Sherman the soldier is back as the heart of an Ohio community. A replica of the granite monument smashed by a big rig in 2022 is set in place for the long haul

Statue at studio in Vermilion and monument installation in LaGrange (Courtesy Cleveland Quarries)

Sherman the flag bearer is again standing tall above the traffic circle in LaGrange, Ohio.

Nearly three years after a tractor trailer smashed the granite Civil War monument, workers installed a replacement Wednesday in time for Memorial Day and a founding celebration for the small community near Cleveland.

“Our community is almost whole. It’s wonderful to see him standing there again,” said LaGrange Township trustee Rita Canfield in a Friday email.

Zachary Carpenter, president of Cleveland Quarries in Vermilion, said the entire process of making the replica monument has gone more smoothly than expected. (At left, Sherman back in place)

“We are all very proud of the work completed and it means a lot to me personally to have been involved in something so historically significant to the area – especially knowing (hoping) that Sherman will be standing in LaGrange for another 100 years.”

While master stone carver Nicholas Fairplay fashioned the statue of the resolute soldier, Carpenter’s company made and finished the blocks below his feet. That includes the names of LaGrange area residents who served during the war, and mentions of a few battles and of Union generals Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, Philip Sheridan and George Thomas.

“The whole structure is almost 40,000 pounds,” said Carpenter, adding the soldier himself may weigh up to two tons.

So why is the soldier known around the community as Sherman? Yes, the general with that name is from Ohio. But the real reason is because of the four generals represented on the monument, Sherman's name is the one beneath the front of the statue.

Officials in LaGrange were determined to replace the 1903-04 memorial obliterated in June 2022. The monument, which was made up of several pieces, topped by the Union soldier, was shattered by the truck. Even his head was broken off.

The farm community determined the damage was too severe for a repair. After finalizing a $923,244 settlement with the trucking company’s insurance company, LaGrange Township hired Fairplay and Carpenter's company.

Pieces of the monument before assembly this week (LaGrange Township)

They worked from the original statue -- painstakingly glued together by Fairplay and an assistant to use as a template for the new one. He worked in a studio at Cleveland Quarries, which milled the raw form of the replacement statue at its operation in Vermilion.

The return of the fixture at the intersection of routes 301 and 303 (Main Street) coincides with the 200^th anniversary of the township and the 150^th for the village. (They are separate political entities. The monument is owned by the township and is the center point of the village.). 

Joint events on May 24-26 include a car show, pancake breakfast, 5K run, carnival, parade and the statue unveiling on Memorial Day. Members of the LaGrange Historical Society will be present all three days. (More details here)

The original statue was shattered into dozens of pieces, including its head (LaGrange Township)

Canfield said Friday caulking and grout work on the stone will be completed soon.

“The remaining work to be done to the site will be completed after Memorial Day. Due to the weather and the Founder Event planned, we are leaving the existing sidewalk until after Memorial Day weekend," the township official said. "The sprinkler system, grass, general landscaping, lighting and flag pole will wait until the heavy work is done.”

Mayor Gary Kincannon of LaGrange Village told the Picket he was pleased with the return of Sherman, the literal center point of town.

“I grew up in town and used to sit on the statue from 8-9 years old until high school. Something was definitely missing, but back now.”