Jenks Park & Cogswell Tower
Encyclopedia
The Jenks Park & Cogswell Tower are part of a historic site on 580 Broad Street in Central Falls, Rhode Island
.
The site was built in 1890 by Alber Humes and added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
Jenks Park and Cogswell Tower: 1890, 1904. This small, 4 acres (1.6 ha) park was the gift of Alvin Jenks to the city in which his progenitors had pioneered the manufacture of textile machinery. The designer of the park is unknown.
Despite the loss of many of the park's elements (its fish ponds for example), it retains the Fales and Jenks' iron umbrellas, the tall clock tower
and its rambling, picturesque walkways. The tower's lower level is surrounded by a pergola of delicate iron work.
Cogswell Tower, built at the bequest of Caroline Cogswell as part of her last will and testament, was designed by Albert Humes. It has been the symbol of the City of Central Falls since its construction in 1904. The tower is about eighteen feet square at its base and nearly seventy feet tall, with a clock face on each of its four sides. Observation balconies with iron rails under each of the clocks provide an unparalleled view of the city.
The tower is supported by a brick barrel vault resting atop the historic Dexter's Ledge, from which, during King Philip's War
in 1676, Native American scouts saw the approach of Captain Michael Pierce, and a company of Plymouth soldiers from the heights. Peirce's forces were ambushed and nearly annihilated by the Native Americans in "Pierce's Fight" at a site along the Blackstone River
on March 26, 1676, where Pierce Park now stands.
Central Falls, Rhode Island
Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 19,376 at the 2010 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the thirty-second most densely populated incorporated place in the United...
.
The site was built in 1890 by Alber Humes and added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
Jenks Park and Cogswell Tower: 1890, 1904. This small, 4 acres (1.6 ha) park was the gift of Alvin Jenks to the city in which his progenitors had pioneered the manufacture of textile machinery. The designer of the park is unknown.
Despite the loss of many of the park's elements (its fish ponds for example), it retains the Fales and Jenks' iron umbrellas, the tall clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
and its rambling, picturesque walkways. The tower's lower level is surrounded by a pergola of delicate iron work.
Cogswell Tower, built at the bequest of Caroline Cogswell as part of her last will and testament, was designed by Albert Humes. It has been the symbol of the City of Central Falls since its construction in 1904. The tower is about eighteen feet square at its base and nearly seventy feet tall, with a clock face on each of its four sides. Observation balconies with iron rails under each of the clocks provide an unparalleled view of the city.
The tower is supported by a brick barrel vault resting atop the historic Dexter's Ledge, from which, during King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
in 1676, Native American scouts saw the approach of Captain Michael Pierce, and a company of Plymouth soldiers from the heights. Peirce's forces were ambushed and nearly annihilated by the Native Americans in "Pierce's Fight" at a site along the Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The Blackstone River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 48 mi and drains a watershed of approximately 540 sq. mi...
on March 26, 1676, where Pierce Park now stands.