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Fort accepting orders for memorial bricks

TAKING ORDERS — Orders for another round of memorial bricks at Fort Steuben Park at the Veterans Memorial Fountain are being accepted through Aug. 31 for installation in October. While orders can be placed in memory or in honor of a veteran, they can purchased for any variety of occasions, according to Judy Bratten, executive director. The price is $65 for nonmembers of the fort or $50 for members. Each brick can accommodate three lines of 15 spaces. Order forms are available at the Visitor Center or can be downloaded from the fort’s website at www.oldfortsteuben.com. For information, call (740) 283-1787. -- Janice Kiaski

STEUBENVILLE — Memorial bricks are a special way to honor a friend or relative, especially one who served in the military.

And it’s not too late to place an order for them, which will be installed in October at the Veterans Memorial Fountain area at Historic Fort Steuben at 120 S. Third St., according to Judy Bratten, executive director.

A brick can be purchased as a gift for Veterans Day but also to remember an anniversary, birthday or event, explained Bratten, who noted that Aug. 31 is the deadline for orders. The price is $65 for nonmembers of the fort or $50 for members. Each brick can accommodate three lines of 15 spaces.

Order forms are available at the Visitor Center or can be downloaded from the fort’s website at www.oldfortsteuben.com. For information, call (740) 283-1787.

The brick project is not new, having been launched as a fundraiser in 2002 with the intent to place bricks in four sections around the fort fountain.

“It’s a fundraiser for the fort with the idea to have funds to maintain the fountain, because the fountain itself requires a lot of upkeep,” Bratten said. That has included, for example, the replacement of fans and motors.

While three sections are filled with bricks, the remaining section can accommodate an additional 100, including those interested in having one geared to a veteran.

“The grand total so far is 1,960,” Bratten said of the bricks purchased through the years.

Anyone can purchase a brick, individuals, families, friends, organizations and businesses, and they can be done so in honor of a birthday or anniversary. There’s a brick in honor of Steubenville native son Dean Martin.

“Sometimes people do it instead of flowers when someone passes away,” noted Steubenville Mayor Jerry Barilla.

As a handy reference, a book in the Visitor Center lists all the bricks and where to find them.

“If you want to get a brick in honor as a surprise or gift, we provide gift cards,” Bratten said. “We can send the card and let them know the brick has been purchased,” she added.

“The beauty of buying a brick is it’s a lasting memorial and it isn’t necessarily just for veterans, it could be for anybody,” Bratten said. “I had a brick in there I put in myself for my years as a homeschool mom, so any kind of event, a marriage, an anniversary, a high school reunion, the Chamber of Commerce puts a brick in for its presidents, so different organizations will purchase a brick to honor their members or their officers,” she said.

“When it first started we sold a lot initially, and now it’s slowing down plus other organizations have picked up the idea,” Barilla said. “We have a lot of people come and bring family (to look at the bricks) and will send pictures. “It’s a good way to fund raise and to support the fort and the fountain.”

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