PARK AND CEMETERY. 
,35 
and interesting because of its many hills, ponds 
and varied topography, crowned as it is with exten- 
sive tracts and irregular patches of woodland, in- 
terspersed with green pastures and dotted here and 
there with picturesque villages and hamlets.” 
A brief history of the park will be interesting. 
To many the land comprising the major part of 
the area would have been considered valueless, but 
to Mr. Hubbard there appeared great possibilities 
for a public recreation ground, and with character- 
istic business energy he set to work to put his ideas 
into execution. Part of the area lay within the 
municipal bounds, and he applied for and obtained 
permission of the city fathers to improve it. He 
then by heavy purchases and donations from friends 
secured more adjacent land and proceeded with the 
work of development. Work was comrr.enced in 
Waterbury turnpike. Passing through wonderfully 
beautiful woodland scenery, we come to the junc- 
tion of the main drive, where lies between two 
abrupt hills Lake Merimere, with its wooded i.^land 
and beautiful drives. Near this lake the cliff dri\'e 
starts gently up the mountain until Fair View is 
reached, where all about one is a grand panorama 
of valley scenery, impossible in limited space to de- 
scribe. Driving west from Fair View one passes 
the Giant’s Play Ground, where detached rocks from 
the surrounding precipices lie in heaped confusion, 
and w'hich has been a favorite resort for the geolo- 
gist. Then there is Boulder Bluff which leads to 
wilder scenery, and close by a path takes the wan- 
derer to West Peak, the highest point of the park 
and one of the highest in this section of the state. 
Here grand views may be obtained, unexcelled in 
Cliff Drive. Beehive Drinking Fountain. Fountain near Entrance. 
HUHBARD PARK, 
1897 and in the intervening two years it has so far 
progressed as to be practically completed and has 
been opened to the public. 
The illustration on this page shows some of the 
improvements. A good road leads up to the park 
entrance, near w'hich inside the limits is the foun- 
tain shown, and hereabouts are some very attract- 
ive features, including a pavilion designed on Gre- 
cian lines, between the columns of which sugges- 
tions of the scenery beyond may be caught. It is 
in this locality that the main lawn and the floral 
beds are situated, and from here radiate the drive- 
ways and paths which meander throughout the park 
to bring the visitor to the imnurnerable natural 
beauties that are offered to him. 
Among the features most interesting are, per- 
haps, Mirror Lake, a beautiful body of water, so 
protected by surrounding hills that scarcely a rip- 
ple disturbs its surface; the old “Notch” road, one 
of the oldest thoroughfares of the district, where 
once stood the toll-gate house on the Meriden and 
MERIDEN, CONN. 
their quality of beauty and extending over a large 
territory. 
Mr. Hubbard did not forget the children. A 
playground has been provided for them and a wa- 
ding pool; then ‘there are boats and gymnasium ap- 
purtenances; trout pools and fountains; picnic 
groves and all the fascinating features of a recrea- 
tion park, 'are provided for the pleasure, comfort 
and enjoyment of Meriden’s citizens, young and 
old. 
It is a happy thought to recognize the fact that 
Mr. Hubbard has perfected this park project in his 
life time, and that notwithstanding his more than 
three score and ten years of life, he is still taking 
active superintendence of the finishing touches of 
this fine public property. This personal interest 
largely enhances the value of the gift, and attaches 
to it the donor’s personality in such a manner that 
while it remains forever Hubbard Park, the peo- 
ple’s pleasure ground, it will be a magnificent me- 
morial of one man’s love for his fellow man. 
