Diamondville Mayor Eric Backman examines the etching of early Diamondville on the new monument in Miner’s Park at the museum committee’s monument unveiling on Saturday, Dec. 2. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Michelle Tibbetts)

DIAMONDVILLE — The Miner’s Memorial Park was busy with excitement on Saturday, Dec. 2, as the museum committee proudly unveiled a new monument dedicated to the town of Diamondville’s fascinating history. The committee was joined by Diamondville Mayor Eric Backman and council members as residents gathered to view the new attraction.

Committee member Susan Hunzie introduced the other members: Char Smith, Thorma Barrette, Jeanne Horsburgh, June Somers, Rosalie Tratnik, Helen Anelli and Roxanne Rudy as they gathered around the large granite monument that was covered with a sheet.

Front row: Diamondville Museum committee members June Somers, Rosalie Tratnik, Susan Hunzie and Diamondville councilman Chuck Smith. Back row: Museum Committee members Jeanne Horsburgh, Roxanne Rudy, Char Smith, Thorma Barrette, Diamondville Mayor Eric Backman and Diamondville council members Kathy Stukel and Clint Bowen. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Michelle Tibbetts)

The wind paused as Hunzie welcomed the crowd and gave a detailed speech telling the story of how the monument came to be.

The museum committee approached the monument, all grabbing a corner as the sheet was removed. Oohs and aahs streamed from the crowd as the shiny black diamond glistened in the sun. Horsburgh cut the gold and black ribbon hugging the granite slab to reveal the magnificent monument.

Visitors to the new monument are drawn in by the image displayed on the top — a glimpse into the past. A picture of Diamondville Avenue as it was in the early 1900s is etched into the brilliant black stone.

The museum commitee is made up of several energetic women who had worked very hard over the past years raising money and collecting artifacts in hopes of building a museum dedicated to the history of Diamondville.

As time went by, the group realized that a brick and mortar museum was not possible with the many financial roadblocks that lay before them. So after much deliberation, the committee created the idea of building a monument that would highlight the unique history of Diamondville. It made sense to place the monument in the Miner’s Memorial park, adjacent to the other monuments and public area which attract tourists and travelers.

The monument was designed by Bott Monuments in Riverton, the same company who designed the War Memorial at the Kemmerer Cemetery. The gray granite which makes up most of the monument was quarried in Vermont and the gorgeous black diamond stone on the slab’s peak came all the way from India.

Residents gathered around the new monument and reminisced as they pointed and identified the old buildings in the image, some of which still stand. It is a spectacular tribute to the history of Diamondville. The committee should be commended for their work and dedication they put forth to complete this project. It is a wonderful attraction that will help spread the story of the town of Diamondville’s origins for many generations to come.

Diamondville residents gathered and reminisced after the unveiling of the new monument installed in the Miner’s Memorial Park on Saturday, Dec. 2. The mild winter weather kept folks mingling as they enjoyed cookies and punch. (GAZETTE PHOTO / Michelle Tibbetts)