Bell Park

Bell Park. The Heart of Grimsby Park. , In the earliest days of the Methodist campgrounds (ca. 1859) Bell Park was little more than a spring fed bog encompassed by a forest. As the camp expanded, the spring was dammed to gain access to fresh water for the campers and was rerouted to form a large heart shaped moat. Two rustic wooden bridges were built to allow access to the centre, where beautiful gardens were planted. , Bell park became the centre of the cultural and social activities for both adults and children with classes in exercise, culture, drama, music and art. Girls were taught the joys of housekeeping and boys various sports. Musical performances of all types were offered and band concerts were held here until the late 1930s. On many occasions the National Philadelphia School of Oratory and Elocution would perform here and hold various classes. Near the close of each summer, everyone in the park looked forward to the annual field day held here., In 1884, the bell that gave this park its name was commissioned from the Troy Bell Foundry (NY) to hang in the Temple. On its arrival it was found to be too heavy (1577 lbs.) for the temple's structure to hold, so a wooden platform was built and the bell mounted to it. The bell was used to call thousands to worship and just as many to help fight the devastating fires that occurred in the early 1900s. Around the same time, the wooden platform was replaced with a concrete base and the bell's clapper was removed later in the 1940s., As the years went on, Bell Park remained the centre of communal life. By 1876, gingerbread cottages started to appear on the former tent lots surrounding Bell Park and a wooden kiosk for notices about park activities was constructed. Unfortunately, by the 1890s the spring had all but dried up, so it was diverted to drain directly into the lake. The heart-shaped moat was eventually filled in when Harry H. Wylie took over Grimsby Park in 1910., The memorial stone fountain in the park was originally located on the corner of what is now Fair Avenue and Third Street. It was built in memory of Margaret Gage Burkholder (1869-1927), founding member and the first president of the Women's Improvement Society, an organization formed in 1916 with the objective of beautifying Grimsby Park., Today, Bell Park is still at the heart of a unique and vibrant little community known as "Grimsby Beach." It is designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.