In 1893, the Grand Army of the Republic—a Civil War veterans organization—donated to Amherst six (6) large marble tablets that displayed the names of over 300 men from Amherst and surrounding communities who had enlisted in the Union cause on Amherst’s behalf. Among these were at least twenty-one (21) black soldiers—fathers and sons, brothers, uncles and nephews who enlisted together and served in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry or one of two cavalry regiments. The Civil War tablets were originally installed in Town Hall, with two tablets in the entry foyer off the Common, and the others on the walls of the landings in the northwest stair tower. During subsequent renovations of Town Hall, the tablets were relocated within the building, and then finally removed and stored. A number of attempts have been made to restore them or find them a new home.