Restore the Liberty Poles
Prior to the War for Independence, Americans of a revolutionary bent often met under a prominent tree in their local town or city to discuss independence or individual liberty. These trees became known as “Liberty Trees” and soon spread throughout the thirteen colonies. In time, “Liberty Poles” were erected in many municipalities and served the same function. British troops or colonial authorities often cut them down. Following independence, the tradition waned. It was revived in a number of cities including Buffalo in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Between 1838 and 1939, four different Liberty Poles graced the waterfront near Main St. and the Terrace, and thus towered over the Erie Canal terminus for almost the entire length of its commercial operation. They were located at spots in or near where the Aud, at least temporarly, still stands. They represent a great though perhaps little known American and Buffalo tradition. Why not restore that tradition as part of the new Inner Harbor? Installation of a new Liberty Pole would not seem to be prohibitively expensive, as it is in effect just a very large flag pole. With a suitable eagle on top (perhaps the eagle formerly atop the most recent of the poles, and now residing at the Erie County Historical Society), it could be the focal point of a new public space near the Commercial Slip while serving as another historical component of the Inner Harbor development.
For Buffalo’s long history of Liberty Poles, see WNY Heritage Press. -Dick Stinneford
I believe for them to maintain their original political importance and function today, we'd have to call them "anti-US imperialism poles" or "anti-Bush administration poles."
--- just sayin' one can't ignore that these trees/poles were originally intended to gather to talk because King George would have you thrown in jail for sedition if you spoke against his policies.
Rochester has one next to the former Sibley's by the downtown (probably former, as well) mall - located, appropriately, on Liberty Pole Way.
Thank you for this informative piece. I have long been aware of Rochester's "Liberty Pole" but I never knew of its historical significance. I think it's a splendid idea to restore at least one of these liberty poles along the waterfront.
To clarify, there was never more than one pole at any time. As the WNY Heritage Press notes, each of the subsequent poles was a replacement of its predecessor.
Thank you for this post. In the past when commenting on topics related to the inner harbor, I routinely include some comment along the lines of “give us back our liberty pole”. In one such post I had included a link to the same image you have showing second. I think we would have a hard time putting it back where it was due to the 190 being over head. I believe this to be an important part of our inner harbor efforts. I did not know that the original topper still existed, although all things being equal, I think a replica of the original would be better. I would hate for anything to happen to it. Was it an eagle or winged victory? Recreated authenticity (if you will), depends heavily upon its details. Every detail counts. One liberty pole can go a long way towards getting it right.
ALLONS!!!
If you Google on "Liberty Pole" you find that gazillions of American cities large and small had them. They were a proud and standard feature of early communities in the young democracy. From my poking around online, I found that the following book talks about their significance:
Liberty and Freedom: A Visual History of America's Founding Ideas. David Hackett Fischer. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005 851 pp. * $50.00
If you look to Rochester, N.Y., a city that has lost its direction and has a dying city center, as any kind of model, then Buffalo deserves what it gets. The whole Liberty Pole idea is such an outdated and absurd anachronism that peope should be ashamed to propose wasting public money and public space on such ridiculous symbolism.