Historic Moment: Shotwell Memorial Park

By JORGE BATllE skaneateles village

historian

John Briggs, a Revolutionary War soldier, moved from Owasco where he had settled in 1794, to Skaneateles in the early 1800s. In 1806 he built a tavern on the corner of West Lake Street and West Genesee Street running the business for several years. Thereafter he leased it out. The building was sold to James Hackett to converted it into a residence. Local lore says he had torn down the chimney to remove an annoying cricket.

As far back as 1887, Skaneateles residents expressed interest in having part of the lakefront for public use. In 1892 the village purchased the land now called Clift Park. At the time the village was considering expansion of Clift Park, this adjoining parcel was owned by Nathan Jewett. According to a January 1934 issue of the Skaneateles Press “this land was to be purchased by the Village of Skaneateles, the dwelling removed, and the grounds beautified as a park.’”

Nathan Jewett accepted the March 1934 offer from the village and that the dwelling will be removed. Funds for this purchase, $15,000, was bequeathed by Florence Shotwell, wife of William J. Shotwell, a Skaneateles businessman, member of the local school board of education, president (mayor) of the village from 1915 to 1920, member of the fire department, and on the draft board for World War I. He died at his home September 1922 at the age of 58.

Mrs. Shotwell also requested in her will that a small tablet “be placed in some suitable place in the park,” stating that this park was given to the Village of Skaneateles in memory of her husband, William J. Shotwell. Later niece Louisa R. Shotwell bequeathed to the village a maintenance fund.

July of 1934, Nordede Rotunno, a Syracuse University landscape artist was hired to design the memorial parks, including Austin Park. His contract stated “to draw up planting plans and details for such structures, walls, pools, etc., as indicated in the general plans of the proposed development of the parks of the Village of Skaneateles for the sum of ($300) three hundred dollars.”

The per diem fee for the supervision of the construction by Rotunno was $20 a day. Work progressed, as part of President Roosevelt’s Work Relief Project and with assistance from who are on town relief in preparing submitteD Photo shotwell Park has long been utilized as a place to honor those who served from skaneateles. the area. The cost of the labor for the work is paid by the state and the town. The state paying 75% while the town pays the remainder 25%. The cost of the materials is paid for by the village. The men working on this project, and others, have been certified by the town welfare officer. Along with repairing the sea wall, the foundation of the

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