Forman Park
| Forman Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Syracuse, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°2′49.79″N 76°8′27.89″W / 43.0471639°N 76.1410806°WCoordinates: 43°2′49.79″N 76°8′27.89″W / 43.0471639°N 76.1410806°W |
| Area | 1.335 acres (0.00540 km2) |
| Governing body | City of Syracuse |
  Location of Forman Park in the US | |
Forman Park, in Syracuse, New York, was first established on June 16, 1839 and was known as Forman Square. The main attraction is a bronze memorial of early civic leaders, Joshua Forman and Lewis H. Redfield.
Redfield was a pioneer printer who died in 1882. Before his death he wrote a detailed account of the land ownership over the years and immortalized the history of the park in early print. The park is 1.3 acres and is located at East Genesee and Almond Streets in Downtown Syracuse.
History
Forman Park was first named Forman Square and was declared a public park in 1839 by the Trustees of the village of Syracuse.[1]
Land donated
Lewis H. Redfield was born in 1736 and died in 1882. Two years before his death, in 1880, he wrote about the history of the park which was designed by Henry Davis, Jr. in 1839. At that time, Redfield and Davis and two other residents owned the land on the north side of Genesee Street and the Syracuse Company owned the property on the south side.[1]
Genesee Street ran diagonally northeast to southwest through the center of the property designated for the park. Redfield and others donated the land for the north side triangle and the Syracuse Company donated the property for the south side triangle. The name was chosen to honor Joshua Forman who is considered the founder of Syracuse.[1]
Public square
On January 16, 1839, the Trustees adopted an ordinance declaring Forman Square as a public square. Several years prior to that date, the parties who owned the land adjoining the square had granted the city the title to the easterly and westerly triangles on the north and south side of the turnpike.[2]
Redfield proposed the "scheme" to his associates and they consented. He then made application to the Syracuse Company to "unite in the undertaking" and the company agreed to the proposition. The result was the creation of Forman Square which were considered "two of the most attractive parks in the city."[2]
Neighborhood involvement
Early resident, Theodore Clarke wrote in May 1848 that he purchased a building lot on the south side of Forman Park which cost $6.00. The house cost $1,093 and was ready for occupancy on May 1, 1849. The lot was 66 feet (20 m) wide and situated at 720 East Jefferson Street and was the first house built on Forman Park.[1]
"When I purchased the lot it could not be approached with a team without making a bridge. On each side of the turnpike, Genesee Street, there was a ditch at least 3 feet (0.91 m) deep. On the West was a gully 4 feet (1.2 m) or 5 feet (1.5 m) deep thru which Yellow Brook ran.
The turnpike occupied about half of what is now Forman Park. Jefferson Street was not opened east of Almond Street. Jefferson Street sewer terminated at Yellow Brook. “Stanton Collins farm included Lemon Street, south of Genesee Street and the East end of Jefferson Street, and the corner of the farm ran into the park. All around was almost a limitless space of unoccupied ground. Theodore Clark in 1875, early resident talking about his home built in 1848"
Clarke circulated a petition and Jefferson Street was soon opened to Genesee Street. He circulated another petition for grading and improvements to the park.[1]
At the order of the city Common Council, Genesee Street was narrowed from a width of 100 feet (30 m) to 66 feet (20 m) in order to route it around the park. Residents of Lodi Hill section opposed the street work, but Clarke appeared before the council and the plans went forward.[1]
Shortly after, a fence was erected and Clarke circulated a third petition and collected funds. He received a total of $158 from 19 residents and the fence was completed.[1]
Theodore Clarke was deputy and acting County Clerk for 13 years as well as Search Clerk and clerk and collector of the village of Syracuse. He was also first assessor of the city and a member of the city Engineering staff and helped draw a complete city map during the years 1895 through 1910. In his private life, Clarke was an officer of the First Congregational Church, which was also known as the abolitionist Jerry Rescue church. He came to the city in 1835 and moved to Eastwood in 1866.[1]
Redfield monument
The western half of Forman Park was set aside for a monument which was erected by Mrs. William H. H. Smith in honor of her father, Lewis H. Redfield.
Recent years
Forman Park is managed by the Syracuse Department of Parks.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Forman Park". City of Syracuse, Department of Parks, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
- 1 2 "Forman Square". Syracuse Herald. Syracuse, New York. February 6, 1881.
External links
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Media related to Forman Park at Wikimedia Commons - City of Syracuse, Department of Parks - Forman Park