How, when, and by whom was the Monument created?

With Bunker Hill Day just days away, who better to feature in this month’s Newsletter than the organization that, in partnership with the American Legion, is responsible for memorializing the Battle of Bunker Hill every year on June 17th - The Bunker Hill Monument Association. The BHMA’s memorialization includes an Ecumenical Service and Commemoration Ceremony including greetings and remarks from local dignitaries held at the base of the Monument. The first address was held by Daniel Webster in 1825. It remains the longest running commemoration in our nation’s history!

We were able to catch up with Annette Tecce, President of the Bunker Hill Monument Association, to learn more about the Association and its role in preserving our Nation’s history since 1823. Here is the answer to "How, when, and by whom was the Monument created?"

“The answer to all these questions is the Bunker Hill Monument Association. On May 10th 1823, a breakfast meeting including 8 gentlemen was held at the home of Col. Perkins, a wealthy Boston Merchant. These men agreed to start the Bunker Hill

Monument Association and each contributed five dollars. The BHMA was incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a private organization with the objective of purchasing land on the June 17, 1775 battlegrounds and constructing a monument to memorialize the battle as well as the birth of our nation.

The BHMA purchased 15 acres of Russell’s pasture, which was located on Breeds Hill which was also part of the larger Bunker Hill. Given that most of Charlestown was burned to the ground on June 17, 1775, the battle and cannon fire included the bulk of Charlestown as it existed in 1775.

The land purchased by the BHMA was sold at an auction in 1839 as building lots. The money was used to pay off a loan and build the monument. The lots became home sites for what is known as Monument Square today.

From its beginning the BHMA was an exclusive organization, which required new members to be sponsored by existing members to gain membership. The membership of the BHMA included 11 presidents, 30 generals, 20 admirals, 20 mayors of Boston, 6 presidents of Harvard University, and hundreds of clergy, doctors, lawyers and distinguished citizens.

The monument would not be here today without the efforts of the BHMA. They initiated the idea of a memorial. They created the design competition, selected the design and architect. BHMA selected the superintendent and oversaw the construction all while scrambling to raise donations, which were often as small as 25 cents.

Once the construction was completed the BHMA oversaw the daily operations of collecting fees, maintaining the grounds and sharing the rich history of the Battle of Bunker Hill to keep it alive. In 1919 after managing the site for 77 years the BHMA turned the memorial over to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1976, the Monument and Park were turned over to the National Park Service which is part of the Department of Interior.”

Check out the Bunker Hill Monument Association here to learn more interesting Charlestown history.