Efforts to move Dunkirk’s historic railroad monument closer to the city pier have been delayed. Photo by M.J. Stafford

There’s an indefinite delay in the movement of the monument to Dunkirk’s first railroad.

“I’d rather do it right than fast,” city Department of Public Works Director Randy Woodbury said. The monument, to the arrival of the first New York and Erie Railroad train on May 15, 1851, is currently near the intersection of Main, Fourth and Ruggles streets. The city wants to move it to a more visible location at the Boardwalk near the city pier.

Originally, moving the monument “was scheduled to be a rush job on a Saturday,” Woodbury said. It was scheduled to be in its new location by Memorial Day.

However, he called Titus Monuments of Fredonia first to consult with them on the move, “and they said, this is more delicate than you think.”

It’s a three-section monument held together with dowels, he said.

In fact, Woodbury said Titus does not have the proper crane to help move the monument, and neither does Kravitz Tree Service, another Fredonia company the public works director sought out for advice. Until such a crane can be brought in, the move can’t happen.

“We had about two of four steps (for the move) we knew we were good, but I delayed this until all four steps are perfect,” Woodbury said. One of the steps in place is the new base for the monument at the Boardwalk, which was recently completed.

Woodbury now hopes to combine rededication of the monument with the celebration of the anniversary of the Boardwalk’s construction, later this summer. He is hoping to get a police escort of the monument during the move from its current location to the new site.

“The process will be a little more controlled,” he said. “I’d be heartbroken if we did any damage to that monument.”