Medford in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Barry Park
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2026
1. Barry Park Marker
This park was originally dedicated by Mayor John H. Burke on October 23, 1932 and was rededicated by Mayor Michael J. McGlynn on August 23, 1989.
Erected 1989.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • War, Spanish-American. A significant historical date for this entry is October 23, 1932.
Location. 42° 24.88′ N, 71° 6.874′ W. Marker is in Medford, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. It is on Summer Street near Marston Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 86 Summer Street, Medford MA 02155, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Historic Boston and specifically in Greater Boston. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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 one of the original Thirteen
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Isaac Royall House (approx. 0.2 miles away); “Grandfather’s House” (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mystic Congregational Church Bell (approx. ¼ mile away); Royall House (approx. ¼ mile away); Medford Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Captain Isaac Hall Hitching Post (approx. 0.3 miles away); “Jingle Bells” Composed Here (approx. 0.3 miles away); Salem Street Burying Ground (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Medford.
More about this marker. The marker is in the north center part of Barry Park.
Regarding Barry Park. Garret Barry was born on July 1, 1875, in Medford and raised there by his parents, James and Margaret, both of whom were born in Ireland, according to state birth records. During the era of the Spanish-American War, Barry served first in the first as a member of the 5th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (a Medford-based unit known as the Lawrence Light Guard), and later for the 43rd U.S. Volunteer Infantry. In 1904 he was deployed in the Philippines
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2026
2. Barry Park Marker
Lt. Barry was 29 years old when he was killed in the Philippines in October 1904. Word of his death seems to have not reached home for more than two months. The first news reports, from January 1905, said that he had died on Oct. 25 but that no details of the cause of his death were available. In May, the Boston Globe reported details of his death from an official inquiry. According to the report, Lt. Barry's unit had been "detailed to stamp out the bands of robbers that infested his district." Lt. Barry was killed instantly (on Oct. 18, the paper reported) when one of those robbers—which it said was a "noted Philippine outlaw" named On Pong—stabbed him in the temple.
Lt. Barry was apparently first buried in Panay, a Philippine island more than 200 miles south of Manila, with fully military honors. In October 1906, two years after his death, Barry's body was returned to the United States. According to the Boston Herald, Lt. Barry's remains lay in state at the Lawrence Light Guard Armory (the building still stands today about ⅓ of a mile north of here as the crow flies), where more than 3,000 mourners
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 6, 2026
3. Barry Park
Also see . . . Garrett E. Barry on Find a Grave. The listing has two t's at the end of his name. It cites some contemporary news reports with that spelling, although it also includes a photo of his name with one t. His gravestone uses the name G.E. Barry. (Submitted on November 9, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 6, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on November 9, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
