Westerly in Washington County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Welcome to Historic Wilcox Park
Historic Wilcox Park
— Westerly, Rhode Island —
"The people shall have a Park." - Harriet Wilcox, 1898
Wilcox Park
A 15-Acre Victorian Strolling Park
Stephen Wilcox, the major benefactor of the Library, died before the Library building was completed. In 1898, his wife Harriet (Hoxie) Wilcox gave the original 7 acre parcel for the park as well as funds to develop a memorial to her husband. "The people shall have a Park." This first parcel was the former Rowse Babcock estate. The park was expanded through several smaller additions until 1905, when the 9 acre Hannah B.W. Brown estate was added.
Monuments
A Martha Jane Crandall, Granite Urn, 1887
B Women's Monument featured at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, 1893
C Hiker Memorial to the Veterans of the Spanish American War by Allen G. Newman, 1924
D Wilcox Memorial Fountain by John Francis Paramino, 1929
E World War Memorial by Arthur A. Shurcliff, 1937
F Cristoforo Columbo Statue by Charles H. Pizzano, 1949
G Westerly Granite Industry Monument, 1985
H Margaret Wise Brown's "The Runaway Bunny" by Joan Binney Ross, 1998
National
Register
of
this page online
Places
by the
United States Department of the Interior
Since 1973
Erected by Rhode Island Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 41° 22.669′ N, 71° 49.772′ W. Marker is in Westerly, Rhode Island, in Washington County. Marker is on High Street north of Broad Street (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling north. The marker is on the grounds of Wilcox Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 44 Broad Street, Westerly RI 02891, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Comfort Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Westerly Library and Wilcox Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Westerly Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Cristoforo Columbo (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Arboretum (about 300 feet away); Bandstand (about 400 feet away); Granite Industry (about 400 feet away); Westerly Band (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westerly.
Additional keywords. landscape architecture
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 24, 2023
3. A National Register of Historic Places plaque stands on the park grounds
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 26, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
