Hagerstown in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Bloom Park

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017

1. Bloom Park Marker

Inscription. Bloom Park was one of the very first monuments erected in the United States to honor the veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898-99). It was dedicated on July 4, 1900. The keynote speaker at the ceremony was Henry Kyd Douglas a former Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard who was a Confederate officer during the Civil War. The monument was unveiled by two small boys, one of whom was William P. Lane, Jr., who grew up to serve as Governor of Maryland (1947-51). The cannon, a relic captured from Fort Morro at Santiago, Cuba was obtained from the War Department through the efforts of Senator Louis McComas. The land for this memorial was donated by S. Martin Bloom (Mayor, 1884-86), who lived across North Potomac Street. Mayor Bloom also absorbed all of the cost of transporting the cannon to Hagerstown and the expense of grading the park and constructing the base. In 2002 the Mayor and City Council officially named this site “Bloom Park” in recognition of Mayor Bloom's generosity.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Places • War, Spanish-American.

Location. 39° 38.815′ N, 77° 42.978′ W. Marker is in Hagerstown, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of

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North Potomac Street and East North Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 342 North Potomac Street, Hagerstown MD 21740, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. This Bronze Cannon (a few steps from this marker); In Memory Of (within shouting distance of this marker); Hagerstonians in the Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Hagerstonians in the Civil War (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); 468 North Potomac Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); 474 North Potomac Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jonathan Hager (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hagerstown.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017

2. Bloom Park Marker

Spanish-American War Veterans, 1949 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017

3. Spanish-American War Veterans, 1949

In 1949, Maryland's Spanish-American War veterans held their annual convention in Hagerstown. Here, several of those veterans pose for a photo in Bloom Park.Close-up of photo on marker

Co. B, 1st Maryland Infantry image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017

4. Co. B, 1st Maryland Infantry

Members of Hagerstown's National Guard unit, Company B, 1st Maryland Infantry at Camp MacKenzie, GA in February, 1899, the day after they learned they would be demobilized and return home to Hagerstown.Close-up of photo on marker

Samuel Strite image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017

5. Samuel Strite

Hagerstonian Samuel Strite (top row, far right) served as a Lieutenant aboard USS Olympia, which served as Admiral Dewey's flagship in the 1898 Battle of Manila Bay in the Philippines. Dewey opened the battle with his famous statement to the ship's captain “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.”

Edward B. Suman image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017

6. Edward B. Suman

On February 15, 1898, the battleship USS Maine exploded in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, killing most of her crew. This tragedy was erroneously blamed on a Spanish mine and in reaction, Congress declared war on Spain in April. “Remember the Maine!” was the rallying cry. This grainy newspaper image is the only known photograph of Private Edward. B. Suman, USMC; a Hagerstown area native who died in the blast.

Captured Cannon image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017

7. Captured Cannon

This 18th century French cannon, captured in the Spanish American War dominates Bloom Park.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017

8. Captured Cannon

Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 539 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 24, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7, 8. submitted on August 27, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.