Artemas Ward Park

Artemas Ward Park. Marlborough, Massachusetts. Marlborough's largest inner-city recreation land, Ward Park was named after the first Commander of the Continental Army, General Artemas Ward. The park is located across the street on property originally granted to William Ward, one of the founding fathers of Marlborough and a patriarch whose lineage included 13 children, 88 grandchildren and 331 great-grandchildren. , During King Philip's War (1675-1678), the Ward Garrison was the refuge for the entire congregation when the nearby Meeting House was attacked during church services on Sunday, March 26, 1676. The property remained in the Ward family until Daniel Ward and others of his family tragically died in the great dysentery outbreak of 1775, the first year of the Revolution. , In the 1800s, the property was owned by the Hayden family, first by the colorful bachelor brothers Dominic and Zelly Hayden, then by their nephew Daniel, who had but one daughter who died within a week of her birth. During the entire 19th century, no children enjoyed this wonderful property. , In 1923, municipal action was started to purchase the Hayden property and turn their meadow into a public park, which was completed in 1924. , Artemas Ward, great grandson and namesake of the General, offered to build a large gateway to the new park, including historical markers, in exchange for the right to name the park after his illustrious ancester. , The gateway, originally located near this panel, was reduced in size and later moved off the street, when Granger Boulevard was constructed in the 1970s. , [Captions] , . Top: This was the original entrance to Artemas Ward Park as it appeared prior to being moved to its present location. , . Bottom left: Ward-Hayden House as it appeared in the 1800s. , . Bottom right: Major General Artemas Ward, by Thomas Sully, from the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society.