The Civil War monument sits outside of the Stephenson County Courthouse. It was built the late 1860s. County officials have said there is no public money available to fix it up, so local residents started raising money. A new base was installed last fall. Ron Werntz is one of the main fundraisers behind the project. He says organizers were stuck at the halfway mark to continue restoration efforts. But recently received an anonymous donation of $40,000 from a local veteran.
"God bless him. Now, once the weather breaks, we have the money to complete the monument," said Werntz.
Werntz says once that is done, it will take another $50,000 to replace the statue "Victory" on the top of the monument.
