Circus owner and performer Dan Rice had many reasons to arrange for a Civil War monument to be erected either in Erie or Girard. He chose Girard. While he was performing around the country during the summer of 1865 his agents arranged with the Girard Borough officials for this monument to be erected that November in the middle of the main thoroughfare. It would be a big event with a parade along Main Street and one performance of his circus. Dignitaries and former military leaders would be invited. But Rice had serious opposition locally. One, in particular, tried several ways to stop this farce. Why, everyone just knew it would really be a monument to Dan, not to the Civil War dead. The next day seemed to prove it.
