In 1850, Levi Heywood Greenwood, one of the town’s most notable citizens in his time, deeded the tract of land that became Monument Park, located in downtown Gardner. He wanted his city to have a public park, and the land was graciously accepted.

After the Civil War, a nearly thirty-two foot tall obelisk was designed and constructed by Smith Granite Co. in Rhode Island, and it served as a memorial for fallen soldiers. On each of the four
sides of the monument, the battles where men from Gardner fought are inscribed. These include Antietam, Ball’s Bluff, Cedar Creek, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Mobile, New Bern, and
Port Hudson. A 2016 article from the Gardner News also mentions that “the engravings on the die represent the four departments of the service: the infantry, cavalry, artillery and navy, along with 38 stars to represent the states in the Union. In 1909, the three cannons were placed at Monument Park.”

During its one-hundred year celebration in 1885, the city of Gardner revealed the Soldiers Monument memorial at Monument Park. Now, the park has become a popular place for town events, such as movies, parades, fairs, and concerts, and has even taken on the nickname of the “Bandstand Park.” This great common has played a key role in bringing the people of Chair City together in both times of war and peace.