Perry Square
Encyclopedia
Andrew Ellicott
Andrew Ellicott was a U.S. surveyor who helped map many of the territories west of the Appalachians, surveyed the boundaries of the District of Columbia, continued and completed Pierre Charles L'Enfant's work on the plan for Washington, D.C., and served as a teacher in survey methods for...
in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, USA. The park diverts the flow of 6th Street for two wooded city blocks bisected by State Street, which separates the city's eastern and western halves. The park is bounded by French Street on the east and Peach Street
Peach Street
Peach Street, part of U.S. Route 19, is a main artery serving downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. Once surrounded by nothing but rolling hills and farmland, "Upper Peach Street" , is the most significant center of urban sprawl in Erie and is now home to numerous strip plazas, a major shopping mall and...
on the west, while Park Row North and Park Row South carry 6th Street traffic around the northern and southern sides of the square. There is a gazebo in the center of the western block, and a fountain in the center of the eastern block.
Adjacent to the park are Erie City Hall, the US Federal Court House, the Erie County Courthouse, Gannon University
Gannon University
Gannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,238.Gannon's...
, the old Erie County Public Library, the Richford Arms (Ford Hotel), Erie Insurance Group
Erie Insurance Group
Erie Insurance Group, is a multi-line insurance company, offering auto, home, commercial and life insurance through a network of independent insurance agents....
, the Erie Club, and the North Park Row business block.
The park has hosted the Erie Farmers' Market
Farmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
since it moved from Griswold Park in the summer of 2008 due to major construction. Regional farmers pay a one-time fee to sell their produce weekly during the summer months. Music is played from the gazebo. (Ward 3)
A master plan for the redesign of the park was unveiled to the City Council on 5 February 2008. The plan, which has yet to be reviewed by the council or local businesses, proposes the removal of the gazebo and the installation of a stage on the west side of the park, while the fountain on the east side would be renovated. Park Row North and South would be narrowed to allow parking. State Street would gain a median. A tree clearing plan and new lighting was completed in summer 2008. Additionally, the city recently received $380,000 in federal funding to be used in the park's renovations.
Statues
- A statue of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, commander of the US Naval Fleet in the Battle of Lake Erie and hero of the War of 1812War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, stands at the east (French Street) end of the park, facing approaching traffic on East 6th Street. It was erected on 23 August 1985 on the bicentennial of Perry's birth. It's a reasonably good copy of the original 1885 Perry statue found in Newport, RI. - A statue of Eben Brewer (1849-14 July 1898), first mail agent of the United States in CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, was erected by United States postal employeesUnited States Postal ServiceThe United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
to memorialize his service. The statue was dedicated at the postmasters convention in 1907. Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museum - A statue of a Union soldier and a sailor, both standing, serves as a memorial to those from Erie CountyErie County, PennsylvaniaErie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 280,566. Its county seat is the City of Erie.- Geography :...
who gave their lives to save the UnionAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It stands at the west (Peach Street) end of the park, facing approaching traffic on West 6th Street. - A memorial to Anthony WayneAnthony WayneAnthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
, American Revolutionary War hero, consisting of a pair of cannon facing opposite directions mounted on a stone, was erected by the Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American RevolutionThe Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
(DAR) in 1902. - A base without a statue is etched with the words: Presented to the City of Erie by Geo. D. Selden on 30 May 1893. This base is very likely linked to the Erie City Iron Works, of which George Selden was president and George D. Selden was treasurer.
Memorials and commemorations
- Memorials and plaques can be found near the Civil War memorial, dedicated to those who served in the World WarWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, Operation Desert StormGulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, as well as plaques for those who died in the World War and all those who remain missing in actionMissing in actionMissing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
(MIA) or prisoners of war (POW) from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. - Memorials list fallen police officers and firefighters.
- A stone erected by organized labor in 1989 recognizes the past, present, and future contributions of working men and women of Erie County to their communities.