On Saturday, June 27th, 2026, the Schenectady Rotary Club installed a Peace Pole behind Alltown Fresh on Erie Boulevard. Many thanks to Joanne DeVoe for inspiring and making this possible. We are grateful to Milan Jackson, Lisa Jackson, Deb O'Connor, Wes DeVoe and Joanne DeVoe for "planting" the pole in a lovely garden of lilies. An opening ceremony is expected for the Fall.
The Schenectady Rotary Club is proud to introduce our new Peace Pole, now standing near the entrance to the historic pedestrian tunnel behind Alltown Fresh connecting Erie Boulevard, North Jay Street, and Little Italy.
A Peace Pole is an internationally recognized monument bearing the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth". Our Peace Pole features this powerful message in eight languages, reminding us that while we come from different cultures and backgrounds, our hope for peace is universal.
Its location makes the message even more meaningful. For generations, this tunnel provided safe passage for factory workers traveling between their homes and downtown Schenectady. Today, thanks to the restoration effort, beautiful artwork by CREATE and upcoming historical tile displays, it will once again become a place that connects our community.
As Rotarians, we believe peace begins with understanding, service, and bringing people together. We hope everyone who passes this Peace Pole will pause for a moment to reflect on the simple message it shares with the world:
May Peace Prevail on Earth.