Torrington in Northwest Hills Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

Coe Memorial Park

Photographed by Michael Herrick, January 2, 2025

1. Coe Memorial Park Marker

Inscription.

Coe Memorial Park. . , The children of Lyman and Eliza Coe had a "desire to establish some appropriate and lasting memorial" to their parents, "who loved Torrington and its people." In 1906, one year after Eliza Coe died, her children, Edward Turner Coe, Ella Seymour Coe, and Adelaide Coe Godfrey, offered a deed to the town of Torrington for the property that had been the family's home for over 40 years. The land was to be "held and used for park purposes only," and this gift created Torrington's first municipal park. According to the terms of the gift, the town of Torrington was required to remove the house which had been the Coe's home and erect a suitable monument. , Torrington accepted the gift and began to create the park. The Coe House was divided and moved to create several smaller homes in other locations. The city consulted with the famous landscape design firm, Olmsted Brothers, to develop park plans but finally settled on Thomas R. McClunie, a Hartford landscape architect, to do the work. Nevertheless, Olmsted Brothers' philosophy was evident in the final design: "Shade is a requisite and broad walks with frequent seats are necessary, while the general aspect of the place should be cheerful, attractive and well kept." The park opened to the public in 1908. , Since that time, Coe Memorial Park has been enlarged with the addition of several acres to the south and west. Monuments have been constructed such as the All Wars Memorial built after world war one and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fountain in front of the Civic Center, which itself was built in 1975. Further signifying its importance, Coe Memorial Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Erected by The Coe Memorial Park Committee and The Torrington Historical Society , ( photo captions ) , , Coe Memorial Park, ca. 1910 Collection of the Torrington Historical Society , , E.J. Kelley Company moving the memorial boulder to the park, Water Street, April 1908 Collection of the Torrington Historical Society , , The memorial boulder after being placed in the park, April 1908 Collection of the Torrington Historical Society , , Postcard view of Coe Memorial Park, ca. 1910 Collection of the Torrington Historical Society

The children of Lyman and Eliza Coe had a "desire to establish some appropriate and lasting memorial" to their parents, "who loved Torrington and its people." In 1906, one year after Eliza Coe died, her children, Edward Turner Coe, Ella Seymour Coe, and Adelaide Coe Godfrey, offered a deed to the town of Torrington for the property that had been the family's home for over 40 years. The land was to be "held and used for park purposes only," and this gift created Torrington's first municipal park. According to the terms of the gift, the town of Torrington was required to remove the house which had been the Coe's home and erect a suitable monument.

Torrington accepted the gift and began to create the park. The Coe House was divided and moved to create several smaller homes in other locations. The city consulted with the famous landscape design firm, Olmsted Brothers, to develop park plans but finally settled on Thomas R. McClunie, a Hartford landscape architect, to do the work. Nevertheless, Olmsted Brothers' philosophy was evident in the final design: "Shade is a requisite and broad walks with frequent seats are necessary, while the general aspect of the place should be cheerful, attractive and well kept." The park opened to the public in 1908.

Since that time, Coe Memorial Park has been enlarged with the addition

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of several acres to the south and west. Monuments have been constructed such as the All Wars Memorial built after WWI and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fountain in front of the Civic Center, which itself was built in 1975. Further signifying its importance, Coe Memorial Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Erected by The Coe Memorial Park Committee and The Torrington Historical Society

( photo captions )
— Coe Memorial Park, ca. 1910 Collection of the Torrington Historical Society
— E.J. Kelley Company moving the memorial boulder to the park, Water Street, April 1908 Collection of the Torrington Historical Society
— The memorial boulder after being placed in the park, April 1908 Collection of the Torrington Historical Society
— Postcard view of Coe Memorial Park, ca. 1910 Collection of the Torrington Historical Society

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 41° 47.963′ N, 73° 7.303′ W. Marker is in Torrington in Northwest Hills Region, Connecticut. It is at the intersection of South Main Street and Litchfield Street, on the left when traveling north on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Torrington CT 06790, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Connecticut’s Berkshire Foothills

and in the Litchfield Hills.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Litchfield County

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least

Photographed by Michael Herrick, January 2, 2025

2. Coe Memorial Park Marker

8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Coe House (here, next to this marker); Coe Brass Company (here, next to this marker); The Coe Family (here, next to this marker); Roster of Company M (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Coe Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Torrington Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Torrington Soldiers Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); VFW 155mm Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Torrington.

Also see . . . Coe Memorial Park (Wikipedia). (Submitted on January 7, 2025, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Coe Family and Industries Markers <br> in Coe Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, January 2, 2025

3. Coe Family and Industries Markers
in Coe Memorial Park

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2025, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 159 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 7, 2025, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.