Timeline

Photo courtesy of Jacksonville Historic Society

Historic information has been obtained from the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; the Olmsted Historic Site, Brookline, Massachusetts; the Memorial Park Association archives held at the Jacksonville Historic Society, and the Jacksonville Public Library, and other sources around the country.

Park Timeline

1923

City of Jacksonville begins park construction, brings on local architect Roy Benjamin to provide construction oversight.

1923-1924

Walks are laid, the memorial gates built during the winter months. The landscape planting is done.

December 25, 1924
December 25, 1924

Memorial Park sculpture “Spiritualized Life” is dedicated following a 4-year effort by sculptor Charles Adrian Pillars, and a 6-year effort by the Citizens Committee. Sealed in the cornerstone are parchments upon which are written the names of the 1,220 Floridians who died in the conflict. Sculpture is unveiled by two little girls, Mary Burroughs and Mary Bedell.

1927

Parks Commissioner St. Elmo Acosta determines the park “is 99 per cent finished.”

1930s – 1950s
1930s – 1950s

Memorial Park continues to be a focal point for community gatherings. Original plantings grow and mature.

1935

Morgan Gress seeks advice from Olmsted Brothers regarding lighting for the sculpture.

June 21, 1937

Charles Adrian Pillars, the sculptor, dies in Jacksonville at the age of 67 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Jacksonville.

April 23, 1941

James Frederick Dawson, the landscape architect and Olmsted Firm partner, dies in Brookline, Massachusetts at the age of 67.

Late 1950s
Late 1950s

Original landscape has become densely overgrown, uninviting and potentially unsafe.

1960

City of Jacksonville Parks Department undertakes a renovation to clear out “dense, straggly growth.”