Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, North Carolina

During the course of the Civil War, the country suffered the highest number of U.S. fatalities in any war before or since. In addition to those on the battlefield, many others died in prisons of starvation or disease, with the prison at Salisbury having one of the highest death rates. Confederate authorities therefore established Salisbury National Cemetery for the burial of captured Union soldiers. The Pennsylvania Monument, dedicated in 1910, was designed by Carroll J. Clark to commemorate the 736 Pennsylvanian officers and soldiers who died as POWs while at the Salisbury prison.

Since then, the monument had become something of a hazard, with complete failure of the mortar joints in the pavilion roof, the stepped base, sidewalk, and approach steps. The bronze statue could also have become unsecured in the future. Additionally, the marble wall had become stained due to corrosive run-off from three copper plaques.

Conservation Solutions, Inc. was contracted to clean the monument (including removal of as much of the copper staining as possible) and to mediate water ingress through selective re-pointing using a closely matched mortar. Although the bronze statue was stable despite a previous concrete fill, it was decided by the client to treat the sculpture fully at present. It was removed from its position atop the monument by use of a boom lift and carefully lowered to the ground, where the fill was removed. The interior was then cleaned, and treated with a corrosion prevention liquid. The coating was renewed, and the sculpture was reset onto the monument through the use of a new rod. A maintenance plan was developed for the entire structure so that the proper response and attention could be assured.

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