Soldier's Monument
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Why it's listed
A marble Civil War memorial marks the center of the crossing of Chestnut and Second Streets in Byron, Illinois. Byron citizens formed a monument association in September 1865, and the monument was bought by subscription for $1,400 and dedicated on October 18, 1866. It honors the township's volunteers, thirty of whom died, many serving with the 92nd Volunteers. Originally twelve feet tall with a marble eagle on top, it gained a second plinth in 1877 and now stands nineteen feet six inches high. Two cannon were added in 1897. Lightning damaged it in 1899, and a 1918 tornado broke the eagle, which was never replaced. A new base and cleaning came in 1965 for its centennial, funded by the Byron Woman's Club. Few Illinois monuments are older, and its location in the middle of an intersection is unusual. Public protest in 1984 halted plans to relocate it.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the oldest Civil War memorials in Illinois, dedicated in 1866, with age and symbolic value giving it historic significance. Its siting in the middle of a town intersection is unusual, since most Illinois monuments stand in cemeteries or on courthouse squares. Repeated local funding of repairs and public opposition to moving it in 1984 show its continuing importance to the community.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85000268, listed February 14, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Chestnut and 2nd Sts., Byron |
|---|---|
| County | Ogle County |
| Listed | February 14, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000268 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1866) |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Byron and publicly accessible. The eagle was broken in a 1918 tornado and never replaced. A new base was built and the monument cleaned in 1965. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.13336, -89.26678 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85000268.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7557248
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.