Liberty Pole about to make comeback in downtown Mystic

Mystic -The flagpole at the intersection of Route 1 and Holmes Street in the downtown, also known as the Liberty Pole, is scheduled to be reinstalled May 30.

The previous 113-foot-tall pole was removed in June 2011 and shipwrights at Mystic Seaport found it had significant internal rot and was beyond repair.

The Mystic Flag Committee determined it would be best to construct a new Liberty Pole out of fiberglass.

The project has now cost nearly $40,000 but has completely drained the coffers of the flag committee, according to flag committee president John Symons.

Donations can be sent to the Mystic Flag Committee, 1 Bank Square, Mystic, CT 06355, or can be made online at http://mysticlibertypole.com.

The first pole was placed on the Groton side of Mystic on May 17, 1862 and moved to its current location in 1886. The pole has been replaced several times since.