War Memorial Park (West Bridgewater, Massachusetts)

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War Memorial Park
Waterfall in the War Memorial Park.jpg
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LocationRiver St., West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°0′59.3″N71°0′29.8″W / 42.016472°N 71.008278°W / 42.016472; -71.008278
Area4.9 acres (2.0 ha)
Built1663
ArchitectEveline Johnson
NRHP reference No. 08000445 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 21, 2008

War Memorial Park is a public park in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. It is located south of the town center, bounded by River Street, Arch Street and the Town River.

Contents

History

The park was established in the 1930s and was constructed in part with funding from the Works Progress Administration. The park is located at the site of West Bridgewater's earliest industrial activities, a mill site dating to the 17th century. This early use spawned a variety of other water-powered industrial uses in the 18th and 19th centuries, and was notably the site of Ames Shovel Company's first factory. Other industrial activities here included a sawmill, gristmill, shingle mill and even a pickle factory. [2]

The 1936 creation of the park resulted in the donation of a large number of historic industrial artifacts, which are displayed on its grounds. [3]

The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. [1]

Pulpit Rock

Pulpit Rock Pulpit Rock in War Memorial Park, West Bridgewater Massachusetts.jpg
Pulpit Rock

A feature of the park is Pulpit Rock, a large boulder where Reverend James Keith, minister of the First Church of Bridgewater, is said to have preached his first sermon in 1663. [2]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Staff writer (9 September 2013). "A gem in the heart of West Bridgewater". The Enterprise. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  3. "MACRIS inventory record for War Memorial Park". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-05-13.