DERBY – Resident George Geer is trying to raise $4,000 to restore a monument of a Derby resident who died in battle during the Civil War.
Geer is the commander of the Wooster-Russell Camp #22, Sons of Union Veterans Ansonia-Derby.
He is spearheading an effort to restore the deteriorating gravesite monument of Col. Charles L. Russell in Oak Cliff Cemetery off Hawthorne Avenue.
Russell was Derby’s first casualty of the Civil War, and the first regimental commander from Connecticut to die in battle. He was only 34 years old when he was killed in 1862.
According to the Electronic Valley, Russell was born in Litchfield on July 25, 1828. At age 12, he moved to Derby where he began working in the tack-making trade, crafting equipment for horses.
At 17, Russell, an anti-slavery activist, became a member of the Derby Blues, a volunteer military company. He later served in the 10th Connecticut Infantry during the Civil War.
He participated in the First Battle of Bull Run and was killed on February 8, 1862, at the Battle of Roanoke Island. He was married with three children.
His seven-foot-tall monument at Oak Cliff Cemetery, crafted of marble and granite, sits at the edge of the cemetery, overlooking the Housatonic River.
However, after some 164 years, Russell’s monument is starting to fade.
No longer is Russell’s name and rank visible, nor is the dash between the year he was born and the year he died. A raised symbol in the center of the monument, showing he was a member of the Masons, has also faded.
There are chunks of missing marble that have fallen prey to decades of erosion. The entire monument is soiled and has a greenish/whitish lichen (fungi and algae) on the lower granite base.
The monument is also slightly leaning backwards.
Geer said a local hero’s final resting place cannot be lost to time.
“For years, I’ve been looking at Col. Russell’s monument and saw how badly it needs refurbishing,” Geer said during a recent visit to the cemetery. “Last year, I said that’s it, enough is enough, I’m going to do something about it.”
Geer’s father and three uncles served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He said honoring the men and women of the military is the right thing to do.
“I want to honor this man who lived right here in Derby, who served his country and made the ultimate sacrifice. Even though Col. Russell was born in Litchfield, he was essentially a hometown Derby boy. And he certainly deserves a better-looking monument than what is here now,” Geer said.
Last fall, Geer reached out to Nelson Architectural Restoration, based in Willington, to see what it’d take to have Russell’s monument returned to its former glory.
The company’s owner, Randall Nelson, visited Russell’s monument last summer and gave Geer an estimate of $4,000 to restore it.
Geer got the green light from the privately-owned cemetery to proceed.
He has since launched a one-man fundraising campaign to see the project through. Geer said he’s collected about $1,500 in donations so far, just by word of mouth.
He also submitted a grant to the Valley Community Foundation in hopes of securing some money for the project.
He wants to have the project done in time for America’s 250th birthday on July 4. A dedication ceremony will be held at a date to be announced, Geer said, not only to honor Russell, but to thank those who donated.
Tom Voytek, commander of the Catholic War Veterans in Derby, supports Geer’s endeavor.
“It is perfect timing with our country’s 250th anniversary. He is helping everyone to understand the traditions and history of individuals from the Valley who helped to defend our country,” Voytek wrote in an email.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the restoration project can mail a check, payable to: “Col. Charles Russell Monument Fund” and send it to: George Geer, 129 Bradley Terrace, Derby, CT, 06418.