Location: Veterans Memorial Park, 3 Main Road, Colrain
Coordinates: 42°40’22.6″N 72°41’50.3″W
Date dedicated: Unknown
Design/Sculptor/Manufacturer: Unknown
The Colrain Veterans Memorial Park, a new space completed in 2022, honors local servicemen and women from various conflicts. Among the stones and bronze tablets carefully arranged in the new park, the oldest, and the central focal point, is a memorial to those from Colrain who fought in the Civil War (on one side of the stone), and the Spanish-American War and World War I (on the other side).
The older war memorial, including the Civil War plaque, once stood alone on a triangle in the center of Colrain where Main Road (Route 112) and Greenfield Road meet. It is not clear when the memorial was originally placed. The Civil War plaque is dedicated to “The men of Colrain who served in the War to the Preserve the Union, 1861 – 1865.”
The plaque lists 164 men from Colrain served in the Civil War with a star indicating 13 who died. Of those who served, the largest cohort (by an unusually overwhelming margin) were the 49 men who served in the 52nd Massachusetts Infantry. Roughly half of Company B of that regiment were from Colrain (and the rest from other surrounding hill towns). The recruitment effort, drawing such a large number of men (one-quarter of all who served from the town) must have been considerable.
The 52nd Massachusetts Infantry was a nine-month regiment formed in late 1862, primarily recruited from Franklin County. The regiment was deployed to Louisiana as part of the Union’s efforts in the Department of the Gulf, where it participated in the Siege of Port Hudson (May–July 1863)—a crucial campaign that helped secure control of the Mississippi River. The 52nd saw action in engagements such as the Battle of Plains Store (May 21, 1863) and endured harsh conditions in the Louisiana bayous, with many men falling ill from disease. They took part in the unsuccessful Assault on Port Hudson on June 14, 1863. After Port Hudson finally surrendered, on July 9, 1863, the regiment was mustered out and returned to Massachusetts in August 1863, having played a significant role in the final push to divide the Confederacy.[1]
The second largest group, 19 in all, served with the 34th Massachusetts Infantry. This three-year unit was organized at Worcester on August 1, 1862, and mustered out on June 16, 1865. Throughout its service, the regiment participated in numerous engagements, including the Battle of New Market, the Third Battle of Winchester, and the Battle of Cedar Creek, playing a role in the Union’s efforts in the Shenandoah Valley and the Siege of Petersburg.
Concurrent with the recent reconfiguration of that intersection, a group of residents recognized the need to honor veterans from subsequent conflicts, and also to create a space more conducive to reflection. The old stone was moved from the center of the intersection and a new park landscaped, featuring pathways, seating, and landscaping that invite visitors to pause. New stones and tablets were added to memorialize those who served in World War II, the Korean Conflict, and Vietnam. These names were previously displayed on a handmade wooden sign and have now been permanently etched to ensure lasting recognition. An additional stone has been reserved for veterans who served from 1975 onward.[2]
The new park was dedicated during a public ceremony on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022.
[1] National Park Service, Battle Unit Details, “52nd Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry (Militia)”
[2] Bella Levavi, “Colrain Set to Unveil New Memorial Park on Veterans Day,” Greenfield Recorder, October 30, 2022