A Historic Monument Rearrangement on Historic County Courthouse Grounds Part of 250th Independence Celebration

Royal Examiner was alerted to some recent-past work being done on the historic Warren County Courthouse grounds at the intersection of Royal Avenue and Main Street. We found out that one monument “In memory of the Soldiers and Patriots of the Revolutionary War, 1775 – 1783” was being relocated from one spot to another on the courthouse grounds, while the second monument dedicated to the 1975 planting of the “Constitution Oak by the Honorable D.C. O’Flaherty commemorating the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1902” was being moved from the small park area behind the Warren County Government Center (WCGC) to the courthouse grounds.

Shot from Royal Ave. side of the grounds with monument/plaque on grounds poised to be moved east towards where the landscaping work is occurring in final two pictures. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

We were directed to County Planning Director Matt Wendling for information on the courthouse monument rearrangement. Wendling explained that the work was tied to the County’s participation in the statewide celebration this coming year of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s role in the establishment of the nation. Information on the statewide effort can be found at the website <VA250.org>.

We inquired why the plaque commemorating the planting of the Royal Oak 50 years ago was being moved from the assumed site of that planted oak tree, just behind the WCGC in a small park area. Wendling responded that unfortunately the Royal Oak tree had died a number of years ago. Consequently, he said the commemorative plaque will be removed from its stone base and turned over to the Warren Heritage Society to determine a future site and commemorative use of it.

Three shots closing in on the Constitution Oak dedication monument/plaque in back of WCGC site. Unfortunately, the Constitution Oak died a number of years ago. This plaque will be turned over to The Warren Heritage Society for future display. It’s replacement on the courthouse grounds in the monument base will be dedicated to those Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Warren County.

A replacement plaque will be constructed to be placed on the stone base now situated on the courthouse grounds next to the memorial to “The soldiers and patriots of the Revolutionary War 1775 to 1883” on the opposite side of the bench placed there. The new plaque will carry on the theme of its companion monument plaque, dedicated to the soldiers and patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War and are buried in Warren County, as well as to Dr. Joseph Warren for whom the county in named, and who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill, also known as the Battle of Breed’s Hill where most of the fighting occurred.

Wendling noted that County Tourism Manager Leslie Bowery had acquired some State Grant funding for the Courthouse grounds monument work. Those grants were available to assist in municipal work related to the Virginia 250 project commemorating, not only the two-and-a-half centuries that will have passed since the 1775 start of the American Revolution, but also Virginia’s crucial role in that revolution.

A shot of the evolving Memorial Garden on the Courthouse grounds, with the two relocated monuments flanking the newly installed bench. As noted above, the Constitution Oak plaque to the right will be replaced in the monument base with a salute to the county’s Revolutionary warriors laid to rest in Warren County.