Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-18

RurlIngton'sF First Park ana its
History

BurlingtOn's First Park ana its
| History.
On the Goth Of June, 1903, in CAPT. Gitco
Kings house (still standing, on King stree,
just back of tho McWilliams brick store,
the ''proprietors Of the town of Burlington
held their last meeting, and voted THAT tn
block containing two acres and onc-half o
land whercon the Court house and Gaol ar
built in said Burlington shall and is hcreb,
set off for the use of the publick for TIN
erecting of all necessary county and tow
buildings for publick use" Burlington wa
then small but growing place of somcthiu!
less than eight hundred inhabitants til,
census of 1901 gave ii 1892 and that Of lsOt
gave it Sl5 inhabitants. For the most par
the populac1 lived in log houses, drank ia
malcl rum, and were frugal, industrious auC
conienicd. The two and one-hulf acres Of
land which they dedicated to the "publck'
by the resolution we have quoted was sc
disposed of, there is every reason to believe,
because it was considered fit for nothing
olse-lhus furnishing new proof of the
thrift OF our ancestors. On tie northeast cor.
ucr the court house and gaol presented an ap
pcarance not very neat and certainly not very
gaudy, rs the Evil One is understood to have
remarked when he painted his cquda
appendage pea-grccn. Through the lower
part of Church street running brook pur.
sued its devious way and there was Of course
no thoroughtare there and where City Hall
now stands was cat-tail swamp. The ornl
menis of the park were a huge pine tree, 81
feet high, which served as Il whipping post
and a set OF hey scales la those early aud
rnder days a large proportion Of the n.inoi
crimes were punished ny puOic whipping,
branding with hot iron, the amputaliJn oil
an ear or Two, or the Sitting Of 4 nose anu
as the old pine tree whispered its tales to The
wandering winds it must have told many q
story strange enough to modern ears. The
jail was a. the northeast corner and the court
house near the centre OF the park, aud boll
were erected in 1876. In 1923, Capt. King,
the jaier, erected tavern adj Dining the ina.
In lSU3 new court house was built, on the
site now occupied by the Fletcher Free Lii
brary, and about the same time the Jail was
removed to its present location. Many Of
our people are doubtless familiar with the
sketch OF the park as it appeared in 1917,
drawn b. the late Hon. John n. Pomeroy
and engraved for Child's Gazetteer. The
whipping post and hay scales occupy pro
mncht position IN the centre at tie left is
the court house-an Old-fasioned structure,
with pillars two stories in height general
appearance something similar to the old
Bigelow mansion at the foot Of Church
street where the postoilice now stands was
the Pomcroy house and on tho site of the
Governor Peck block was two.story
affair known as Mils's Row. In 1928
the court house was destroyed by fire
and the present library building was erected
on the same site. The basement was
for over quarter Of n century-twenty-s
ycars-used as a town hall aud if its walls
could speak, limitless would undoubtedly be
the eloquence they would rehearse. But
even the echoes have long ago died into
silence and the great majority OF those who
woke them have gone over to the greater
majority. In 1858 the cat-tail swamp afore-
mentioned was vigorously attacked and in
AS to Strong's building, on the northeastern
corner of the park, that, like Topsy, wasn't
born, but grew, evolving itself from Captain
Kings tavern. or the historic buildings
which surroand the park or did surround it
generations ago space would fail us to speak
the Van Ness mansion, the llickol house
and store the hotels, present and past, etc.
The pine tree whipping post was cut down
in 1880, and 1t is not absolutely certain that
in doing so the moderns improved very much
on the wisdom of the ancients. The hay
scales faded away at an undiscovt rable
epoch. Further than the removal of these
simple but attractive ornaments not very
much appears to have been done in the way
of identifying the park. AT any rate. ten
years ago ii turned up bright and smiling,
with all the characteristics Of much-negect-
ed sheep pasture. The surface was rough
and irregular the trees grew at random il
was traveised by irregular paths; and large
part OF it was prcempted by the city carriers.
Aud this gem was SET in an aged aud very
decrepid circular fence. Parts Of the fence
were weary and had lain down to rest, and
what was able TO stand had very tired
and languld AIT. Bat the great public i'm
provemsnts which were begun about ten
years ago included the park in their scope,
and it was graded, curbed and beautified, and
attractive walks laid through it. The fin
ishing touch was the very handsome and
tasteful fountain, presented by John Z. How
ard, Esq, two years ago, which will long
Keep the donor in grateful remembrance
The park Is now an ornament OF the city and
something in which our people take pride
and pleasure.
battery Park.
has an Interesting history. 1t dates back to
he second war with England. At that time
Gin 1873 the town was occupied by four
thousand soldiers, under the command of
Gen. Wade Hampton Gather of the present
Senator from South Carolina), and Commo-
dore McDonoughs aotlla was collected in
our harbor. An embapkment which vet re-
mains was thrown up ON what is now known
rs Battery Park and barracks for the soldiers
were built from Pearl to North streets. The
British Meet came up the lake and began a
brisk cannonadc upon the town, but soon re-
lired when the cannon on shore began play
ing upon them. Cannon balls are still not
inirequently found in the steep bank which
slopes from the park 10 the lake shore.
with the piping times of peace Rurlng.
ton grew rapidly and her industries in
creased and fiourishrd In 1897 glass
nnanuiactory was started, the works being
located between Water and Champlain
streets, north OF Smiths lane. At that time
the street ran through the middle of the pres.
ent park, and the late Hon. N. d. Haswell
owned that part Of it on the west Of the high
way and that on the east belonged to the
glass factory people, Nearly half century
ago-about lS37-these parties conveyed the
land TO the municipality for a public park
and 1t has ever since been used for that pur.
pose. From time to time improvements
have been made and the park Las been adorn-
ca and beauiiiied-notablc in this direction
being the handsome fountain, the gift of MIR.
iioward-ani now II is a most attractive aud
ocauiiful spot. Art can still do much for its
Improvement, but in its environment Nature
exhausted herself and her force can no furlh
or 20. The whole world contains. accord.
Ing 10 the belief OF every true Burlingtonon.
no more beautiful prospect than that afforded
from the embankment Of Battery Park. 1t
Is is indeed most delightful spot, and no
sehrcher for the picturesque and beautiful
need go further.
College Fark.
In Iune 1909 tho tho, .oaa., ,