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|park=Lee Square | |park=Lee Square | ||
|image=LeeSquare.jpg | |image=LeeSquare.jpg | ||
− | |caption=Confederate monument at Lee Square | + | |caption=Confederate monument at Lee Square |
|type=historic site | |type=historic site | ||
|size=1.6 acres | |size=1.6 acres | ||
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</googlemap> | </googlemap> | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | '''Lee Square''' is a [[Civil War]] memorial park in [[downtown Pensacola]]. It is located between the north- and south-bound lanes of [[Palafox Street]], between [[Jackson Street|Jackson]] and [[Gadsden Street]]s. Situated atop [[Gage Hill]] on the former site of [[Fort George]] and [[Fort McClellan]], it was known as '''Florida Square''' until renamed for [[Confederate]] General [[Wikipedia:Robert E. Lee|Robert E. Lee]] in [[1887]]. In [[1891]], after years of fundraising and planning, a 30-foot monument to "our Confederate dead" was erected in the park | + | '''Lee Square''' is a [[Civil War]] memorial park in [[downtown Pensacola]]. It is located between the north- and south-bound lanes of [[Palafox Street]], between [[Jackson Street|Jackson]] and [[Gadsden Street]]s. Situated atop [[Gage Hill]] on the former site of [[Fort George]] and [[Fort McClellan]], it was known as '''Florida Square''' until renamed for [[Confederate]] General [[Wikipedia:Robert E. Lee|Robert E. Lee]] in [[1887]]. In [[1891]], after years of fundraising and planning, a 30-foot monument to "our Confederate dead" was erected in the park, featuring a large granite sculpture of a Confederate soldier, modeled after a painting by John Adams Elder. The monument is dedicated to [[Wikipedia:Jefferson Davis|Jefferson Davis]], [[Stephen R. Mallory]], [[Edward Aylesworth Perry]], and "the Uncrowned Heroes of the Southern Confederacy." |
Stewardship of the park was turned over to the [[United Daughters of the Confederacy]] in [[1903]] and was for many decades home to an annual Confederate Memorial Day (or "[[Decoration Day]]") observance on [[April 26]]. Over the years the park has been reduced in size to accommodate the increased traffic on [[Palafox Street]], and events memorializing the Confederacy have become intermittent. The park is now maintained by the [[City of Pensacola]]'s [[Parks & Recreation Department]]. | Stewardship of the park was turned over to the [[United Daughters of the Confederacy]] in [[1903]] and was for many decades home to an annual Confederate Memorial Day (or "[[Decoration Day]]") observance on [[April 26]]. Over the years the park has been reduced in size to accommodate the increased traffic on [[Palafox Street]], and events memorializing the Confederacy have become intermittent. The park is now maintained by the [[City of Pensacola]]'s [[Parks & Recreation Department]]. | ||
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===Controversy=== | ===Controversy=== | ||
− | As with other memorabilia of Pensacola's [[Confederate]] heritage — for example, the [[Confederate flag]] in "[[City of Five Flags]]" displays and the [[Escambia High School]] "[[Escambia High School riots|Rebels]]" mascot — the monument at Lee Square has been an occasionally controversial subject to citizens who object to the glorification of the Confederacy. | + | As with other memorabilia of Pensacola's [[Confederate]] heritage — for example, the [[Confederate flag]] in "[[City of Five Flags]]" displays and the [[Escambia High School]] "[[Escambia High School riots|Rebels]]" mascot — the monument at Lee Square has been an occasionally controversial subject to citizens who object to the glorification of the Confederacy (the losers). |
In addition, there have been sporadic debates regarding the coexistence of the park with the increasing traffic burden along [[Palafox Street]], which carries a stretch of [[U.S. Highway 29]]. A 1939 letter to the ''[[Pensacola Journal]]'' expressed a common sentiment: | In addition, there have been sporadic debates regarding the coexistence of the park with the increasing traffic burden along [[Palafox Street]], which carries a stretch of [[U.S. Highway 29]]. A 1939 letter to the ''[[Pensacola Journal]]'' expressed a common sentiment: | ||
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In November [[1963]], a revival of the Ladies' Confederate Monument Association was led by [[Mary Turner Rule]] and others to protect the size of the park from further traffic encroachments and "to enhance the beauty and significance of the square." | In November [[1963]], a revival of the Ladies' Confederate Monument Association was led by [[Mary Turner Rule]] and others to protect the size of the park from further traffic encroachments and "to enhance the beauty and significance of the square." | ||
− | ==Plan to restore original name | + | ==Plan to restore original name== |
− | On July 14, 2020, the Pensacola City Council voted | + | On July 14, 2020, the Pensacola City Council voted 7-0 to restore the square's original name Florida Square.<ref>https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/07/14/pensacola-city-council-votes-remove-confederate-monument-change-name-lee-square/5438879002/</ref> |
{{sectstub}} | {{sectstub}} |