Walpole Town Commons
Meeting Place, Park, and Memorial
Town commons have been around for centuries, particularly in New England where such land, often referred to as the town green or the square, played significant roles and had a variety of purposes in the community. Most town commons are centrally located in the community and their uses and design have evolved over time. Every town took a different approach to how its town common was designed, where it would be located, and how the land would be used. Town commons have always been the heart of many communities, provide shared space and would ultimately come under control of the local town government.
In colonial times, the town common was the central meeting place for the settlers. In Walpole, the town common can be traced back to 1739 when Thomas Clap and numerous townspeople erected a meeting house on land that he later willed to the community. At this time meeting houses became a central point for communities coming together to pray and worship. Cemeteries, military training grounds and pastures for agriculture often comprised centrally-located town commons before a shifting from church to municipalities in the 1830s eventually led to landscaped, park-like public spaces for social, political and civic uses. Today, the newly renovated United Church on Common Street has ties that can be traced back through history to the original meeting house.
According to the book Massachusetts Town Greens, written by Walpole resident Eric Hurwitz, (2016; published by Globe Pequot) Walpole possesses one of the most unusual town common presences in Massachusetts. Not one, but three separate town commons comprise a good portion of the downtown with all put to good use through myriad dedication sites and seasonal events.
Walpole’s unique design and layout of its town commons has enabled its use as a place for dedication and memorial to Walpole residents who have served their country. Memorials commemorate soldiers of the French and Indian War of 1754, the Revolutionary War, those who sacrificed their lives in 20th century wars, a firefighter’s memorial, benches memorializing World War II veterans, and a dedication to Everett “Rocky” Rockwood, a World War II veteran. A stone inscription honors sixteen Walpole men who were among the many local residents who fought for our freedom during the Revolutionary War, including the historic Battle of Lexington and Concord.
With the Walpole Commons being centrally located in town, it is currently used quite extensively for a variety of events and activities from PorchFest, Veterans Day observances, summer concerts, Main Street Live, the Christmas tree lighting and Santa’s visit, among other activities.
The common provides a wonderful spot to relax on a sunny day and its stone gazebo is a prominent structure used at many events. The gazebo was built in 1901 and was gifted to Walpole by Joseph Feely, a representative of the Walpole Improvement Association (which no longer exists). John F. Kennedy gave a speech at the Walpole Common’s gazebo while he was senator in 1958. The well-maintained green space across from the post office also features the C.S. Bird fountain built in 1903 and more recently dedicated to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew Bacevich who was killed in 2007 while serving in Iraq.
It is not known how use of the town commons will change in the future, but one thing is clear: they will always be gathering places, free of charge for townspeople to enjoy, located in the central business district of towns across the country.
-Spotlight article contributed by Rick Ward. Photography contributed by Eric Hurwitz
