By Dan Aceto

Staff Writer

A soldier that has kept vigil for nearly 100 years atop a monument at the intersection of Dunstan Corner will remain at his post, thanks to members of the Scarborough Historical Society.

Last Wednesday the town proposed moving the structure from Dunstan Corner after announcing plans to build a right turn lane off Broadturn Road onto Route 1 South. The statue, which was built in 1913, stands in a small area of green space that would be used to build the additional travel lane.

The addition is part of a larger project tentatively scheduled to begin in 2013 to alleviate traffic congestion. 

A Feb. 23 meeting allowed residents to discuss the possibility of moving the statue. The meeting, which was modestly attended, consisted primarily of Dunstan area residents, some of whom are members of the historical society. Many argued the monument is a historical landmark and should not be moved. 

Sarah Matteau, who has lived in the Dunstan area her entire life, said she remembers attending Memorial Day celebrations at the monument when she was a Girl Scout in the 1940s. She said she enjoyed the community atmosphere growing up in Dunstan and feels the monument is part of the area’s charm.
  “I guess I’m just nostalgic, but I’d like to see it stay where it is,” she said.

Scarborough resident Cheryl Profenno said the monument is one of the last defining landmarks of the Dunstan area.

“We lost the post office, we lost the grocery store, we lost the drug store – we lost every bit of town,” said Profenno, a historical society member. “The only thing keeping Dunstan Corner, Dunstan Corner is the monument.”

Those who favored moving the statue said it is not located in an area that is accessible for people to enjoy because of a lack of parking and noise from Route 1. 

Historical society member Rodney Laughton said he would like to see the monument moved somewhere that’s more serene.

“People should be able to gather around without traffic whizzing by at 30 to 50 miles per hour,” Laughton said.

He said the area has changed too dramatically since the statue was first built and needs to be relocated.

“When it was put there in 1913 it was a totally different intersection and a totally different green space,” Laughton said. “I have no problem moving the statue to a more appropriate location.”

Town Manager Tom Hall gave a variety of potential locations, including the former site of Scarborough Signs, Maine Veterans’ Home, Dunstan Cemetery or Memorial Park, where the town currently hosts a variety of events.

Although the majority of attendees agreed it would be nice for the statue to once again be located in a quiet area, the general consensus remained that it is an identifying marker of the Dunstan area and should not be moved.

Hall said he would inform the Town Council of opinions expressed at the meeting, although he doesn’t see the issue going to a vote because of overwhelming support to keep the monument where it is. 

“The sentiments of the folks who attended the meeting were quite convincing and honestly relocation is no simple task,” Hall said. “Whether it’s 10 feet or a 1,000 feet, you still have to disassemble 3 to 4 tons of granite and install a proper foundation. It can be done, but it’s not a simple or cheap endeavor.”

Hall said he estimated moving the statue would cost somewhere in the “six figure” range and the town would instead focus on incorporating the monument into the overall design and appearance of the intersection at Dunstan Corner, including an additional sidewalk that would encircle the monument.

“Frankly, with the way we’re reworking the intersection, the monument will really be a dominant feature,” Hall said. “The challenge now will be to work with the engineers to further enhance and celebrate the monument where it is.”

Staff Writer Dan Aceto can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237.