Washington Park - Palmer, MA
Posted by: neoc1
N 42° 09.702 W 072° 20.854
18T E 719119 N 4671135
A monument in Washington Park on Route 20 in Palmer, MA marks the route Washington travelled through Massachusetts both as General and later as President.
Waymark Code: WMFRMP
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 11/24/2012
Views: 4
Washington Park was build by the Wright Wire Co. and named in honor of George Washington. Washington passed this way, along the Bay Path on his way to Cambridge in 1775 and Boston in 1789. The highway. Route 20, was named the George Washington Memorial Highway in 1932 on the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth.
The Wright Wire Company placed a monument on Route 20 at the entrance to the park that describes the history of the area. It is inscribed:
Dedicated by Wright Wire Company, 1919, to its employees and their families, for their recreation and pleasure.
George Washington, Father of his country – first President of the United States – traveled over this spot in June 1775 on his way to Cambridge to take command of the Colonial Army in the Revolutionary War for the freedom of America, and again passed here in October, 1789.
Many other historic events were enacted near this spot which was the center of the Old Bay Path from Springfield to Boston – the first trail made by the Indians hundreds of years ago and again by white men three hundred years ago.
The river was forded until about 1732 when Scott’s Bridge, south of this spot, was built upon the location of the present old bridge across the Quaboag (Red Water) River.
Erected 1919 by Wright Wire Company.