Corey Noles photo Members of Paul Arnold's Middle School HIstory class attended the monument dedication ceremony Monday afternoon. Despite the rain, more than 75 people came out to see the monument and learn about the history behind some of the names and faces mentioned on it.

Local officials unveiled a new monument on the lawn of the Stoddard County Courthouse Monday afternoon.

The monument, entitled 'The Civil War in Bloomfield,' now stands on the southwest corner of the courthouse lawn. Nearly 75 people came out for the dedication.

"These storied places and human stories are vital to who we are," said keynote speaker, Dr. Frank Nickell. Nickell is a history professor at Southeast Missouri State University.

The monument is funded and provided by the Missouri State Parks Department, a division of the Department of Natural Resources.

Jim Denny, Head Historian with the Parks Department, and his assistant Alison Dubbert, were on hand for the ceremony and spoke about the importance of monuments like the one dedicated Monday.

The new marker tells of Bloomfield's history in the Civil War and also mentions several residents who played larger roles during the war between the states.

One such person was Union officer Major Samuel Montgomery who was arrested by five of his officers in Bloomfield on Oct. 22, 1863 because officials were unpleased with his courtship of Martha Owen Walker, a Confederate sympathizer. The mutiny was overthrown by Union authorities out of Cape Girardeau shortly thereafter.

Following the conclusion of the war, Montgomery and his 'rebel' wife remained in Bloomfield where he served as judge on the county court, a school board member and as Mayor of Bloomfield.

Present at Monday's ceremonies were three generations of direct descendants of the Major and his wife.

Montgomery's grandson, Joel Montgomery of Sikeston, spoke of how important the town of Bloomfield is to he and his family and said they have always held a special place in their hearts for the town.

"We never got too far away," he joked. "We're only over in Sikeston."

Among those in attendance were Jim and Sue Mayo, Paul Arnold and one of his middle school history classes, Bloomfield Mayor Raymond McAnally, Sheriff Carl Hefner, recorder Kay Asbell, Stoddard County Commissioners Frank Sifford and Ray Coats, Stoddard County IDA Director Gary Capps, County Collector Carla 'Knowles' Moore, Assessor Jody Lemon and President of the Dexter Board of Aldermen Tim Aslin.

"This new monument and the others to come will be here to be appreciated by children and grand-children for several decades," Nickell said. "A better understanding of our local history makes us better people and gives us a better community in which to live."