Brandon Park, Williamsport Pa
John & Jane (Cummings) Brandon, owned 43 acres at Market & Rural Avenue in Williamsport Pa. When Mrs Brandon died in 1840, her property passed to her brothers, and eventually to the youngest brother, A. Boyd Cummings. Cummings donated the land to the city of Williamsport for a park, with the stipulation that it be named for his sister.
This tablet is erected by
the Citizens of Williamsport
to the memory of
Jane Cummings Brandon
1804 • 1840
in whose beloved memory
Brandon Park
was given to the
City of Williamsport
by her brother
A. Boyd Cummings
1807 • 1891
Brandon Park was originally laid out by engineer and lumberman Robert Fairies, but his plans were later taken up my a Mr Nielson, who had railroad engineers change some features before presenting to the Common and Select Councils, which both adopted them. There were such features as tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and swings in the park, coming before a regularly supervised playground was considered." - Thad Meckley
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Brandon Park, 1900
"The park is comprised of 43 acres in the middle of the city. Through the years it has hosted community sings, community concerts, egg rolls in the spring and Christmas programs in the cold of December. There are tennis courts and baseball fields and a recent addition of a nature play area for children." - Sun Gazette
Map From 1898
"No better ground could have been chosen for a public park in this city. It is very valuable, and if laid out for building lots would realize eighty thousand dollars."
- Northumberland Democrat, Mar 1 1889
This ground was once considered as a possible site for the Williamsport Hospital.
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The View From Brandon Park, 1900
During the 1889 Flood, “Scores of people in the lower part of the city were taken out of their houses in boats and carried to places of safety A great camp for the sufferers was established in Brandon Park and as soon as possible the state furnished tents to shelter them,” - Meginness
The Entrance To Brandon Park, 1901
The deed states that the park is to remain a park forever. If at some point the city no longer wishes for it to be a park, the land reverts to Cummings descendants.
William Wood was the parks first superintendent, and he is credited with much of the transformation from empty field, to town park. Wood had formerly worked as a gardener for the Park Hotel.
The Gazette, 1890
One of the stipulations in the deed states:
"athletic games for exhibition should ever be allowed upon said park"
"This deed conveys 43 acres and 39 perches of land in trust
for the purpose of a park for public use and to be known as Brandon park, it
being part of the same lands which in the proceedings and the orphans court of
lycoming for the partition of the real estate of Michael Ross, deceased, and
under as an injunction thereof taken December 4th, 1820, by the High Sheriff of
Lycoming County comma was allotted in a judge to james H hulling comma in the
right of his wife margaret comma one of the daughters of the said michael ross
comma deceased comma and being the same parcel of land, which the said James H
hulling and Margaret his wife, consigned to SB Van Horn Esquire, by the deed
dated December 5th 1823, and recorded in the deed book R page 488, and the same
land, which John Ross, Peter Vanderbilt junior, and James H pulling,
administrators of the estate of Michael Ross, deceased and in court also
conveyed to the said SB Van Horn Esquire by deed dated May 15th 1824, and
recorded indeed book R page 482, and the same land which said ESPY Van Horn and
his wife conveyed to John Cummings junior by deed dated November 25th 1825 and
recorded indeed book 8 page 176, and the same land of monks which said Jane
John Cummings junior now deceased device to his sister Jane C Brandon by his
last will and testament duly probated and recorded in the county of clerks
state of Alabama a record and copy of which has been duly entered February 1889
in the office of register of wills of like county: and the said Jane C Brandon
and her husband John Brandon having died intestate and without issue, the title
to the aforesaid land under the laws of the Commonwealth received her next of
kin and brothers a Boyd coming, Alexander coming, and Thomas Cummings. And the
said Alexander Cummings conveyed his interest in the aforementioned lands and
others by deed dated August 7th 1869 and recorded in deed book 5th D page 141; and
the said Thomas Cummings made a light conveyance by deed dated May 15th 1884,
and recorded indeed book 5th D page 143 both to a Boyd Cummings. It may be
stated that Mister Cummings gives the name to the park and memory of his
deceased sister Jane C Brandon"
I've seen many mention that the park should have been named "Cummings", [Or "Jane's Park"] rather than Brandon Park, as Brandon was Jane's married name Let me assure you that many women, this author included, are proud to identify as "Mrs" and find the name of the man they chose to live with for generations to be more tied to their identity than to the the name of the man their mother chose. Personally, I find it unlikely that Cummings would go to the trouble of insisting it be named for his sister, then not choose a name he thought would best honor her. But that's just my opinion.
In April of 1893, Council was deciding where to erect the Soldier and Sailors Monument.
Options included placing it in Ross Park, or at Brandon Park.
"Mr Hill said that the monument would stand forty feet and the building would stand much higher. He thought there was ample room to locate the monument in front of the building without marring the appearance of either.
He referred to the division of sentiment as between locating the monument in Ross or Brandon Park, but he though the men who raised the money for the monument ought to have the right of choosing the place, as hey had expressed a preference for Ross Park."
In April of 1894, a letter to the editor blasted the decision to place the monument in front of a public building, rather than in Brandon Park.
A resolution for lighting the two gas lamps at the entrance to Brandon park was agreed to.
A resolution for authorizing the Mayor to appint a special policeman for duty in Brandon Park for three months, was agreed to at the same meeting.
June 18 1900
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THE ROUND HOUSE
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A very early photo of the round house at Brandon Park
The building appears to originally have been a viewing tower & gazebo.
Many local look outs in the area once had raised viewing areas like this.
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1900
Gingerbread trim as later added, then removed, from the structure.
About 1906
The top of the building was once open.
The little girl pushing the buggy is Dorothy Reese. Her sister Lola is in the white dress in the middle.
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Today the building is closed up, the top enclosed years ago, and it appears now to be used as maintenance storage.
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THE REIGHARD FOUNTAIN
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The Reighgard Fountain was unveiled in 1901
Read more about it here:
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THE ROSE ARBOR
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Roses from Germany were officially presented to the park on May 6, 1907.
The Rose Arbor was a popular spot for weddings.
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Those old trees are long gone, the arbor stood empty for years before new plants were placed around the arbor around 2000.
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PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES
in the park
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A Trolley at Brandon Park
"The heat during Monday afternoon was most oppressive. The trolley cars were filled to overflowing with people looking for a breath of cool air.
Brandon Park was filled with suffering humanity in search of relief."
The temperature reached 101 that day, and The thermometer at City hall still registered 92 at 10pm.
Nov 21 1901
In February 1911, Burns Airplane was in the park
Read more here:
(Check - according to previous article, bandshell was not started until 1912 - so what is in the background in these 1911 photos?)
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THE BRANDON PARK SCANDAL
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The 1911 Brandon Park Scandal
Peter Wood, son of William succeeded his father as Superintendent of the Park.
Peter however, sold many items, including a horse, that belonged to the park, and pocketed the money. He also inflated reports of employee hours, and pocketed the difference in pay.
The Mayor and the Park Commission met, charging Peter with Forgey, embezzlement, and fraud.
Peters mother, Dorothy, pleaded with the commission to not prosecute her son, and offered $200, her entire life savings to avoid his prosecution. The committee took pity on the old widow, and did not send Peter to jail. Nor did they take the poor widows savings.
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THE BANDSHELL
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In July of 1912, Rev. W.C. Rittehouse proposed, in an open air service at Brandon Park, that a building be erected "from which suitable religious services and secular services as well may be held".
Subscription cards were distributed to the 2,000 people who were gathered as Rittenhouse explained “that the idea was to erect a band shell with a platform on which a big band may be seated and which will have acoustic properties that will carry a voice a long way.”
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Repasz Band in band shell at Brandon Park, circa 1913
Construction was completed in November of 1913, and the bandshell was officially dedicated in a cerermony on June 16 1914. “In the presence of an immense crowd of over 8,000 people the Brandon Park Bandshell, one of the most substantial and beautiful in the state, achieved finally by the perseverance of the committee…which raised the first $2,500, and the generosity of the citizens of Williamsport was formally dedicated and handed over to the city if Williamsport last night,” Sun Gazette, June 1914
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Concert at the band shell, May 1928
The ceremony concluded that evening with a concert, under the direction of Professor Gustav Kliemann
The Band Shell Draped In Flags & Buntings For An Unknown Event
(Memorial Day Perhaps?)
"Williamsport will have her second safe and sane Fourth Of July celebrations today. Brandon Park will be the attraction fir the young people, who will enjoy this feature new to recent years." The programs included: Athletic Sports from 9-11:30am including races, jumpking, pole vaulting, etc. Ribbons and medals to be awarded.
From 2-5:30 pm, baseball, basketball, and "all kinds of games" on the playground.
The Repasz band gave concerts in the morning and afternon.
Fireworks were set off on the Grampian Hillside. - July 4th, 1911
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Concert 1931
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THE POOL
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Pool at Brandon Park, Williamsport
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PLAYGROUND
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Swings
The Tennis Courts
==========ICE SKATING
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The Tennis courts turned into an ice skating rink 1947
(The area was regular flooded for ice skating into the 1960s)
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MORE PHOTOS
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Brandon Park, 1933
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READ MORE
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Andrew Boyd Cummings
Obituary March 2nd, 1891
The death of A. Boyd Cummings, Esq., which occurred in Philadelphia yesterday, closes the career of a true philanthropist, and leaves a name that will survive in this city as long as time itself. For many years, Mr. Cummings was a leading spirit in Williamsport, and was closely identified with the progress and improvement of the city, adding much its substantial growth and contributing in more than one way to its general prosperity. Of late years, he had been a resident of Philadelphia, where, possessed of an ample competence, he enjoyed his declining years surrounded by all that tends to make life comfortable.
As an expression of his regard for his native city, Mr. Cummings a few years ago tendered as a free gift forty-four acres of valuable land to be forever set aside as a public park. That conveyance was accepted by the city and a public vote of thanks expressed the appreciation of the people old and young, who are now patiently looking forward to the day when Brandon Park will be what its donor intended it should be, a breathing place for all the people, beautified by trees and shrubbery and transformed into one of the most attractive spots in the city. The name “Brandon” was fixed upon by Mr. Cummings to perpetuate the memory of his only sister, Jane, the wife of John Brandon, also a prominent figure in the early history of Williamsport.
The circumstances attending the gift of that valuable plot are still fresh in the public mind, and the people will recall an interesting incident in connection therewith. It will be remembered that the late Hon. Robert P. Allen, a life-long friend of Mr. Cummings, visited him at his Philadelphia home to negotiate for the purchase of a site for the Williamsport Hospital, having in view a section of that same piece of land. It was Mr. Allen’s delight to tell how his aged friend informed him that he would not sell the land, and then unfolded to him the plan that he had previously conceived of donating it to Williamsport for a park. When Mr. Allen returned he brought with him a deed, which was in due time accepted by the City Councils. Thus Williamsport, through the generosity of one of her oldest native citizens, was given the opportunity of becoming the possessor of one of the finest parks in the interior of the state. The late Mr. Allen was designated by the donor a member of the Park Commission, and he at once became one of the most active in his efforts to promote its development.
Mr. Cummings was born in Williamsport about eighty eight years ago, and he often related how, more than three quarters of a century ago, he carried the mail between this city and nearby points. In the performance of this duty, he crossed the mountain, frequently traveling over the famous Culberston path. (Andrew Culberton was his maternal grandfather and "Boyd" was the maiden name of his maternal grandmother).
As time elapsed, Mr. Cummings entered journalism, and on September 26th, 1829, founded the Lycoming Chronicle, the publication of which he continued until January 9th, 1833, when he was succeeded by his brother, the late Alexander Cummings, the latter a well-known newspaper man, and at one time publisher of the Lycoming Gazette.
There are many historical facts in connection with the Cummings family, mention of which cannot, however, be included in this brief article. It may be stated, however, that Alexander Cummings was one of the founders of the New York World, now one of the leading journals of the country. He also founded the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin and was connected with various other newspaper enterprises.
The death of Mr. Cummings will be sincerely regretted by the people of Williamsport, and it is safe to predict that not many years will elapse until a shaft is reared in Brandon Park to perpetuate his memory.
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