Naugatuck Green
21 Maple St.
Designed in 1895 by the prominent architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, the Naugatuck Green serves as the town’s civic and social heart. The land for the Green was donated by inn-keeper Joseph B. Beecher in 1831. A devout Congregationalist, Beecher gave a piece of the land to his church so a beautiful white framed parish could be built. Later, that same year, Beecher gave a southerly portion of the land to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. At that time, Beecher decreed that the land between the two churches be reserved as a public green. In 1852, Center School was built at the rear of the Green (where the gazebo sits today).
In 1893, John Howard Whittemore took steps to ensure Beecher’s gift to the town remained. The memberships of both churches voted to lease the Green to the town for 999 years with the stipulation that it ‘is to be kept and maintained as a public park by the town, in good condition.’
With the lease in place, JHW led and financed a beautification program of the Green. Laid out in an axial plan, the Green includes paved walkways leading to two major monuments—the Soldiers' Monument and the Memorial Fountain. Mr. Whittemore had gifted Salem School, which allowed for the old Center School to be demolished in 1894 and the Green to be enlarged. In 1902, Whittemore helped finance the building of the new Congregational Church across the street, and the old white framed church was demolished, further expanding the Green’s space. The addition of the drinking fountain, sidewalks, granite curbing, and pillars was also a gift from Mr. Whittemore that shaped the Green we all know today.
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The Soldiers' Monument, erected in 1885 and known locally as "Uncle Ebenezer," honors Civil War veterans. The monument features a statue of an infantryman resting on his musket atop a granite obelisk, symbolizing the town’s respect for those who served. The memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1885, during Decoration Day.
Installed in 1895, the Memorial Fountain complements the Soldiers' Monument with a granite structure featuring egg-and-dart moldings and stone spheres. Water flowed from a lion’s head into a fluted basin, adding beauty and function to the space.
Framed by trees and pink granite bollards, the Green aligns Church Street with Maple Street, creating a grand entrance to the town center. Charles William Eliot, son of President Eliot of Harvard, carried out the attractive walks and landscaping.
Across the street, near the horseshoe-shaped area, is the World War I Memorial, sculpted by Evelyn Beatrice Longman in collaboration with Henry Bacon. Evelyn Beatrice Longman was the first woman sculptor to be elected a full member of the National Academy of Design in 1919. This limestone monument, dedicated in 1921, takes the form of a sarcophagus resting on a pink granite slab. Low bas-relief figures on the east face represent peace and war. The north and south faces feature sacrificial rams’ heads connected by fruit garlands, symbolizing sacrifice and hope. The west face contains the names of local men who served in the war, commemorating their contribution to the nation during a pivotal time in history.
Beyond its architectural elegance, the Green has long been a venue for public events and gatherings, reflecting the community spirit fostered by Beecher’s donation and Whittemore’s vision.
The Naugatuck Green, Soldiers’ Monument, Memorial Fountain, and World War I Memorial were each designated as a part of the Naugatuck Center Historic District on July 30, 1999.
McKim, Mead & White Architects - Leland M. Roth (1985)
McKim, Mead & White Architects - Leland M. Roth (1985)
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service (June 22, 1999) - Naugatuck Center Historic District National Register of Historic Places Inventory
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service (June 22, 1999) - Naugatuck Center Historic District National Register of Historic Places Inventory
Images of America - Naugatuck & Naugatuck Revisited Dana J. Blackwell and The Naugatuck Historical Society (November 1, 1996) Ron Gagliardi (August 25, 2004)
Images of America - Naugatuck & Naugatuck Revisited Dana J. Blackwell and The Naugatuck Historical Society (November 1, 1996) Ron Gagliardi (August 25, 2004)
Naugatuck Stories and Legends I & II. William G. Leuchars (1969)(1977)
World War I Memorial - 11/11/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
World War I Memorial - 11/11/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
Veterans Memorial - 11/11/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
The Veterans' Memorial Situated at the northeast corner of the green the inscription reads "Naugatuck honors the men and women who served their country in time of need.” The monument is decorated with the emblems for each of the branches of the armed forces in both stone and bronze. The monument is inscribed with the names of borough residents that have died in World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Lebanon & Iraq. The monument is unique in that it mentions conflicts not normally seen on local monuments such as Grenada, Panama and Kosovo. 11/11/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
The Soldiers' Monument "Uncle Ebenezer" - 11/11/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
The Soldiers' Monument "Uncle Ebenezer" - 10/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
Memorial Fountain - 10/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
Dedication to Post 1946 V.F.W. - 9/30/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
Dedication to Peter Paul Family Members World War II and in Korea - 9/30/2024 Photo Credits: Taylor Bennett
The Beecher Inn
Old Congregational Church on the Green
Old Center School on the Green
Naugatuck Green - 1890s - John Wiehn
Soldiers’ Monument
Two hundred and thirty-six Naugatuck men served in the American Civil War and 29 died in service.
After the war, Isbell Post, Grand Army of the Republic, initiated a plan to erect a monument to honor those who served.
After six years of planning, $3,700 was raised, of which $1,700 was by private contributions. The balance was by town funds and a special tax that was collected.
It was May 30, 1885, and it was the 17th annual observance of Decoration Day. On this day, Naugatuck residents gathered for the dedication of the Soldiers Monument — the towering structure in the heart of Naugatuck's green.
At sunrise, a national salute was fired under the command of Captain H.D. Patterson. The hazy skies began to clear by 10 a.m., as loved ones decorate the soldier's graves in the borough with flowers. At 3 p.m. the procession of soldiers and dignitaries started, marching down designated streets of town and then converged on the Green, joining thousands of people that gathered.
B.B. Tuttle, chairman of the monument committee presented the Soldiers Monument for dedication. The Reverend W.F. Blackman, pastor of the Congregational Church, placed the monument into the keeping of the town and the Rev. James Fagan, pastor of St. Francis Church, accepted it on behalf of the town. As the veil fell away, the church bells rang out is great celebration as gunfire on the hill sounded across the valley.
After the dedication, the town's people entertained the visitors. There was a large tent set up beside the school on the green where nearly 2,000 people were served food and refreshments.
Hundreds of others were entertained in halls and private homes as the town broke out in great celebration.
When the guest departed and the last train of the evening pulled away, the Soldiers Monument stood proud as the night sky fell. The soldier, resting on his gun and facing the eastern sky, stood ready to greet each new sunrise with hope and determination as solid as the granite from which he was crafted.
(originally written by Terri Takacs May 27th 2011)
The Greek-inspired, McKim, Mead & White-designed drinking fountain on the Green was a gift of John Howard Whittemore and part of his grand plan for Naugatuck. Built of pink granite, it is inscribed with two Psalms:
“He sendeth the springs into the valleys that runneth among the hills”
“From wondering brooks and springs unseen comes cool, refreshing water.” When John Howard Whittemore was improving the Green, he wanted to give downtown Naugatuck a classical feel. This was partly accomplished by situating the buildings and monuments on axes. One axis is made up of a line that goes up Maple St. through the Civil War Monument and to the main entrance of Salem School. The drinking fountain was meant to be the center of these axes and of the Green itself.
Although an important landmark for many, the fountain has often found itself in disrepair. In 1944, Warden Leo Brophy had the town undertake a restoration of the fountain to fix failing mortar. In 1966, the fountain finally received electricity! CL&P and the park department worked together to electrify the fountain and the Green. The electricity also allowed for the water to be cooled by refrigerant. Previously, the drinking water was cooled by large blocks of ice provided (free of charge) by Thurston’s Ice House. In 1992, Mayor Robert Paolino engaged the Chamber of Commerce to help bring the fountain back to life.
In 2000, Naugatuck Historical Society member (2025 Board Director) Marty-Lee Fenton set out on a nearly 14-year campaign to, again, save this precious landmark. With many setbacks but a lot of determination, Marty Lee raised the money it took to restore the fountain to its former glory, with much of the plumbing work being donated by Tom and Aldona LaPorta. Thanks to these amazing stewards, the fountain continues to run and will be for years to come.
Restoring the Fountain Timeline
PLEASE HELP US PRESERVE OUR MONUMENTS
OUR HISTORIC “FOUNTAIN ON THE GREEN”
Our beautiful Fountain on the Green is an historical monument donated by Mr. John Howard Whittemore in 1895. It was designed by the very famous architects McKim, Mead and White, who were known world-wide. This beautiful pink granite monument is in need of repair and the restoration of the fountain has been my dream for the past eight years. Many different people have come forth with their knowledge to help make the fountain work, but with no lasting results, until Mr. Tom LaPorta offered to give it a try. Tom, his wife, Aldona, and I have worked on this project for three years and have had tremendous success. His dedication and ability to redo and repair at his own expense has had lasting results, and the lion has roared with water since then. We have redone the plumbing to a new system, as well as repairing MANY leaks, etc. We have one remaining leak that is in the top of the fountain and the top is too tight to remove, so the top MUST come off. We have a monument restoration person who has given us a quote of about $10,000 to repair and restore the entire fountain back to the days of Mr. Whittemore, who had the dream for his grandchildren as I have for mine.
I have asked the Naugatuck Historical Society to be responsible for the hopeful income from donors, so that with their tax-deductible status, we may raise the necessary funds. Any donations above the needed restoration would be donated to repair and restore the World War Monument at the horseshoe at Salem School.
Please help in any way possible to keep these wonderful “gifts from the past”, a “gift to the future”. Checks may be made to the Historical Society marked for the Restoration of the Fountain. Please help make my dream come true!
Most Sincerely,
Marty-Lee Fenton, Tom and Aldona LaPorta
Source
Naugatuck Historical Society Newsletter
Both March - April 2010 & May - June 2010
Preserving Naugatuck’s History
A Community Effort
Naugatuck is fortunate to have had the benefit of John Howard Whittemore’s vision for a community. That vision centered on the Green and spiraled outward to what he felt were key aspects of a community’s academic, spiritual, and financial success. He felt that a strong beautiful town center was vital to the community. The town Green was designed to be that focal point of Naugatuck.
Today Naugatuck’s sense of community inspired by John Howard Whittemore continues to thrive. Tom La Porta began a serious effort to restore the beauty and return to the historic fountain designed by premiere architects McKim, Meade, and White. He was quickly joined by his wife Aldona and Marty-Lee Fenton who have worked tirelessly to repair, beautify, and plan for the longevity of the fountain.
Over the last five years numerous repairs and beautification efforts have been made. Did you see the Lion roar to life again? It is not yet back to the magnificent glory it once held on the Green, and we will need a community to finish the effort.
Not surprisingly, our youth, the future of our community, have very quickly stepped up to help finish the fountain restoration project. Classes around town as well as individual children and families have done a variety of fundraising projects including bake sales and penny collections to help.
The Naugatuck Historical Society has also joined in on the collaboration by setting up a separate fund to help collect donations that are made to the fountain fund. It will take roughly $10,000 and a community to completely restore the fountain. About three quarters of the funds have been collected to repair the fountain hardware on the fountain. The group is also searching for someone with some electrical skills to help restore the antiquated electrical system in the back to ensure a long life of beauty in the center of our Green.
If you would like to make a donation to the Restoration of the Fountain fund you can send a donation to the Naugatuck Historical Society and in the memo be sure to include the purpose of the donation.
The strength of the community is reflected in its beauty, strong communities make successful students, prosperous businesses, and happy residents.
I believe that John Howard Whittemore would be proud to see the community effort that is involved in restoring the historic fountain he donated to Naugatuck.
Story by Marty-Lee Fenton and Wendy Murphy
Source
Naugatuck Historical Society Newsletter
Volume 16, Issue 1
February - March 2011
On the right is Marty-Lee
1/8/1969
circa. 80s