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CLARKSVILLE - An act of vandalism last year has united a small Greene County town and residents are joining together to reconstruct their veterans' monument and celebrate a centennial anniversary.
One hundred years ago, the people of Clarksville declared their independence from Morgan Township and created Clarksville Borough, at the border with Washington County. Residents will celebrate the borough's 100-year anniversary next Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
It was the destruction of the borough's Honor Roll that originally gave council members the idea to organize a centennial celebration for the borough, said Ida Mary Haftman, a member of borough council who has called Clarksville home for 75 of the town's 100 years.
"It's an old town, and it has a history of good people and honest people," Haftman said.
But just before Memorial Day last year, a juvenile pushed the monument over. When it fell, it hit the base of a flag pole, causing it to break into three pieces. The granite monument did not list veterans' names, but said simply, "In Memory of All Wars."
Clarksville Borough Mayor Sam Benyi is still not sure how the boy was able to push the monument over. "The destruction of the monument was just devastating to me. I searched, asked questions, found out how it happened and had the person responsible prosecuted," Benyi said.
With the old memorial destroyed, council contacted state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D- Bentleyville, and state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, for help in obtaining a new monument.
In late 2008, DeWeese secured a $25,000 grant through the Department of Community and Economic Development, and Stout provided an additional $10,000. United Mine Workers Locals 2300 and 2258, along with the UMW International union, donated the funds for landscaping.
Clarksville residents are working to raise an additional $15,000. Benyi said the entire project cost approximately $50,000.
The monument is made out of solid Pennsylvania black granite. The 6-foot tall, 4-foot wide center is flanked by two wing walls that are 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Around 800 names have been sketched into the granite, and more names will be added.
"When youngsters and teenagers, as well as their parents and grandparents, walk or drive by the memorial, they will be reminded of what a special and unique national experience the United States has enjoyed," DeWeese said.
The monument is in place but will remain covered until the unveiling Saturday. It will be dedicated at the conclusion of a parade that begins at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Centennial festivities begin at 7 p.m. Friday with a dinner dance hosted by the Clarksville Volunteer Fire Department. All proceeds will go toward paying the monument's remaining balance.
Saturday's activities include a talent show at 2 p.m. and bingo, which begins at 5 p.m. The celebration will include food and craft vendors, kids' games, historical displays and the unveiling of a commemorative, handmade quilt.
Haftman made a red, white and blue quilt with the signatures of 84 Clarksville residents embroidered in red and blue. Getting residents' signatures for each quilt block gave the quilt a personal touch, she said.
The quilt will be on display at the senior center Saturday and following the celebration, the quilt will hang in the borough building.
On Sunday, a church service will be held in the town square at 9:30 a.m. followed by a pancake and sausage breakfast.
The borough will also be selling copies of a Clarksville 100th anniversary book.
Randi Ross Marodi, who was raised in Clarksville, collected historical photos and facts for publication in the book. Marodi also began a Clarksville blog, where she asked residents for their thoughts about the small town, along with historical information.
Although the residents are celebrating the town's centennial as a borough, the historical book describes the area as it was more than 200 years ago.
According to Marodi, Clarksville was founded in 1809 by Samuel Clarke, a Washington County politician, who named the area between the north and south forks of Ten Mile Creek after himself. Before Clarke, the Delaware Indians used what is now the town square as a council meeting place.
"There is a lot of excitement in the air," said Benyi, "and everybody in the borough is doing everything they possibly can to help out."
For more details about Clarksville's centennial celebration, visit clarksvillepa.blogspot.com.
Greene County Bureau Chief Jon Stevens contributed to this story.