The Thompson Park Circle: Entrance to the Park
Early in its design phase, John C. Thompson, President of the New York Air Brake, must have envisioned the Park Circle as the City Park’s grand entrance. Seeking out John C. Olmsted, the adopted son of the notable Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame, Mr. Thompson nevertheless hoped to capture the prestigious nature of the elder Olmsted’s work.
It should be noted John often partnered alongside his brother, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., after their father retired to carry on the family business. John’s biological father, also named John Olmsted, contracted tuberculosis and passed away. His mother remarried the deceased John’s brother, Frederick Law Olmsted Sr.
In other words, young John’s adoptive father was his uncle, and his brother, by adoption, was actually his cousin. Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., wasn’t born until 1870, some 15 years or so after his father designed Central Park.
Hopefully, this explains the long-held misperception that Thompson Park was designed by the same Olmsted who created Central Park.
Mr. Olmstead made his visit to Watertown, which the Daily Times reported on June 7—
John C. Olmsted, of Brookline Mass., the designer of the city’s projected park, is now in Chicago, looking after some landscape work there of which he has charge. On leaving there he will come directly to this city to make such changes in his designs as he deems advisable after inspecting the park as preliminary staked out. He is expected here the last of the week or the first of the next, and will probably remain several days. He will visit here frequently during the progress of the work.
Bids were placed on the Park Circle entrance and roadwork in 1900, with the lowest offer being $18,000. The Park Circle would be a convergence of several streets: Park Dr., Thompson Blvd., Olmsted Dr., Academy St., and Thompson Park Dr. Two other streets, Park E. and Park W., flank Park Dr. for residential access off State Street.
The park was initially known as City Park due to John C. Thompson’s wish to remain anonymous. This remained its name for its first 25 years upon opening in 1903. Upon Mr. Thompson’s death, the City of Watertown officially revealed the donor and renamed the park in his honor.
Over the years, Park Circle and its surrounding area have been frequently used for winter activities. Sledding has long been a favorite pastime but has recently garnered criticism due to safety concerns. Park Circle had been frozen with water to make a skating rink in years past. The location has also been used for Snowtown USA festivities and the snow sculpture competition in the past years.
A side note: two photos included here are of the park plans and a residential area on the western side of Gotham Street, which would have been named Bonny Brae. Bonny (or the alternative “Bonnie”) Brae means “Pleasant Hill” in Gaelic. The plans never obviously went into development, but they remain an interesting look into the residential planning concepts of the time.
For more listings regarding Thompson Park, click here.
1 Reviews on “Thompson Park Circle (1901 – Present)”
Thompson Park is such a jewel for Watertown. I spent many enjoyable days there swimming, golfing, sledding, skating, and in my high school years, making out with girls at the pinnacle, or overlook.