Park Avenue
From Worcester Activist wiki
Also ELM PARK
Had Park avenue gone through as originally intended, it would have been a graceful boulevard around all Worcester.
Park avenue began in 1868, when a street from May to the junction of Beaver and Lovell streets was laid out as the first portion of the projected boulevard around the city.
The next stretch would have extended it over Elm Park, but in December, 1873, Mayor Clark Jillson was looking over the budget with a worried look. For the first time in the history of Worcester, the mayor was given the function of veto. He used it to block the extension of Park avenue.
The City Council overrode his veto by more than a two-thirds vote.
Park avenue was extended the following year to Grove street under the administration of Mayor Edward L. Davis. This work was completed in 1877. The city fathers dropped plans for further extension.
Two of the strongest rooters for the boulevard were Alderman George R. Spurr, who held office from 1872 to 1875, and Ransom C. Taylor, wealthy real estate owner.
Spurr was one of Worcester’s best known business men and had been druggist for 30 years. He died Jan. 25, 1881.
“He was an upright and honorable business man,” wrote the Worcester Spy the next day, “a good citizen and much devoted to his family.”
Before Park avenue became Park avenue it was, at different times, Pratt street, Newton street and Quigly street. The names were those of residents in the vicinity. Unofficially people liked to call it the Boulevard. Park avenue, of course, takes its name from nearby Elm Park.
Elm Park, was the first purchase of land for a public park in the United States; was a swamp on the outskirts of Worcester when bought for $11,257 in 1854.
At first, they called the park the New Common.
The core of this article comes from A History of Your City Streets.
