“The lavish hand of Nature has done so much for Port Arthur, that the art of man has only a trifle to do.”
-Weekly Sentinel, 7 July 1891 Re: Waverley Park
Major Features
Central School, erected in 1874- Port Arthur High School, 1888, torn down in 1938
- Port Arthur Collegiate Institute, 1908
- Lookout, 1911
- Magnus Theatre, 1921
- Cenotaph, June 4, 1925
- Hogarth Memorial Fountain, June 5, 1965
- Waverley Towers, ca. 1975
- Permanent bandshell/bandstand, “Rotary Thundershell” 1979/1984
- Memorial Garden, 1980
Location, Size and Usage
Waverley Park became a designated parkland in 1871 and was formally opened in 1906. It is located in Port Arthur by Red River Road and Algoma Street and is 5.2 acres in size. It is mainly used for recreation and sports activities, such as:
- cricket,
- baseball,
- footraces,
- lacrosse,
- football,
- lawn bowling
Land Acquired
Mr. Hugh Wilson, a surveyor from the Crown Lands Department: “felt that a park in the central part of the community was necessary to allow for recreational activities” (Fraser and Browne 3-5). The land was designated parkland in 1871.
Historical Highlights:
- In 1871, “[Simon Dawson’s] crew had cut a road west along the present route of Waverley Street but realized that horses pulling heavy loads would not be able to negotiate the hill. A second road was built along the alignment of the present Red River Road. The dirt lot between Arthur and Waverley Streets was designated as land to be used for park purposes by the Ontario Government.” [Waverley Park Heritage Conservation District Study, 1986.]
- After designation, the parkland remained undeveloped for over a decade.
- Both the Thunder Bay Cricket Club (1880) and the Waverley Lawn Bowling Club (1918) spurred Council action with donations and recommended improvements for park development.
- In 1884, Port Arthur considered selling the parkland to a hotel company. Although the land had already been designated as a park, its possible sale was put to a vote. The notion of privatization was turned down by the citizens.
- In 1887, Arthur Harvey, a Torontonian, donated 100 trees for initial developments of Waverley Park. Until this point, little had been done to beautify the park.
- In the early 1900s, Port Arthur considered Waverley Park as a possible location for a new City Hall. The populace generally opposed this suggestion. In 1912, Frank Darling, a prominent landscape architect, voiced his opinion: “Get the school property [Central School] by all means, but don’t build on it. Let your park be the front door of the city instead of the backyard of the City Hall.”
- In August 1924, the Parks Board received a letter from the Women’s Canadian Club of Port Arthur asked permission to take the financial responsibilities of erecting a cenotaph to the men who fell in the World War. The Port Arthur Cenotaph was erected in 1925.
- The Hogarth Fountain was donated in memory of Major-General Donald McDonald Hogarth, by his wife. Hogarth had been a long-time MPP for the Port Arthur riding. The fountain was unveiled on June 5, 1965.
- A permanent bandshell was constructed in 1979. The bandshell hosted Summer in the Parks concerts for many years.
Aerial Photographs of the Waverley Park Area |
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These are four aerial photographs of the Waverley Park area. Noteworthy features include: the construction of Waverley Towers, the installation of the Hogarth Memorial Fountain, and the construction of the Thundershell.
Image Title: TB 1959 137
Image Title: TB 1976 L5-69
Image Title: TB 1987 L6-64-N
Image Title: TB 1996 L14-62 |
Waverley Park Heritage Conservation District Study, 1986 |
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Title: Waverley Park: Heritage Conservation District Study |
Designation of the Waverley Park Heritage Conservation District Study, 2009 |
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Title: The Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay - By-Law Number 65-1988 |
Waverley Park Look-out Shelter, 1911 |
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Title: Specification for a Look-out Shelter in Waverley Park, Port Arthur |
Rotary Thundershell |
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Title: Summer in the Parks - Free Family Concerts - Rotary Thundershell Waverley Park
Title: Waverley Park - Proposed Bandshell Location
Title: Summer Solstice Festival - Waverley Park, Thunder Bay |
The Waverley Park Cenotaph |
Title: Waverley Park [The Cenotaph]
Title: Erection of the Cenotaph Complete
Title: The Cenotaph |
Map of the Waverley Park Area |
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The Hogarth Fountain |
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Title: Fountain Dedicated "Lasting" Gift to the City
Date: June 9, 1965 Creators: News Chronicle Description: This article delves into the life of Major General Don Hogarth. One of his speeches praising Northwestern Ontario as a land of opportunity is captured here. Series: 363, Thunder Bay Parks Technicians' Files Location: TBA 7795-06
Title: Hogarth Fountain in Waverly Park |
Tulip Planting in the Parks, 1985 |
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Title: Royal Canadian Legion - 5000 Tulips Planting in the Parks |
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