OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford This historic monument is targeted for a move closer to the city pier.

In May 1851, Dunkirk was largely isolated from the world. The only way to get out of town was on a boat at the harbor, or on dirt roads almost impassable with mud in wet weather and full of ankle- and axle- breaking buggy ruts in dry times.

Then the railroad came, and everything changed. On May 15, 1851, a train of the New York and Erie Railroad inaugurated the local rail line, ushering in decades of industrial growth.

A monument for that event sits almost unnoticed in a small lot at the corner of Main and Ruggles streets. Now, the Dunkirk Historical Society wants it at a much more visible location: In the median next to the Boardwalk sign on the pier, facing Lake Shore Drive.

According to an April 27 letter from the historical society to the Dunkirk Common Council seeking approval for the move, “The monument dates from May 15, 1976, and was previously installed on the former M&T Bank building property at Main and Franklin, close to the site of the old Erie Hotel. When the M&T property was sold to Cliffstar, the monument was relocated to get it off private property, even though the new location had no historic relevance to the actual location of the rail line.”

Randy Woodbury, the city public works director, suggested the new location, according to the letter. The site will offer greater visibility of the monument to vehicle and foot traffic, adds another attraction to the Pier and is a more historically accurate location, the letter continues.

Ben Kravitz, owner of Kravitz Tree Service, has offered to donate equipment and labor for the move. The historical society would like the monument moved by Memorial Day.

When the letter was brought up at Tuesday’s meeting, council members had no objections to the move, although Nancy Nichols wanted to make sure the city actually owns the monument. “There’s people from one of the apartment buildings over there who think it belongs to that facility,” she said.

Woodbury assured her that the city of Dunkirk owns the monument, and always has.

The matter was referred to Woodbury and City Attorney Richard Morrisroe for them to take any necessary actions on it.