KAUKAUNA — A memorial to a Revolutionary War hero buried in Kaukauna could get a makeover, under a proposal from the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Kaukauna Plan Commission on Thursday will consider an offer by the DAR to refurbish and update the monument to Hendrick Aupaumut at Hendricks and Reame and create a small park. (AGENDA)
Aupaumut, a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band, enlisted in 1775 and received his captain’s sword from George Washington. He had a distinguished military record before becoming a community leader in what eventually would become Kaukauna.
The location of the current memorial is not ideal, and this corner could be better utilized, according to a staff memo.
Conversations between the city and DAR indicate creating a more inviting parklet is a realistic opportunity that will add beauty to the area and assist in preserving this history.
With some efforts from the city and DAR, a parklet is a possible item on this small corner. DAR will contribute a new monument and benches and some financial assistance along with working with other groups to create a small area to sit, reflect and spark curiosity into the history of our area.
The concept would be to create a low maintenance area with robust plantings that would add beauty, but not need constant mowing such as using clover instead of grass and native plantings/flowers:
After the Revolutionary War, Aupaumut was a government agent who helped negotiate treaties with other native tribes, served under general William Henry Harrison in his campaign against Tecumseh, and later with Harrison in the War of 1812.
He chronicled events in the lives of his people and translated religious works and portions of the Bible into the native language, according to a history of Kaukauna from the Kaukauna Public Library.
He was buried in Kaukauna in 1830.
For more information on Hendrick Aupaumut see below links:
https://kaukaunalibrary.org/a-brief-history-of-kaukauna/
https://www.wissar.org/aupaumut
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-21-02-0283
