After 2 years, community questions when historic monument will be restored
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It’s Women’s History Month, but one of Augusta’s historical markers honoring the impact of Emily Tubman is not in the best shape.
Two years ago, a car ran into the marble knocking down its four pillars.
And today, it remains in the same state.
“I thought it was beautiful. Beautiful to honor her and what she did for Augusta. It’s sad to see the pillars are gone,” said Thomasine Deer.
Deer says she’s lived in Augusta her entire life.
While she has always had a special love for history, she holds Emily Tubman’s monument close to her heart.
“I care about it because of what she did for our city and what she did for women. I think she’s given a lot to Augusta,” said Deer.
Tubman did a lot of work for women in the mid-1800s. She founded the first public high school for girls in Augusta and provided low-cost housing units for widows and the elderly and more.
But Deer says it seems as if people are forgetting her monument isn’t complete.
“I think the question that people have is, is it going to be fixed? When is it going to be fixed?” asked Deer.
That’s a question the Coalition for Action group has been asking the city for the last year.
“I think it would be nice if the city would just let people know we’re working on it, it’s gonna come back, but you don’t hear anything about it,” said Deer.
An email chain shows three messages were sent before getting a response.
They continued to push this January for the city to apply for a Porter Fleming Foundation grant to cover excess costs of the monument, which would serve the city at no cost. The city did apply.
Interim City Takiyah Douse responded to the email chain saying that as of Feb. 7, the Risk Management Team did receive a $25,000 payout from the driver’s insurance.
But there is no clear answer as to how or when these funds will be used.
“I think that sometimes we forget what people have done for us 30 years ago, not just today, but years ago that made us who we are today,” said Deer.
We reached out Tuesday morning to the City ’s office.
Deputy Charles Jackson told News 12 he is not sure of a timeline for when the monument will be fixed and how the funds they received will be used.
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