From Deseret News archives:
'Monument hunt' ends in Brigham
While shopping at the northern Utah town's fruit and vegetable stands two weeks ago, a staff member from civil-rights attorney Brian Barnard's office spotted the elusive Ten Commandments monument in front of the Brigham City lodge of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Of the nine monuments that were donated to Utah cities by the Fraternal Order of Eagles during the 1950s, '60s and '70s, the Brigham City tablet is the last to be located.
Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah called on people to look for the monument in a listing of cities posted on the organization's Web site. Brigham City was among the cities listed.
The ACLU and Barnard suspected the 5-foot-tall, 2 1/2-foot-wide marble monument was at one time located on government property, which many believe to be a violation of the separation of church and state.
Barnard has successfully challenged the public placement of monuments in Murray, Ogden, Roy, Salt Lake and Tooele. He has also sent letters to Pleasant Grove officials demanding that city's marker be moved from its location in a public park.
The other tablets — in Provo and West Valley City — have always been on private property.
Because the Brigham City monument also sits on private property, there will be no objection to its location.
"The good that comes from displaying the Ten Commandments is strong, if not stronger, when done without government support," Barnard said. "The Eagles are displaying it on private property in a very prominent place so that everyone driving by gets an opportunity to see it."
The Eagles lodge is located at the north end of Brigham City, at 912 N. Main St. The monument was a gift from the Fraternal Order of Eagles to Brigham City and Box Elder County and was dedicated in 1965.
E-MAIL: awelling@desnews.com
