our heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted out.”

Advice of London Council for Virginia to the colony — 1606

[east side]

Representative
government in
America
began in the
first House of
Burgesses
assembled here
July 30, 1619

My impressions: This is a very tall and impressive monument. There seems to me to be something very American about the obelisk: I don’t recall any off the top of my head that I saw in Canada, but this is the third significant one I’ve seen in the U.S. (The other two were in my pre-snarfing days: the Washington Monument in Washington, DC and the Masonic monument to Washington in Alexandria, VA.) I don’t know what that says that the United States adopted the obelisk so often as a symbol.

Coming, as it does, as you are entering Historic Jamestowne, the monument is a great introductory reminder to how much history the place holds. It also challenged a bit of my faulty memories of history. I had it in my head that Nova Scotia was the birthplace of representative government in the British Empire, but the Internet tells me I’m mistaken. Nova Scotia saw the start of representative government in Canada, but that came in 1758, well over a century later than the establishment of the House of Burgesses here. (In fact, Nova Scotia celebrated the 250th anniversary of its establishment there just last year.)

It also awes me to see a monument like this and know that it was made early in the 20th century and that it was erected without all of the technology we have today. And to think of the number of hours it would have taken for all that lettering…what patience and dedication and craftsmanship!

Spanish-American War statue

Location: Crawford Pkwy at North St, Portsmouth, VA 23704

Visited: June 1, 2009, 2:10pm

Transcription of marker:

Spanish-American War
1898–1902

Erected by the citizens of Portsmouth and Norfolk County. Sponsored by the Austin R. Davis Camp No 4 — United Spanish War Veterans and Auxiliary to commemorate the valor and patriotism of those who voluntarily served in the war with Spain, the Phillipine insurrection and the China relief expedition.

Dedicated May 23, 1942

My impressions: The statue looks interesting, but it is intriguing how the text was placed. The marker I transcribed above is to the back of the man it portrays. The front of the pedestal has a crest of the Spanish American War Veterans. I find it interesting how many markers and monuments in Portsmouth are in the middles of streets: there were the first two state historical markers I saw there, as well as the Confederate Monument, and now this one. Though this one doesn’t have the fence of the Confederate Monument, its setting is nicer, with more grass, and I could actually get to it without worrying that I was going to be struck by a car.

I wonder whether the logo/crest was instantly recognizable in the era when this statue was placed. And the timing is curious: 1942, four decades after the war ended (using the date there). Was it simply a matter of funds? Did World War II have anything to do with it? I don’t know the answers, but they are certainly interesting questions. Maybe someday I’ll do some reading and see what I can find to answer them.

Notes for snarfers: This is very close to the North Street ferry landing.

Markeroni status: This site has not yet been submitted for inclusion in the Markeroni database.

After this, I took the ferry, and there was one more snarf in Norfolk before I returned home, and you’ll read about that in my next post.

Location: Corner of High Street and Crawford St, Portsmouth, VA 23704

Visited: June 1, 2009, 1:25pm

Transcription of plaque:

Col. William Craford
founder of
Portsmouth, Virginia
February 27, 1752

Today, known as
Col. William Crawford

My impressions: As I’m writing about these and organizing them to write about them, I noticed that this is part of a mini-sequence of Cra[w]ford posts. I remember coming across this statue on my first visit to Portsmouth last summer and being instantly pulled in. I’m not sure whether it’s the statue itself or the space around it. I just remember being impressed by it. It isn’t a towering monument, but I think he feels quite human-sized, and that may be part of why I relate to it.

This is one of those statues that almost looks better when you get behind it. I had walked down the street to a state historical marker (that I’ll write about in my next post) and when I came back I was captivated by the detail of the bag Craford carries. I’m not aware of any meaning to the bag, but artistically, it impresses me.

Notes for future snarfers: This one’s pretty much in plain site at its location. Make sure to step behind it and look at the detail back there, too!

Markeroni status: I will submit this statue to Markeroni once the whelm level drops.

Location: Alongside Witchduck Rd, in front of Sentara Bayside Hospital at the intersection of Independence Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

Visited: May 19, 2009, 7:10pm

Description: A statue of Grace Sherwood with a small animal. I’d like to do some further research into the animal and its inclusion and how that relates to Sherwood’s story.

The statue sits on a base and there are four plaques, one on each side of the base: I’ll go through each, beginning with the side closest to Witchduck Rd and proceeding counter-clockwise around the statue.

Plaque #1
Letter from Governor Kaine

[Virginia state seal]

Timothy M. Kaine
Governor

Ms. Belinda Nash

Dear Ms. Nash:

I am pleased to join the mayor of Virginia Beach in extending best wishes as you work to promote justice in the 1706 “witch ducking” case of Grace Sherwood.

With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice. We also can celebrate the fact women’s equality is that a constitutionally protected today, and women have the freedom to pursue their hopes and dreams.

The historical records that survive indicate that Ms. Sherwood, a midwife and widowed mother of three, survived her “trial by water” in 1706. Those records also indicate that one of my predecessors, Governor Alexander Spotswood, eventually helped her reclaim her property. The record also indicates Ms. Sherwood led an otherwise quiet and law-abiding life until she died at age 80.

Today, July 10, 2006, as 70th Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am pleased to officially restore the good name of Grace Sherwood.

Sincerely,

[signed]
Timothy M. Kaine

Patrick Henry Building, 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 786‑2211, TTY (800) 828‑1120
www.governor.virginia.gov

Plaque #2

Grace White Sherwood
Born 1660 Died 1740
Married April 1680 to James Sherwood
James died 1701
Survived by sons,
John, James, and Richard

Sentara Healthcare

has graciously provided this site in
recognition of their community, and
the history that surrounds us.

This 21st day of April 2007

Sculptor
Robert Cunningham

Plaque #3
The Trial of 1706

At Witchduck Point, 10am July 10th 1706 Grace Sherwood, the daughter of a carpenter and the wife of a planter in the County of Princess Anne, was accused by neighbors of witchcraft. Grace was tried in the second Princess Anne County courthouse, found guilty, and consented to the traditional trial by water, Grace was tried crossbound and dropped into water above man’s depth. If she were to sink and drown she was innocent and could be buried on holy ground, Grace did float, thus was guilty as the pure water was casting out her evil spirit. She was incarcerated in the local jail just beyond this statue. After her release, Grace paid the back taxes on her property in 1714, returned to her farm and worked the land until her death at age 80 in the autumn of 1740. Grace Sherwood, Virginia’s only convicted witch tried by water, she lays claim to Witchduck Road. Her legend lives on as “The Infamous Witch of Pungo”

Plaque #4
Major Donors

[not transcribed here, but pictured below]

My impressions: I really like this statue and the plaques around it. I like the way it tackles an injustice, facing up to what happened, while admitting that an injustice was done. I also found that the texts here humanized Grace Sherwood far more than the dry state marker a couple of hundred feet away. It’s markers like this that make me want to dig around and find more of the real story behind them.

Notes for future snarfers: This and state marker K 276 are both accessible from the Bayside hospital parking lot.

Where do I go from here: I’m off to figure out how to log this. I’m pretty sure it’s a wildcard (a site not on Markeroni’s existing lists), but I’m not sure whether I should be logging the whole thing as one, or whether I’d log plaques #1 and #3 separately (#2 doesn’t appear to me to qualify and #4 definitely doesn’t).

So I’ll have some questions for Markeroons more experienced in the ways of Markeroni than I, and I’ll report back here when all is properly decided and logged.

Update (6/2): Yesterday, The Virginian-Pilot published a brief article by Kathy Adams about the name Witchduck Road which mentions Grace Sherwood’s story, as well as the statue described above.