In April 1902, two small city streetcars were unloaded at the C&NW depot in Manitowoc. In appearance, the cars (29 feet–4 inches long with 28 seats) were “handsome in design,” painted “a pretty red color” and numbered “3” and “4.” Other city streetcars and larger interurban cars (42 feet–4 inches long with 44 seats) for the Two Rivers run arrived later.

The unveiling of the monument was followed by a national salute fired by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Morrill from the harbor. The chorus then sang The Star-Spangled Banner and the monument was accepted by W. J. Wrieth, president of the common council.

On the unusually hot afternoon of Saturday, July 26, 1930, friends, teachers and former students of John Nagle gathered on the grass and under trees on the grounds of the Manitowoc County Normal School (today’s Heritage Center) on Michigan Avenue in Manitowoc to dedicate a stone monument with the inscription “To John Nagle, Educator, Philosopher, Editor, 1848-1900.”