A new obelisk commemorating the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 will soon be built in front of Munster Town Hall.
On Monday, the Munster Town Council approved a $76,000 bid from Rogan Granitindustrie Inc., Lynwood, Ill., to construct an obelisk and replace the iconic structure erected on Calumet Avenue south of St. Thomas More Church in 1976.
The council chose a potentially longer-lasting solution, and at about the same cost, as refurbishing and relocating the obelisk from the Calumet Avenue location. Originally paid for through a local fundraising campaign, funding for the new obelisk will come from combination of park bonds and a donation from the Munster Civic Foundation.
Inspections of the existing structure determined the deterioration of its limestone panels is such that it might have to come down anyway. Since discussions heated up over its future more than a year ago, council members have agreed the obelisk was an important enough local landmark that it should be saved in one form or another.
Councilman David Nellans, R-4th, explained the obelisk has long been thought of as part of church property, but it was actually built on land owned by the town. Munster previously swapped ownership of the parcel with the church in exchange for other property used for parking at the Babe Ruth baseball field immediately to the south at Community Park.
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The panels and other materials inside the obelisk “are a mess,” according to Nellans, and that its replacement will be built to last much longer than the 40 years since the Bicentennial. He said the new obelisk could also commemorate the incorporation of the state of Indiana on Dec. 11, 1816, and that is should feature a plaque to explain the significance of the structure.
No timetable has been set for when the tear down of the obelisk and its replacement will begin.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.