OGDENSBURG -- The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce held its vote at Expo for a local historic landmark to be depicted on a collectable ornament, which the group offers for sale each year.

The General Curtis monument has been voted this year’s winner with 43 votes. Claxton-Hepburn Memorial Hospital came in second, receiving 25 votes. The Robert McEwen Customs House came in third with 22 votes.

General Newton Martin Curtis was born in DePeyster, on May 21, 1835. He was a Union officer during the American Civil War and a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Upon his graduation from the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary, Curtis became a teacher, lawyer and the postmaster of DePeyster. The year before the Civil War, he worked as a farmer.

Curtis volunteered in the Union Army as a captain on May 15, 1861. He fought in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign in May, 1864 and the Siege of Petersburg.

He received a promotion to brevet major general in October 1864 for his actions at the Battle of New Market Heights. His brigade played a key role in the Union victory with their attack against Fort Fisher in North Carolina in December 1864. He was wounded four times when he personally led each assault on the traverses during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.

He received a full promotion to brigadier general of volunteers and awarded the Medal of Honor. He remained in the Army until January 1866. He was 31 years old at the time.

After the war, Curtis was appointed collector of customs in the district of Oswegatchie in 1866, and then a special agent for the United States Treasury Department from 1867 to 1880. He was in the Department of Justice from 1880 until 1882. He was a member of the New York Assembly (St. Lawrence County, 1st District) in 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1890.

Curtis was elected as a Republican to the 52nd Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Leslie W. Russell. Curtis was then re-elected to the 53rd and 54th Congresses, holding office from Nov. 3, 1891 until March 3, 1897. He was also chairman of the House Committee on the Election of the President, Vice President and Representatives in the 54th Congress.

He wrote a book titled "From Bull Run to Chancellorsville," which was published in 1906. He was also the assistant inspector general of the National Home for the Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

Curtis died on Jan. 8, 1910 in New York City. He is buried in the Ogdensburg Cemetery. A statue stands in his honor beside the Dobisky Visitor’s Center overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

For more information on General Newton Martin Curtis or the history of the City of Ogdensburg, visit the City of Ogdensburg’s website at www. ogdensburg.org/history.html.

The ornament collection now includes: 2005 Lighthouse Point (sold out); 2006 Spirit of Liberty Soldiers & Sailors Monument; 2007 Remington Art Museum (sold out); 2008 NYS Armory; 2009 Ogdensburg City Hall; 2010 Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge; 2011 The Old Arsenal; 2012 Ogdensburg Public Library; 2013 The Bishop’s Residence; 2014 Abbe Picquet Monument and the 2015 US Post Office ornament. All the available ornaments are for sale in the Chamber Office (OBPA Building) at 1 Bridge Plaza, Suite 104.

The Curtis ornament will be available in the fall. For more information call the Chamber office at 393-3620.