Page 19 - The History of Watertown Savings Bank_Neat

Thompson Park was developed under the
direction of John C. Olmstead, a noted Boston
landscape architect, whose family’s firm had
also designed Central Park in New York City.
The nearly $1 million project was completed
in 1905 and given to the city by an anonymous
donor, later identified as John C. Thompson, a
president of New York Air Brake Co.
A bronze monument honoring Roswell P.
Flower was built on lower Washington Street
in 1902 with contributions from admirers
throughout the state. The following year,
construction was started on the Roswell P.
Flower Library, a large and ambitious building
project funded by his daughter, Mrs. Emma
Flower Taylor.

The Thousand Islands region was gaining
popularity as a summer resort for many
wealthy visitors as the expanding railroad lines
were taking passengers up to the St. Lawrence
River.
Nationwide, the country was starting to
emerge as a major economic world power.
After America entered World War I in 1917,
many industries experienced dramatic growth
to keep up with the demands for equipment
and other items needed for the rapidly
expanding military operation.
Locally, the New York Air Brake Co.
had been awarded several sizeable military
contracts. By this time, it had relocated from
a group of buildings on Beebee Island off
Mill Street to an expanded manufacturing
facility on Outer Pearl Street. The increased
orders during the war resulted in more work
opportunities for women as well as men.

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