John Chandler Williams Park Memorial
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Marker Inscription
Erected to the memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Chandler Williams who made possible this park. Mr. Williams gave the land. Mrs. Williams once saved the old elm from destruction. 1790
The Story
In the years after the Revolution, Pittsfield was a growing Berkshire County town organized, in the New England way, around a central green. This monument honors John Chandler Williams, an early resident who gave the land that became the town's public park, and his wife, who is remembered for having once saved the town's cherished old elm from being cut down. The great elm she protected went on to shade Park Square for generations, becoming one of the most beloved landmarks in the Berkshires.
Why it matters
It captures how the town green and its landmark trees—the heart of New England civic life in the early republic—were shaped and safeguarded by acts of private generosity and everyday preservation.
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Related people
- · John Chandler Williams
- · Mrs. John Chandler Williams
Related events
- · Founding of Pittsfield's public park
- · Preservation of the old Pittsfield Elm
Themes & tags
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