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General Shepard Park
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Features
- Memorial
Size
1/4 Acre
History
In 1913 Henry Fuller, one of Westfield’s leading attorneys died in 1913 leaving a bequest of $1,000.00 in his will for the purpose of erecting a memorial statue of General Shepard. General Shepard was born in Westfield and served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Westfield citizens seeking to implement his request formed a committee of J.C. Greenough, Henry W. Ely and A.D. Robinson - secured additional funds of $4,000 from the descendants of General Shepard and from citizens. The town also voted an appropriation of $3,500 in 1917. Two more committee members Arthur S. Kniel and William T. Smith were empowered to erect and dedicate the monument. They sought out Mr. August Lukeman, a student under Daniel French, one of America’s most distinguished sculptors to design the statue.
The statue stands with his back to the city green because it was thought that Westfield would expand in that direction. General Shepard was an officer in the Revolutionary War, a friend of George Washington, suppressor of Shay’s Rebellion and three times elected as a member of congress. General Shepard actually drilled his minutemen on the green before he left to set out to Dorchester Heights and the Revolutionary War.
In the 1940’s there was concern the statue had not oxidized. After investigation by the park Commission it was learned that the copper content of the statue was very low because it was made during War World I when copper was extremely scarce. In 1951 an acid was applied to the bronze and eventually it became the green color seen today.
In 1969 Police Chief, Malcolm Donald put pressure on the Park Commission to remove the statue due to traffic hazards. The Commission opposed his request and it still stands today.
In 1988 the war monument plaques that stood in this park was removed along with all other monuments from all the parks were placed in the Parker Park Memorial Park on West Silver Street.
In 1998, Park & Recreation director Ann Marie Heiser and the Parks & Recreation Commission decided to beautify this park. Old bushes were removed due to snow damage and Claire Kenna, from “The Good Scents Garden Company” created a new design. She planted two Beach trees and planted 40 Boxwoods. Also, two large white planters were added on the sides in front of the General and planted with colorful flowers.
2002 to this day funds are being raised by the Westfield Parks and Recreation Commission and Westfield Historic Commission that will go directly to help clean the black spots of the statues and bring it back to the green it once was. Once the cleaning is done it will be easier to read the print on the statues.
Fundraiser prints are available of General Shepard by artist Jacqueline M. Sears who came to the Parks and Recreation Commission to bring the idea of fundraising to clean these statues, along with her desire to draw this statue and have the department sell the prints. Prints are available at the Parks & Recreation department for a $20.00 fee; all you need is an old fashion frame!
History
In 1913 Henry Fuller, one of Westfield’s leading attorneys died in 1913 leaving a bequest of $1,000.00 in his will for the purpose of erecting a memorial statue of General Shepard. General Shepard was born in Westfield and served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Westfield citizens seeking to implement his request formed a committee of J.C. Greenough, Henry W. Ely and A.D. Robinson - secured additional funds of $4,000 from the descendants of General Shepard and from citizens. The town also voted an appropriation of $3,500 in 1917. Two more committee members Arthur S. Kniel and William T. Smith were empowered to erect and dedicate the monument. They sought out Mr. August Lukeman, a student under Daniel French, one of America’s most distinguished sculptors to design the statue.
The statue stands with his back to the city green because it was thought that Westfield would expand in that direction. General Shepard was an officer in the Revolutionary War, a friend of George Washington, suppressor of Shay’s Rebellion and three times elected as a member of congress. General Shepard actually drilled his minutemen on the green before he left to set out to Dorchester Heights and the Revolutionary War.
In the 1940’s there was concern the statue had not oxidized. After investigation by the park Commission it was learned that the copper content of the statue was very low because it was made during War World I when copper was extremely scarce. In 1951 an acid was applied to the bronze and eventually it became the green color seen today.
In 1969 Police Chief, Malcolm Donald put pressure on the Park Commission to remove the statue due to traffic hazards. The Commission opposed his request and it still stands today.
In 1988 the war monument plaques that stood in this park was removed along with all other monuments from all the parks were placed in the Parker Park Memorial Park on West Silver Street.
In 1998, Park & Recreation director Ann Marie Heiser and the Parks & Recreation Commission decided to beautify this park. Old bushes were removed due to snow damage and Claire Kenna, from “The Good Scents Garden Company” created a new design. She planted two Beach trees and planted 40 Boxwoods. Also, two large white planters were added on the sides in front of the General and planted with colorful flowers.
2002 to this day funds are being raised by the Westfield Parks and Recreation Commission and Westfield Historic Commission that will go directly to help clean the black spots of the statues and bring it back to the green it once was. Once the cleaning is done it will be easier to read the print on the statues.
Fundraiser prints are available of General Shepard by artist Jacqueline M. Sears who came to the Parks and Recreation Commission to bring the idea of fundraising to clean these statues, along with her desire to draw this statue and have the department sell the prints. Prints are available at the Parks & Recreation department for a $20.00 fee; all you need is an old fashion frame!