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May 05, 2024
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General News: Bonnie Blair Monument to Return

The monument to Blair already was missing several letters when this photo was taken in 2006.
The monument to Blair already was missing several letters when this photo was taken in 2006.
Bonnie Blair.
Bonnie Blair.
April 07, 2009

A memorial in Cornwall Town Hall Park honoring Olympic champion speed skater to Olympic Skater Bonnie Blair has been removed by town officials who promise to keep her memory alive with a smaller plaque honoring her accomplishments.

Bonnie Blair was born in Cornwall in 1964, the youngest of six children in a family that loved to skate.  Her family moved away to Illinois while she was still very young and she went on to compete in four Olympic speed skating competitions where she won five Gold medals and one bronze.

She retired at age 31, setting a world record for the 1,000 meter in her last race.

Following her success, local businesses contributed money to build the memorial next to Ring’s Pond honoring Blair’s accomplishment.  The memorial consisted of her name and the Olympic rings on a brick wall.  

Over time, the letters of her name began to fall off until only a few could recall who was being recognized by the memorial.  That’s why town supervisor Kevin Quigley decided to take the remaining letters and Olympic rings off the wall and replace them with a smaller plaque.

At a town board work session on Monday, Quigley said he will look into ordering a new plaque to honor Blair, one that would leave room on the expansive brick wall to honor future leaders who have once called Cornwall home.


Comments:

Thank you Kevin Quigley! I never figured out why such a big memorial for someone who didn't even grow up here, then the letters falling off became an eye sore. Like your idea.


posted by Lana Beesecker on 04/08/09 at 6:20 PM

It would be nice to see Dr. and Dolce Dorfman's names on that wall. They actually stuck around and contributed to the quality of life here.


posted by Kate Benson on 04/08/09 at 11:11 PM

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