I remember growing up in worc and spending alot of time in institute park we used to hang out there as kids and party on the islands there when we where younger we used to catch frogs and toads there hope to come back just to walk there again great site

Spent many days in the park,playing football,baseball and tennis.Used to catch crayfish behind the big building where they stored the huge gang mower that was pulled by horses to cut the grass. In the summer the Parks Dept. or the School Dept.ran day programs for the kids. Pitched horseshoes,played games and also learned some crafts.Ah,the good old days.

The 30 foot tower shown here was built in 1892 by Stephen Salisbury III. Although it was meant to mimic an ancient tower, it was mistakenly called the Norse Tower because of the Viking feel of its architecture.

This 18 acre park was presented to the city of Worcester by Stephen Salisbury III on October 1, 1887. The boat house provided swan boat rides on Salisbury Pond.

I remember going to this park from the late 70's to the late 80's. I used to live @ 24 Boynton St, where the new dorm building for WPI is now. I have a lot of memories of playing here as a kid and partying here as a teen. This was one of my most favorite places to go growing up.

I grew up in the Northend of Worcester back in the 60's,70's. Any one who grew up in the NortheEnd knew Institute Park. We grew up playing games like snaps, The ols game where usaly you went home with a couple sore fingers. But a lot of fun. My wife Now who we were only teens then, used to play football in the park. I think this park brings back so many memories for me. I also have some older pictuers from my mother of different parts of worcester.

In the late 1960's, my parents would take all eight of us to Institute Park. During the summer the city sponsored evening concerts. All types of music; Big Band, Jazz, Blues, Classical & even Polka! My parents enjoyed some peace while we played in the trees or down at the lake. The music in the background was a great backdrop to beauty of this park. It was nice seeing it again.

Summer Concerts at Institute Park in the early-mid '60s, Worcester Orchestra conducted by Harry Levinson. Just fabulous! All you needed was your chair, blanket, a special someone, family or friends. Great music. My favorites were the show tunes! Who needed Tanglewood? Worcester had it all!

I goofed on my Elm Park note, the band concerts were at Institute park near WPI. sorry.

Mr. Salisbury sure did like his towers... Now, can anyone explain what the large columns on the corners of the park along Park Ave. are for? I was hoping one of these postcards would show something to give me a clue - they seem so out of place, like they were originally part of something larger that just went *poof* leaving them there holding up air.

We lived on Fruit St off of Highland St. near WPI and as kids spent much time visiting Institute Park and played around the "Norse Tower" and the old boat house...We skated on ElmPsrk with hundreds at a time...and climbed up to Istitute Tower on the hill.My Dad lived in this area also and the Old Fairgrounds were near Sever Street.where Becker College is now, formerly the Bancroft School.Does anyone know where "Bliss Field" was..My Dad and the Englsih High School Football team of 1901 used to practice there...after changing into their uniforms at his 20 Dix Street hoime...

Heather, the large colums are from Boston a famous old building which was taken down and Mr. Salisbury (circa 1900) purchased the columbs and the ball on top. The columbs at Institure park once has a huge ball on top, I moved from Worcester in 1970 and can't say much about the today status of the once columbs.

I was living on North St.and the city drained the pond ,my brother and i tried to cross it ,there was a little stream of water running through it ,I tried to jump across it and sunk up to my knees ,my brother tried pulling me out and he sunk...took us about an hour to get out of that mess

I remember the Sunday good times,a band with play on Sunday during the summer.you did not care who it was you were with friends.That was what mattered.GOOD TIMES HAD BY ALL I would like any of the old friends of West st crew to e-mail me if you would like.justmewhatsup@yahoo.com ......Move to NH in 1974 missed staying in contact with everyone.

Heather, from what i read, Mr. Salisbury was visiting Boston and came upon a house of ill repute that was being torn down. He loved the columns and bought them and had them shipped to Worcester to be used as "bookends" for his park. No one knows why only one had a sphere on the top from what I read.