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| Myers Park |
| A Pictorial History of Myers Park by Friends of Myers Park |
Herman Myers Memorial Park is one of the City’s irreplaceable gems. Upon entering the Park by the
entrance to Park Terrace Elementary School on Bloomingdale Avenue, you are greeted by two impressive
and stately stone pillars.
entrance to Park Terrace Elementary School on Bloomingdale Avenue, you are greeted by two impressive
and stately stone pillars.
The upper level of the Park has an extensive lawn area, shrubs, bright flower gardens, bird houses and
feeders, benches, grills, picnic tables, a goldfish pond, a bandstand, a water fountain and restroom
facilities.
feeders, benches, grills, picnic tables, a goldfish pond, a bandstand, a water fountain and restroom
facilities.
| Summer of 2002 |
There are two gazebos on the upper level. One structure was built in 2002 by William Ahrens, a retired
Department of Public Works employee.
Department of Public Works employee.
The other gazebo type structure was built in 2004. It is a covered bench in memory of a deceased husband
and wife team LeRoy & Marjorie Bishop who were World War II veterans from Broadalbin. Marjorie's family
reunions were held at Myers Park for many years.
and wife team LeRoy & Marjorie Bishop who were World War II veterans from Broadalbin. Marjorie's family
reunions were held at Myers Park for many years.
The Herman Myers Memorial Park on Burr hill offers a glimpse back in time when the slopes and plateaus of
the city’s southern end were a virtual wilderness. The Park got its name from a traveling peddler, Herman
Myers, who climbed to the top of Burr Hill to rest while passing through the area. He loved the scenic
views of the hills. After he established a permanent store in Albany, his fondness for the wooded hillside
remained. Upon the passing of Herman Myers, his son Max Myers purchased land on Burr Hill and donated
it to the City of Gloversville for use as a city park. The Park was dedicated in his father’s memory in 1909.
Following the death of Max Myers, a bronze tablet inscribed with his father’s name was placed on the stone
wall facing the Park’s west side.
the city’s southern end were a virtual wilderness. The Park got its name from a traveling peddler, Herman
Myers, who climbed to the top of Burr Hill to rest while passing through the area. He loved the scenic
views of the hills. After he established a permanent store in Albany, his fondness for the wooded hillside
remained. Upon the passing of Herman Myers, his son Max Myers purchased land on Burr Hill and donated
it to the City of Gloversville for use as a city park. The Park was dedicated in his father’s memory in 1909.
Following the death of Max Myers, a bronze tablet inscribed with his father’s name was placed on the stone
wall facing the Park’s west side.
| Bronze Tablet 1909 |
| George Robinson 1910 |
From the time of the land’s donation, George Robinson, a noted landscape architect, seed expert and park
superintendent, began transforming the hillside into a park. The Park’s natural beauty made it a popular
place for all kinds of social events for many years. Over time it became a noted landmark.
superintendent, began transforming the hillside into a park. The Park’s natural beauty made it a popular
place for all kinds of social events for many years. Over time it became a noted landmark.
| 1926 |
| 1956 |
The art and science departments of the school erected a nature trail sign and marked each flower and tree
on the trail with wood markers identifying them for future classes and various visitors to the park.
Unfortunately time and nature have destroyed the markers.
on the trail with wood markers identifying them for future classes and various visitors to the park.
Unfortunately time and nature have destroyed the markers.
In the 1980’s Myers Park began falling on hard times with increased vandalism, deviants, and drug dealing.
Water fountains that had been there since the 1930’s were broken, the building, picnic tables and grills
damaged, benches thrown into the pond, and iron flower urns rolled down into the woods. The pillars of
the bandstand were laden with graffiti. Flower gardens and shrubs were ruined. Grass eventually replaced
the gardens. The stately pillars of the familiar rose arbor commence deteriorating and were taken down.
Water fountains that had been there since the 1930’s were broken, the building, picnic tables and grills
damaged, benches thrown into the pond, and iron flower urns rolled down into the woods. The pillars of
the bandstand were laden with graffiti. Flower gardens and shrubs were ruined. Grass eventually replaced
the gardens. The stately pillars of the familiar rose arbor commence deteriorating and were taken down.
Friends of Myers Park and AmeriCorps volunteers (youngsters from various states of the country) painted
the bandstand and planted several gardens in 2000. The enthusiasm of the volunteer groups encouraged
the City to install a new septic tank and rest rooms in the summer of 2001. The employees of the
Department of Public Works noticed the roof on the bandstand was in disrepair and replaced it by fall. In
2002, an American Flag went up once again after 30 years
the bandstand and planted several gardens in 2000. The enthusiasm of the volunteer groups encouraged
the City to install a new septic tank and rest rooms in the summer of 2001. The employees of the
Department of Public Works noticed the roof on the bandstand was in disrepair and replaced it by fall. In
2002, an American Flag went up once again after 30 years
In the year 2000 a small group of volunteers calling themselves “Friends of Myers Park” came together and
commenced planting gardens and basically assisting the Gloversville Department of Public Works with the
general care of Myers Park. They formed a Citizens Park Patrol to help curb vandalism and the general
public once again began using and enjoying the beauty of Myers Park.
commenced planting gardens and basically assisting the Gloversville Department of Public Works with the
general care of Myers Park. They formed a Citizens Park Patrol to help curb vandalism and the general
public once again began using and enjoying the beauty of Myers Park.
| The Fishers put up rose trellis in 2004 |
| Preparing New Lawn Spring 2004 |
| Second Level Garden Fall of 2004 |
| Friends Measure for a new Magnolia Tree |
| Old Fish Pond Discovered in 2006 |
| A New Garden Room 2007 |
| Summer 2007 |
Although some consider the park to be “the best kept secret in Fulton County," on any sunny day, people
can be found walking, having picnics and enjoying themselves along the paths and trails of Myers Park, or
perhaps peacefully reading their newspaper on a park bench or sheltered from the elements by one of the
several gazebos.
can be found walking, having picnics and enjoying themselves along the paths and trails of Myers Park, or
perhaps peacefully reading their newspaper on a park bench or sheltered from the elements by one of the
several gazebos.
Friends of Myers Park have done alot to fill the void created by the lack of city funds. They were successful
in obtaining a grant from Senator Hugh Farley which is responsible for the restoration work commenced in
2007 on the entrance pillars which have been badly in need of repair for a number of years. A disabled
ramp of cement with handrail was added for safer access to the restrooms.
in obtaining a grant from Senator Hugh Farley which is responsible for the restoration work commenced in
2007 on the entrance pillars which have been badly in need of repair for a number of years. A disabled
ramp of cement with handrail was added for safer access to the restrooms.
| 2007 |
Again in 2008, through the efforts of the Friends of Myers Park and Senator Farley, the City of Gloversville
was awarded a grant of $20,000 for repair of the stonework and other improvements at Myers Park. "Thank
You” Senator Farley. The grant monies came from New York Parks and Recreation.
was awarded a grant of $20,000 for repair of the stonework and other improvements at Myers Park. "Thank
You” Senator Farley. The grant monies came from New York Parks and Recreation.
| 2009 “Papa Bear” |
| 2009 “Mama Bear” |
“Mama Bear” was replaced at the fork to the second and third levels of the park. “Papa Bear” once again stands
overlooking the road to the park's Hill Street entrance. The contractor hired by Friends of Myers Park, John
Kessler, discovered initials “GR” and the date “1934” engraved in the cement slab where “Papa Bear” now
stands. Many years ago it was not unusual for masons to initial and date their work. According to the
various sizes of the cement slabs, the third cement slab was the foundation for “Baby Bear”.
Many visit Myers Park both local visitors and vacationers alike. Some come to picnic, walk or just to spend
some quiet time while others come to reminisce or to bring their children and/or grandchildren to see
where they spent their childhood. The king and queen chairs are a favorite spot for small children.
Goldfish swimming about in the former lily pond and fountain is a sight favored by all.
| Credits; Leader Republican and Leader Herald |
| Please visit Friends of Myers Park by clicking on the buttons below |
| Both the past and the present are important and both can be fun. |
| THANKS FOR VISITING THE MYERS PARK WEBSITE Better Yet Come to Gloversville….Come See Myers Park |
There is a "witch's cave" fable of years gone by that even today appears to be alive and well. Not a summer
passes that someone doesn't come to the park looking for the witch's cave. Many years ago a grounds
keeper stored his tools in a cement room built into a sand hill by the stone wall. After the room was no
longer used to store tools, older children scared the younger ones by telling them a witch lived there. Both
parents and grandparents alike bring children to the park looking for the witch’s cave. For safety reasons
the old tool room has long since been sealed. To help keep the memory of the witch’s cave alive for
visitors to the park, Friends of Myers Park has placed a Witch Xing sign high upon a pole by the site once
thought to be the witch's cave.
passes that someone doesn't come to the park looking for the witch's cave. Many years ago a grounds
keeper stored his tools in a cement room built into a sand hill by the stone wall. After the room was no
longer used to store tools, older children scared the younger ones by telling them a witch lived there. Both
parents and grandparents alike bring children to the park looking for the witch’s cave. For safety reasons
the old tool room has long since been sealed. To help keep the memory of the witch’s cave alive for
visitors to the park, Friends of Myers Park has placed a Witch Xing sign high upon a pole by the site once
thought to be the witch's cave.
In the late 1930’s and 1940’s the botany classes of Estee Junior High School traveled the many paths of the
nature trail of the park.
nature trail of the park.
In the past one of the greatest attractions to the park was the magnificent rose arbor. Although the original
rose bushes remain, the pillars unfortunately fell victim to deterioration and were removed for safety
purposes. At about the same time the City of Gloversville had fallen victim to serious financial problems
due to the decline of its major industry which was leather. Ever since that time, funds of the city have been
at a premium for refurbishing city parks
rose bushes remain, the pillars unfortunately fell victim to deterioration and were removed for safety
purposes. At about the same time the City of Gloversville had fallen victim to serious financial problems
due to the decline of its major industry which was leather. Ever since that time, funds of the city have been
at a premium for refurbishing city parks
| 2007 New Disabled Cement Ramp to Restrooms |
In the 1930's, there were 3 gazebos located on the various paths of the nature trail, providing shelter in case of
rain. The 3 gazebos were named after the 3 bears, Sometime in the 1960' the gazebos were destroyed by fire.
rain. The 3 gazebos were named after the 3 bears, Sometime in the 1960' the gazebos were destroyed by fire.