Seaside Park

Introduction

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Seaside Park is a historical location in Bridgeport, Ct. It was the original training ground of the 17th Regiment of the Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. The 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was designed by famous architects Calvert Vaux, and Fredrick Law Olmstead (designers of Central Park in New York City). Park of these 325-acres were donated by the famous P.T. Barnum and other contributors.

Images

By unknown. image: "Seaside 1886" image: from the Fairfield cultural society.

Statue dedicated to Elias Howe Jr. , sculpted by Salathiel Ellis (1873) Part of the 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in the Union Army Company D during the American Civil War. Located on Howe Drive. Seaside Park Bridgeport, Ct.

Statue of Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum Famous Showman, politician and conservationalist. Located at Seaside Park Bridgeport, Ct. Remembering the famous showman Phineas Taylor Barnum is a vital part of Bridgeport's History.

Perry Memorial Arch 1918 Located at the main entrance of Seaside Park Waldemere Avenue and Park Avenue Bridgeport, Ct. Dedicated to William Hunter Perry, President of Bridgeport Park Commission.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument , Dedicated to the soldiers and sailors who lost their lives for our country.Located on Monument Dr. Seaside Park Bridgeport, Ct.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Bridgeport is a notable city in history we have famous entertainers, politicians, military figures, and businessman. Seaside park originally was the hosting location for the 17th Regiment of the Connecticut Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, it was designed by a the famous architect Frederick Olmstead, and Calvert Vaux. It was an idea that was sparked after the war and contributors like P.T. Barnum had a hand in its development which is no surprise. Elias Howe Jr. helped established the 17th infantry and contributed a majority of his wealth to the cause.

In 1867, after the Civil War, Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux were commissioned to design the park. Frederick was an early and important activist in the conservation movement. He served as a Private in Company D, of the Regimental Postmaster Corps. The 17th Connecticut Infantry Company D was organized on August 28, 1862, under the command of Col. William H. Noble. There is a statue of Elias Howe Jr. just past the front entrance of the park located on Howe Drive. The statue that was left at this site commemorated the fallen soldiers and sailors that helped to mold this country. Its all pieces to a puzzle, and every piece helped to shape our history.

During the conservation movement, also known as the "nature conservation", parks and recreation were seen as important to our environment. P.T. Barnum a famous showman, politician, and devoted resident of the Park City was one of the many who saw the need for more parks due to the growing population. He ,among other contributors, gave their land to expand the site. Thomas Ball an American sculptor and musician sculpted Daniel Webster which is located in Central Park also sculpted P.T. Barnum's monument in 1893.

Sources

Witkowski, Mary K. Bruce, Williams. Bridgeport on the Sound. Charleston, SC.. Arcadia.

Lehman, Eric D. "The Planning of Seaside Park", Bridgeport Library. retrieved November 27,2017

Rev. Samuel Orcutt, A History of the Old Town of Stratford and City of Bridgeport Connecticut, Volume 2. Fairfield County Historical Society (1886), p. 795, Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1886
Silliman, Justus M. A New Canaan Private in the Civil War: Letters of Justus M. Silliman, 17th Connecticut Volunteers (New Canaan, CT: New Canaan Historical Society), 1984. ISBN 0-9399-5801-5