Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 242, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1917 — IS THE BEST WAR MEMORIAL [ARTICLE]

IS THE BEST WAR MEMORIAL

Town Hall or Library Serves Purpose Well and May Replace Monuments of the Past. The question of war memorials, of fitting tributes to those tvho have met death through military serviep or whose deeds have been marked by signal acts of bravery, has been for a long time discussed in the foreign architectural press. A plan proposed, and one that has met with general approval, has been the building in each town of a permanent memorial to mark appreciation of the heroic men who have gone forth in this war. This plan will undoubtedly be found to be as admirable in this country as it is in Europe. No one, says the American Architect, will criticize the patriotic impulse that prompted a grateful people to set up in our cities and towns the many soldiers’ monuments that so often disfigure public squares and commons and which as often cause a feeling of deep regret to every artistic observer. Now* will be found an opportunity to take steps to avert in the future a very serious artistic blunder, and no class of men can exert a greater influence in these matters than architects. As the town center is the logical place for these memorials, it is equally logical to assume that when properly conceived they would exert a very decided influence on the future development of the neighborhood. We need in this country a better development of community life, a more intimate intermingling of the people, and there is no greater or better method than the facilities offered by the town or village hall. A well-designed village hall or library will admirably serve the purposes of a memorial and provide for all the people a constant reminder of the purposes of its erection.