Municipality agrees to destroy Secord Monument that stood in downtown Kincardine
By: Liz Dadson
September 11, 2024
After over a year of controversial debate, discussion, public engagement, and the hiring of a facilitator to lead public consultation, Kincardine council has finally made a decision on what to do with the Dr. Solomon Secord Monument that stood in front of the library in downtown Kincardine.
At the meeting Wednesday night (Sept. 11), council agreed to permanently remove the monument and have it “respectfully decommissioned” which mayor Kenneth Craig said, later in the meeting, means the monument will be “destroyed in a fashion that is respectful.”
The sundial monument was removed from in front of the library during the reconstruction of Queen Street last year. Due to concerns about the inscription on it, which states that Secord was a surgeon who served with the Southern Army during the American Civil War, council agreed to discuss its future. Another monument to Secord is located in the Kincardine Cemetery.
Following an extensive amount of public input, including a survey and engagement sessions, a report came forward from facilitator Dr. Laura Mae Lindo back in July and that has directed council on how to proceed with making a decision on the monument.
Wednesday night, Craig said that four other organizations were approached about relocating the monument to their properties, including the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, the Walker House, the Kincardine Legion and the Kincardine Hospital, but none of them has the resources to place the monument and re-contextualize it.
“There are a lot of things we know about the monument, and a lot of things we don’t know,” said Craig. “We know Dr. Secord was a humanitarian and served with passion and compassion. We don’t know the motive behind what he did and where he did it. And we don’t know the motive behind the second monument.
“I support the respectful decommissioning of the Secord Monument.”
Councillor Rory Cavanagh agreed, saying some people in the community see the monument as racist, while others see it as an important part of history. “This is about a lot more than a single monument.”
“I understand the perspective of those who love history and want to preserve history,” said councillor Jennifer Prenger. “Through the process with Dr. Lindo, and doing our own research, I don’t see how the municipality can maintain this particular monument.
“I’m tired of the divisiveness in our community due to this monument. I agree with decommissioning it.”
Councillor Mike Hinchberger said council has to act in the best interests of the municipality. He recited numerous sections of historical fact pertaining to Secord, especially concerning his desire to go to the Southern States during the American Civil War.
“Records indicate that Secord willingly went to Georgia,” he said. “He was caught by the Union Army and went back to the Southern States. In 1871, he left Kincardine and went to Missouri.
“It's noted that surgeons would treat wounded soldiers on both sides of the war, but that leaves out the Black voice.”
Hinchberger said returning the monument to its previous location in front of the library was not an option for him. He agreed with permanently removing the monument but said he has concerns about the blow-back for visible minorities.
Councillor Amanda Steinhoff-Gray said she struggled with the process. She believed council could re-contextualize the monument, but struggled with what it would say.
While she is proud to be from this community, she was upset at many of the survey responses and the hate that was spewed on the Internet.
“We can’t put the monument back where it was.”
Deputy mayor Andrea Clarke agreed with Steinhoff-Gray that the survey responses were difficult to read.
“They were harsh and real,” she said. “I did not understand why these comments were being made, why some people wanted to hang onto history.
“The inscription on the monument, itself, pays homage to Dr. Secord’s service in the Southern Army during the Civil War. It’s on the wrong side of history - when they sought to dehumanize a group of people. We’re better off because they lost.
“We need to remember history, but there’s a difference between remembering history and revering history. When we acknowledge history, we learn from it and, hopefully, don’t repeat it.
“I wholly understand those who say the monument should stay as it is. I understand they feel an identification with the history. But it’s okay to lose the grip and let the past go, so you can build a better future.
“We’re not going to forget the past but we have to determine what we want to remember and revere, what we want our community to look like. Removal of the statue does not end racism, but it’s part of the journey.”
Councillor Bill Stewart said while it was an interesting discussion, this whole issue should not have come to council.
“We’re not supposed to be the moral compass of the community,” he said. “It’s hard for eight people to make this type of decision. What’s next? Queen Victoria was racist, do we eliminate Victoria Park? We’re not supposed to be involved in such things. It’s a difficult decision; people are very emotional about it. Yes or no, you’re going to hear about it.
“Racism should be dealt with at home, at church, at schools or at community centres. It’s not a good use of our time or what we were voted in for.”
Councillor Beth Blackwell said she struggled with the process, given that there are people who find the monument precious and others who find it painful. She put forward the motion that the monument be permanently removed and decommissioned.
“How can it be decommissioned when it was never commissioned?” asked Stewart. “Are we going to destroy it, bury it? That should be part of the motion.”
“We’re not going to bury it and we’re not taking it to the landfill,” said Craig. “It will be destroyed in a fashion that is respectful. Like the process for flags.”
The motion was for the second Secord Monument to be removed permanently from public display and decommissioned.
The decision was 7-1 in favour. In the recorded vote, Craig, Clark, Blackwell, Hinchberger, Prenger, Steinhoff-Gray and Cavanagh all voted in favour, while Stewart voted against.
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