The morning mail brought me, among other things, three post-cards
from friends who are away on vacations. The first card shows a
view of the Grand Canyon, barren, stark, but very beautiful; the
second is a picture of a shady corner in Central Park, quiet,
inviting, and rose-covered; and the third is a water scene, calm,
cool and romantic, showing the great St. Lawrence from the
Canadian side.
In the afternoon I strolled around Walpole and in my strolling
encountered something which caused me to wonder why the people of
this beautiful town go elsewhere to search for beauty spots.
I found a park, a large, wonderful, beautiful park with winding
streams, long lagoons, shady corners, high pines, open fields,
hardy shrubs, a sandy beach, a bleak, barren water front, grassy
knolls, sheltered hollows, sloping hillsides, graveled walks,
woodland paths, flagged roadways, romantic bridges - a veritable
beauty spot, grander, more inspiring, more refreshing and more
soothing than many of the vacation resorts which attract the
people of Walpole away from home.
This wonderful park lays between Washington and Pleasant Streets,
East Walpole, and has an area of seventy acres. On the south side
of the main entrance is a bronze tablet which reads:
Francis William Park
Created and Endowed by
Charles Sumner Bird Anna Child Bird
for the People of Walpole
A.D. 1925
On the north side of the entrance is a second bronze tablet
which reads:
Francis William Park
Dedicated to the Memory of
Francis William Bird
1881-1918
The main entrance on Washington Street cannot fail to attract
the attention of passersby. It is built with seam faced granite,
is wide, beautifully curved, has an inviting and restful
appearance, and seems to betoken the calm, quiet beauty that lays
beyond.
From the main entrance, winding its way across the park to
Pleasant Street is a granolithic flagged walk eight feet wide and
sixteen hundred feet long. This walk leads directly to the
swimming pool which may be termed the central and principal
feature of the layout.
An attractive concrete dam and spillway have been built across a
small brook which flows through the grounds, resulting in a pool,
of irregular outline, 200 feet long and 108 feet wide, concrete
lined throughout and floored with a layer of sea sand. Large
rocks and boulders with open beachways between are so arranged as
to give the place a cool, seaside appearance. The water of the
brook has been examined and approved by the State Board of
Health, so the many bathers who use the pool may do so with a
feeling of security and protection. In the centre, a spray of
town water is sent up from the fountain base, supplementing the
waters of the brook and adding a charm to the scene.
A bath house nearby furnishes accommodations for 240 bathers. The
construction and arrangement of this building are attractive and
unique. The exterior walls are of seam-faced granite with
hammered Simbroco granite trimmings. The design is pleasing and
the entrance inviting. The interior is laid out in three
sections, the centre being a lobby and check room, and the wings,
dressing rooms. Each dressing room is provided with showers,
toilets, and 34 stalls, separated by slate partitions. Each
bather is given a clothes basket in the check room, retires to
one of the dressing stalls, disrobes, using the basket for a
wardrobe, is given a brass check by the attendant for the basket
and the clothing is laid carefully away in an individual
compartment until called for.
Above and below the bath house, two seam-faced granite bridges
cross the stream and, directly in front of the doorway, a
causeway leads across the shallow water at the head of the pool.
In the park, crossing the brook at various points, are ten
bridges, seven types of architecture and construction being used,
namely: seam faced granite, rustic stone, modern wood, brick,
iron, concrete and Japanese wood.
Three tennis courts have been constructed and seven additional
courts will be put in later.
There are eight entrances to this wonderful park and also four
service gates. From each entrance a granolithic tile walk winds
its way over mound and meadow, crossing the walks and graveled
pathways which also wind their way in beautiful curves into the
distance.
A six-inch water main has been laid through the heart of the park
from Washington Street to Pleasant Street, and eight thousand
feet of piping are used for the distribution of water.
At the present time, eight workmen are employed grading,
planting, seeding down, and otherwise converting a pasture of
swamp and hillside and rocks and brambles into a veritable
paradise.
Work was started on the project July 1st a year ago and the
accomplishments of the past year are almost unbelievable. In the
section near where the Japanese bridge now stands a ton and a
half of dynamite was used blasting out stumps to make a clearway
for laying out a Japanese garden. Fifty-two large electric lamps
controlled by an underground wiring system light up the pathways
and pool at night.
A large ornamental fountain will be erected on the base in the
centre of the swimming pool. The fountain design will be a pond
lily supporting three frogs from whose mouths will issue a fine
stray. A centre pipe will shoot a stream of water straight into
the air, making a very beautiful effect.
Thirty large trees have been moved into the park and hundreds of
young trees and shrubs have been planted. Others are to be set
out as the work of grading progresses.
Adjoining the park is a pine grove of fifty acres which will be
trimmed up and added when the work now going on will have been
completed.
Francis William Park, even in its unfinished state, is
undoubtedly as fine and as beautiful a piece of landscape
architecture, as quiet and cool a resting place, and as
attractive a playground as can be found anywhere between the
borders of Mexico and Canada.
Another year may be required to finish the work of grading,
seeding, planting, and otherwise beautifying the grounds, but
enough is now ready for inspection, to please alike, the eye of
the artist, the demands of the critic, and the emotions of the
sight-seer.
Here, the tired may rest at the close of day, away from the busy
hum of industry, among rolling fields and shady woodlands; and
here the children may play among the green things of nature or
splash in the cool, clear waters of the swimming pool.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sumner Bird have dedicated Francis William
Park to the memory of their son. It is more than a memorial; it
is a monument to the generosity of the donors.
Every resident of Walpole should visit this wonderful playground.
It is now open to the public. The description of it which I have
attempted to give is as weak and poor and inadequate as would be
a child's attempt to paint the splendor of an autumn sunset. Like
the sunset, this beautiful garden must be seen to be appreciated.
I stood beneath some trees and watched the shadows falling over
hill and dale. I had lingered long among these new enchantments.
The low sun added a quaint picturesqueness to the scene. The
little brook flowed peacefully on. The surrounding landscape lay
pictured in the clear, cool waters of the pool. Quietness
reigned.
And then I returned home to look once more at the cards my
friends had sent me. As I looked, I wondered and I am still
wondering if these friends are aware of the beauties that may be
found within walking distance of their own dooryards.
H.T.