Celebrating 100 Years On The Boulevard

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

October 18, 2021

Memorial Boulevard played host to a historic event Saturday as area residents, dignitaries and visitors recognized 100 years since the Veterans Memorial Boulevard Park was created.

“The park that we’re standing in was donated to the city in 1921 by Albert Rockwell, philanthropist and industrial tycoon,” said Bristol Parks, Recreation, Community and Youth Services Superintendent Dr. Josh Medeiros. “It now serves as the gateway to the City of Bristol. Since its founding 100 years ago, the park has had many great additions. The focus of today’s event is to explore the park and visit the various stations where you will learn the history of the boulevard, learn firsthand from Bristol historians and veterans about Bristol’s rich military history and influence that led to the establishment of each of our monuments…”

Music was played throughout the day to the credit of the Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble and Bristol Public Schools students. Games and activities were also offered across the park.

The event was the culmination of over 18 months of work by organizers and partners. Over $20,000 from sponsors was used to support the event.

“I know that many of you are here because the boulevard means as much to you as a symbol of our community as it does to us up here,” said Bristol Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu beside city officials on the event stage. “We are the benevolent caretakers of this great boulevard and the 100 years of history, both good and bad, through all the wars and conflicts that it has represented for everybody in the community.”

The mayor thanked community supporters and city employees who helped to maintain the park.

She encouraged residents to investigate the work being done on a bridge at the entry of the boulevard’s east side as well as to learn about the new magnet school coming to the city as part of the renovations and rebuilding of the old Memorial Boulevard School facility.

Robert Adamczyk of the Bristol Historical Society portrayed the park’s land donor, Albert Rockwell, as part of a living history display.

“Let me put it this way, I think he would be astonished that it’s still here and thriving and I think he’d be proud,” said Adamczyk.

According to Adamczyk, Bristol was at one time the largest bell manufacturer with Rockwell’s New Departure doorbell company in the country. It was the home of the first yellow taxi cab. The collapsible fishing rod was also made in Bristol as well as the first steel-shafted golf clubs, he said.

Visitor Keith Barton of Amston said he was visiting the celebration because his grandfather Leslie Barton was listed on the park’s World War I monument.

“He almost died there but made it back here,” said Keith of his grandfather’s time in the war. “I’m here to remember him and my dad. My dad enjoyed coming here and exploring his roots. I was able to learn about his roots before he passed and get him here a few times. He was always fond of his history and family tree and passed it onto me.”

Keith said he was someone who enjoyed knowing his roots and that the park was about knowing the history and sacrifices of families and what they went through to keep America going.

“It’s pretty cool. I didn’t realize the park had been here that long,” said Steve Positano. “I was going to check out the monuments. My father is a Vietnam veteran and he helped put the monument up.”

School friends Jeanne Radcliffe and Karen Roy reminisced about the park.

“The Memorial Boulevard is such a wonderful creation and we owe this to Mr. Rockwell. It was a marvelous way to honor Bristol’s World War I veterans and those who didn’t come home. It’s given us a beautiful entryway. We’ve enhanced it by honoring other veterans and it leads right to the high school I went to when it was Bristol Central,” said Radcliffe. “I grew up down the street and there are a lot of good memories here.”

“It just seemed like such a grand entrance to the town. You always remember coming in and seeing the original (monument in the park) to World War I, “ said Roy. “It’s iconic. I don’t know of any other town that’s quite set up like this.”