Monument Park Historic District

The Monument Park Historic district is a nationally recognized historic district, accepted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The district includes the park as well as many buildings surrounding it, such as the Armory, former YMCA, demolished Trinitarian Church, and Christ Church. The district also includes three levels of government, being the Federal Post office, County Court house, and city Library. The buildings included in the district are ones that are important to the history of Fitchburg, such as buildings designed by architects Henry M. Francis and Richard Upjohn, as well as buildings important to the Civil War. The district was largely constructed as a display of civic pride and has become a source of community identity.

Monument Park, the district’s namesake, is situated at the center of the district and was constructed in 1874. The park is 2/3 of an acre consisting of maple trees, shrubbery, an iron fence, and most notably the monument at its center. Sculpted by Martin Milmore, the granite statue depicts Victory holding a garland with a Civil War rifleman on the left, and a sailor on the right. It pays homage to the 142 Fitchburg citizens who died during the Civil War. The two cannons are captured Confederate cannons and were used in the Battle of Gettysburg and the Siege of Richmond. Originally there were four cannons, but two have been sold off and not returned.

The Armory, located at 14 Wallace Ave, was designed by Robert P. Wait and Olin W. Cutter and was built in 1891. The armory was built for the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia and the letters M.V.M still remain on the building. The militia’s name changed to the National Guard during World War II. An addition to the armory was constructed by Henry M. Francis in 1914, and the Armory was closed in 1974 and was renovated in 1980 to become the Senior Center.

The former YMCA building was located at 533 Main Street and was another Henry M. Francis design built in 1894. Originally a 5-story building, it has had the top two floors removed and sandstone and brick painted over with remodeling done to the first floor. It has housed a branch office of the Worcester County National Bank, but currently it remains vacant.

Christ Church is located at 569 Main Street. It is a High Victorian Gothic Church that was built in 1868 and was designed by Richard Upjohn. The church has had numerous additions and enlargements, one of which was designed by Hobart Upjohn, Richard’s grandson. Another church within the district was the demolished Trinitarian Church, an important historical site with its own stop on this tour.

Massachusetts SP Monument Park Historic District, Department of the Interior. National Park Service.. Accessed April 16th 2022. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63797254.

Dobbins, Elizabeth. "Fitchburg to Mark Armory's 125 Years." Sentinel & Enterprise, Dec 15 2016, ProQuest. Web. 28 Apr. 2022 .

Owen, Paula J.. Blast from the past, Telegram.com. September 26th 2017. Accessed April 28th 2022. https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2017/09/26/blast-from-past-fitchburg-to-restore-civil-war-cannons/18713192007/.