The Eureka Springs Cemetery Commission is rejecting the addition of any additional Confederate symbols to an obelisk that was recently erected in the city cemetery unless the Union side of the Civil War is also recognized.
At its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 16, the short-handed commission voted 3-0 to deny an application by Koltin Massie to add a plaque listing the names of all Confederate soldiers from Carroll County who died in the Civil War to the 15-foot stone pillar monument.
The monument has been a source of controversy, with two cemetery commissioners resigning their seats after its installation — although neither indicated that their departure was related to the monument.
Massie is commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Seaborn Jones Cotten Camp in Eureka Springs. The camp is named after Massie’s fourth great-grandfather, a Confederate soldier. Massey purchased the lot where the obelisk was built for $1,000.
“Koltin Massie has emailed me a petition to put a plaque on the monument out there,” cemetery commission chair LB Wilson told Glenna Booth and David Danvers — the only other members of the commission.
Wilson indicated that Massie referred to the obelisk as a “Confederate/Union monument.”
“[The proposed plaque] has a listing of all the soldiers from Carroll County who passed away during the Civil War, Confederate soldiers.” Wilson continued. “At this point in time there are two medallions on that monument, both of which make reference to the Confederacy.” Wilson said if the monument is indeed intended to represent both sides of the Civil War then he feels the “first plaque that goes on there indicates that — that this is a monument for the Civil War.”
“Secondly, before we put anything else on the monument, I would like to see two medallions for the Union,” Wilson said.
If and when a plaque recognizing Confederate soldiers from the area is approved then it should be installed along with a plaque honoring Union soldiers from Carroll County as well, the commission chair added.
“That’s balance to me,” Wilson said. “Is this a monument for the Civil War, for the Confederate and the Union or is this continuing to be a Confederate monument, which we are continuing to have to deal with for circumstances that we had no information or control about?”
Wilson told Booth and Danvers that he recommended denying Massie’s request as it was presented until two Union medallions are added to the two blank sides of the four-sided obelisk. Confederate medallions are displayed on the other sides of the structure.
“And also deny until a plaque has been made to indicate the soldiers serving for the Union from Carroll County who passed away,” Wilson said. “With those things, he can reapply.”
Danvers and Booth agreed, and commissioners were reminded that Massie had previously sent a letter to the commission indicating he was going to honor both sides of the Civil War.
“What we want is them both done at the same time,” Booth said.
Danvers said the commission wants the monument “designated as a Civil War monument.”
“We’re not going down the road of being manipulated anymore,” Wilson replied.
“We want the other two [medallions] up there and we want [a plaque] saying ‘dedicated to the whatever of the Civil War, ’ ” Danvers added.
Wilson reminded commissioners that Massie has indicated that the obelisk will be his final resting place.
“There should be some indication, wouldn’t you think, of his namesake on the monument as well,” Wilson said.
Danvers responded: “He told me that was going to be one of the applications that he sent you. He wanted the assurance that he could be buried there. And I told him absolutely, that he owned it. He wants his birthday, his name, just like a lot of other people do.”
Although Massie had previously indicated he was going to apply to add plaques recognizing both sides of the Civil War, the commissioners said they were concerned that the only paperwork received was that regarding a Confederate plaque.
That led to a motion by Booth to authorize Wilson to deny the current application. The motion passed by a 3-0 vote.
Massie’s need for commission approval to add plaques to the monument came after the commission voted in July to take more oversight on “large and unusual” monuments on cemetery grounds.
The monument began drawing public attention after it was first reported on by Fayetteville-based KUAF public radio reporter Jacqueline Froelich.
At the time, city council member Harry Meyer suggested members of the cemetery commission should resign in the wake of the monument being allowed at the cemetery. Since then, commissioners Bruce Wright and Robert Tollett have resigned citing health and family reasons.
While the monument’s presence in the cemetery has been a source of controversy, Wilson has indicated that while most members of the commission were unaware it was being erected, no rules in effect at the time were violated in its installation.
