Restoring the Captors Monument: How a Seventeen-Year-Old Eagle Scout Led His Troop to Revive 146 Years of History
Enzo Cesario, Staff Writer
This article is for individual homeowners, families, and community groups considering a monument restoration or memorial project. If you are wondering whether your community can mount a meaningful preservation effort, Evan Bloom’s 2026 restoration of the Captors Monument in Tarrytown, New York, offers a proof of concept.
In September 1780, three local militiamen captured British spy Major John André in Tarrytown, foiling Benedict Arnold’s plot to hand West Point to the British. The capture changed the course of the American Revolution. A monument was erected on the site in 1880 to mark the occasion. By 2025, that 146-year-old structure had weathered into obscurity. Then Evan Bloom, a Life Scout with Troop 22 in Sleepy Hollow, decided it was time to restore it.
What followed was a eighteen-month project that mobilized an entire scout troop, earned support from the Historical Society of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, and resulted in new cast bronze plaques that will protect and explain the site for another 146 years. The lesson is clear: if a seventeen-year-old can do this, your community can too.
The Stone Stood Alone for Too Long
The Captors Monument sits in Patriots Park, Tarrytown. The original stone base had become stained, discolored, and covered in biological growth. Visitors saw a weathered marker and had no way to understand what it meant. The inscription, dedicating the monument to the three militiamen who captured André, was difficult to read. The historical record—crucial to understanding how this small town played a role in defeating a major British intelligence operation—was nearly invisible.
That invisibility was the problem Evan identified. A monument that cannot be read is a monument nobody learns from. It becomes a relic instead of a teaching tool.
An Eagle Scout Project Begins With a Problem Statement
The Eagle Scout Service Project is not a school assignment. It is a real-world test of leadership. Scouts must identify a genuine community need, design a solution, secure funding and permissions, manage volunteers, and execute the work. Evan’s project met every criterion.
He approached the Historical Society of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. The organization had been managing the site and recognized the restoration need. They offered to cover part of the costs. Evan then ran a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, explaining the project to the broader public and raising money to fill the gap. The campaign brought in support from individuals who cared about preserving their community’s Revolutionary War legacy.
By spring 2026, Evan and Troop 22 had the resources to begin work.
Two Bronze Plaques Became the Heart of the Project
The scouts cleaned and restored the stone monument. But the real preservation story unfolded in bronze. Noble Bronze supplied two cast plaques as part of the restoration:
The first plaque, mounted near a Washington Irving memorial Tulip Tree on the site, reads: “Washington Irving Memorial Tulip Tree. Dedicated October 5th, 2019.” This honors Irving’s connection to the Tarrytown landscape and his role in documenting local history.
The second—the primary dedication plaque—stands before the restored monument itself:
“This monument, dedicated in 1880, recognizes three local militiamen who captured British spy Major John André and foiled the treasonous plot of Benedict Arnold on September 23rd, 1780. André was intercepted near this spot while carrying stolen plans for the fortifications at West Point back to British command in New York City. Monument restored in 2026 by Evan Bloom, Eagle Scout, and the scouts of Troop 22, Tarrytown, with the generous support of The Historical Society of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.”
That inscription does something simple but crucial: it tells the story of the place and credits the people who restored it. When a visitor reads that plaque, they understand the historical event, the geography, the individuals who made the restoration happen, and the institutional support that enabled it.
The plaques also include a QR code linking to the Historical Society’s fuller account of the monument and its history.
Bronze Lasts Longer Than Committees Remember to Care
This is where individual restoration projects often fail. A community raises money, restores a site, dedicates a plaque. Ten years later, nobody remembers who paid for it. Twenty years later, the plaque is damaged or stolen or simply weathered beyond legibility.
Bronze solves that problem differently than stone or aluminum. Bronze develops a protective patina over decades. If properly cast—with appropriate relief depth and alloy selection—a bronze plaque remains readable and dignified for a century or more without active maintenance. The first plaque in this restoration was cast in 1880. It survived 146 years. The new plaques, designed to the same durability standard, will be readable in 2172.
That permanence is the actual gift of a successful restoration. It is not a plaque. It is a promise that the story will be there when your great-grandchildren visit.
When you design a restoration project, whether for a historical marker like Evan’s or for a family memorial, you are also designing for longevity. The material you choose determines whether your effort becomes a forgotten artifact or a preserved legacy. Historical markers (https://noblebronze.com/architectural-plaques/historical-markers) cast in bronze tend to remain part of the public conversation. Ones made from softer materials often disappear from view within decades.
Your Project Probably Starts the Same Way
Evan’s path was straightforward: identify a need, partner with an existing institution, secure resources, execute the plan. If your community is considering a restoration, a new monument, or a dedication plaque, you can follow the same structure.
You do not need to be a teenager or an Eagle Scout candidate. Communities of all kinds—neighborhood associations, family groups, veterans’ organizations, historical societies, schools—run these projects successfully. The key is understanding how to mount and care for your bronze plaque (https://noblebronze.com/noble-news/how-to-mount-and-care-for-your-bronze-plaque-a-complete-guide) once it is cast and installed. The installation itself sets the tone for whether the plaque will remain legible and protected for its intended lifespan.
The Captors Monument project shows what is possible when a young leader mobilizes volunteers, institutional partners, and a community willing to invest in preservation. The same is possible for your own memorial.
In Tarrytown, the monument is now visible again. Visitors stop and read the new plaque. They learn how three men and one act of courage changed the course of a revolution. They learn that local history matters enough to restore and protect. And they know who did the work and why. That is what Evan Bloom gave his community: not just a cleaned stone, but a conversation that will continue for another 146 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Eagle Scout Service Project?
An Eagle Scout Service Project is a capstone requirement for earning the Eagle Scout rank. The scout must identify a real community need, design a solution that creates a lasting impact, secure the resources to execute it, lead volunteers through the work, and document the effort. It is not a school project or volunteer hours—it is a demonstration of leadership in action. Evan's restoration of the Captors Monument was an approved Eagle project.
How long does a bronze plaque typically last outdoors?
A well-cast bronze plaque, installed properly with attention to galvanic corrosion at fastener points, typically remains legible and protected for 100 to 150 years without active maintenance. The bronze develops a protective patina that prevents deeper corrosion. The Captors Monument's original 1880 plaque survived 146 years, showing the durability you can expect.
How did Evan fund his restoration project?
The Historical Society of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown covered a portion of the costs. Evan then launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the remaining funds. The campaign explained the historical significance and the restoration plan, which resonated with community members and people interested in Revolutionary War history. Individual donations from supporters across the region filled the funding gap.
Can a community restoration project include both stone work and bronze?
Yes. The Captors Monument project included cleaning and restoring the stone base, landscaping, and planting, alongside the installation of cast bronze plaques. This combination is common in historical preservation. The bronze plaques become the readable, explanatory layer while the stone monument provides the historical anchor.
What is a QR code on a plaque used for?
A QR code links visitors from the physical plaque to a webpage with fuller information. In the Captors Monument case, the QR code routes to the Historical Society's detailed account of the monument's history, the capture of Major André, and the restoration effort. This extends the educational reach of the plaque beyond the text cast in bronze.
How does bronze patina form, and does it require maintenance?
Patina is a protective oxide layer that forms on bronze when it is exposed to air and moisture. The process takes months to years. A light green or brown patina is actually beneficial—it prevents deeper corrosion. Most outdoor bronze plaques do not require active maintenance once the patina establishes. Occasional rinsing with water can remove surface dirt, but no sealants or aggressive cleaning is needed.
Can a community do a similar restoration without an Eagle Scout?
Absolutely. While Evan's project benefited from scout structure and the Eagle Scout requirement, communities of all kinds—families, civic groups, historical societies, neighborhood associations—run restoration projects successfully. The key ingredients are identifying the need, partnering with a relevant institution or stakeholder, securing funding, and following through on execution.
How did Noble Bronze contribute to the Captors Monument restoration?
Noble Bronze cast and supplied the two dedication plaques for the restoration. One honors the Washington Irving Tulip Tree; the other is the primary monument plaque that tells the story of the 1780 capture of Major André and credits the 2026 restoration team. The plaques were designed to match the durability and aesthetic standards appropriate for a 146-year-old monument, ensuring they will remain legible for another century or more.