The Rockery

Wakefield’s iconic Rockery began life as a European-style “sylvan grotto,” which was as controversial as most public improvements here….

The Hiker Memorial Statue

One of the most misunderstood of Wakefield’s monuments, many call this statue ‘the minuteman,’ although the truth is very different…

Wakefield’s Bandstand

by Nancy Bertrand The story of Wakefield’s iconic bandstand began over a decade before its construction. The year was 1871, and the newly christened Town of Wakefield had become serious about self improvement. With its magnificent new Town Hall (a gift from Cyrus Wakefield) freshly completed, the town considered other projects. A brand new fire…

Civil War Memorial Tablets

By Nancy Bertrand In the spring of 1867, the citizens of the Town of South Reading wanted to erect some sort of memorial to the brave men who had fought and died in the ‘War of the Rebellion.’ The town’s finances were especially strained at that time because of debts incurred during the war…

Wakefield’s Soldiers and Sailors Monument

by Nancy Bertrand The desire to honor the men of South Reading who fought in the Civil War gave birth to the South Reading Monument Association in 1867. This committee, chaired by Lilley Eaton, and including such luminaries as Solon O. Richardson, James M. and P.H.. Sweetser and Cyrus Wakefield, yielded a unusual result. Local…