There are a dozen villages and cities in Central New York that sound like they have the same name. Oswego, Otsego, and Owego are frequently confused by people outside the region. All are Iroquois names. Today we will look at the memorial in Owego, just twenty miles from Binghamton. The town is doing well. While several upstate cities are struggling, Owego has a good knowledge-based economy. At the center of Owego is Courthouse Square which is where the Tioga County Memorial stands.
While both Tioga County and Owego are fairly small, the monument itself is quite big. The memorial is close to fifty feet tall. The granite comes from Barre, Vermont. The standard bearer at the top is eight and a half feet high.
The monument was dedicated on July 4, 1891. The monument was a Reconstruction Era building, opening in 1872.
Owego was settled in 1786. In the ten years before the Civil War, the village had grown by 25% to a population of 8,935. Owego is the county seat of Tioga County.
The front of the memorial is inscribed:
TIOGA COUNTY
TO HER HEROES WHO FOUGHT
AND HER MARTYRS WHO FELL
THAT THE UNION MIGHT LIVE
On the east and west sides of the monument are two statues, one of a sailor and the other of an infantryman.
The infantryman is looking intently at the distance.
Men from Tioga County enlisted in many different regiments and batteries from New York . Tioga County only had 28,000 people in 1860 and so there was no attempt to form a Tioga Regiment. However, in April of 1861, just a few days after Fort Sumter was fired upon, nearly a full company enlisted in the 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the “Albany Regiment.” This company, Company H, was recruited in Owego. By June, they were at Fortress Monroe in Virginia. The regiment fought at Big Bethel in the first days when it was in Virginia. It would later see action in the siege of Charleston, and then, in 1864, return to Virginia for the Overland Campaign. In 1865 it was detailed to the Carolinas Campaign.
Other regiments from New York that got a lot of recruits from Tioga County included the 19th, 23rd, 26th “Central New York Regiment,” 64th, 66th, 109th, 137th regiments of New York Infantry. Many residents also joined the 5th New York Cavalry.
Above the soldier and the sailor is a flagbearer. His hand carries a sword.
Along the shaft are eight battles that the men of Tioga County fought in. Charleston and Fredericksburg are on one side.
On the front are carved the two most important battles to the community, Gettysburg and Appomattox.
The sailor looks off for other ships.
Two 1864 battles are on another side, Winchester and the Wilderness.
Petersburg and Atlanta are above the infantryman.
Below is a photo taken of the backside of the monument.
For a monument build a quarter century after the war, the detail of the soldier is quite good.
At each of the four corners is an artillery piece. These were manufactured on 1865. They were added to the monument in 1900.
The artillery pieces were installed upside down, with the vent being placed downwards.
Many of the structures in the historic downtown date back to when the monument was first built. The village is small, with only 18,728 people living there, but the business life is vibrant and there are a number of good places to eat.
My favorite local eating place is The Cellar, walking distance of the memorial. It is a bit more expensive than the other restaurants but it has New York quality. It is located at 196 Front St.
Yes, it was raining. There are a number of markers around town indicating the past of Owego. One of the best places to explore is on the Owego Riverwalk. You should go to Draper Park just two blocks from the monument. This walk is only a half mile and it takes you down to the Susquehanna River. There is nice landscaping along this decade-old path and it is accessible. It takes you to the river side of the 19th Century stores on Front Street as well as providing you with a view of the mountains south of the town. At the end of your walk, return to the start by walking down Front Street.
Note: All color photos in this post were taken by Patrick Young except as noted.
Below is a video on the Riverwalk made by an independent creator:
Sources:
Our County and Its People a Memorial history of Tioga County ed. by Leroy Kingman published by Fergusson (1900)
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