Facebook - Save the Reidsville Confederate Monument
This article was taken from the April 8, 1910 Reidsville Review. It clearly shows where the town commissioners granted permission to the UDC to place the monument at the intersection of Scales and Morehead Streets. Isn't this the same as a deed? And by granting permission wasn't it the intent of all concerned for that monument to not only be placed there but to remain there. Not to be moved the first time it was destroyed!!!
Where is Reidsville?
This is so sad. The Civil War was a bloodbath for both sides. Young men on both sides made tremendous sacrifices for their homes and homeland. Let’s stop this racial peeing contest and honor vets — all vets— and the great republic we love.
Put the statue back where it belongs.
My family fought on both sides...put the statue back.
Legally? No.
And the grantee, the UDC, has decided to move the monument.
The one entity that would have standing has already acquiesced.
I would also point out that the Confederacy wasn't particularly relevant to the history of Reidsville.
The monument should be preserved. But it should be moved to a safer location where it won’t be subject to gomers slamming into it.
And no, it wouldn’t be “censorship” if it were moved.
Sorry, but it's not remotely the same thing as a deed. Not even close. Giving permission to erect a monument is not the same as granting fee simple title (or any title) to the Daughters of Confederacy to the land on which the monument was located.
And by granting permission wasn't it the intent of all concerned for that monument to not only be placed there but to remain there. Not to be moved the first time it was destroyed!!!
Well, you have two issues. The first is that there's nothing whatsoever in that newspaper article that states what the intent of the town commissioners was regarding the permanency of the monument. I'd guess they meant it to be permanent, but that's a guess.
Second, the act of a town commission reflects present intent. The same town commissioners, or subsequent town commissioners, may change their minds. It happens all the time. There are practical reasons that would normally act to keep them from changing their minds on many issues (public reaction, for example), but town commissions change their minds all the time. Example? Land zone for private land use is taken and rezoned as a public park. Or an abandoned and unused public park is rezoned and sold to a business moving into the community and bringing jobs.
None of us wants to live in a world where the act of a town commission regarding a use of land is set in stone for the rest of history.