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The citizens of Williamsport are invited to attend a historical commemoration of the Cummings Memorial Gateway, a prominent landmark at the Market Street entrance of Brandon Park, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its completion. The Brandon Park Commission desires to call attention to this notable anniversary by recalling some facts of its creation at a public ceremony at the gateway on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m.
Constructed in autumn of 1926, the Cummings Memorial Gateway stands as both a towering silent sentinel and welcoming bright beacon to Brandon Park visitors at the Market Street entrance to the City of Williamsport's oldest and most beloved park.
The edifice is composed of two massive 16 ½-foot tall native mountain stone pillars, surmounted by ornate globe lamps and flanked by corresponding curved wingwalls connecting with two smaller pillars, all topped by limestone trimmings.
The main columns are emblazoned with bas-relief bronze tablets depicting late 1830s portraits of the park's donor, A. Boyd Cummings, and his sister, Jane Cummings Brandon, as a grateful and enduring tribute by the citizens.
The following people will participate in the event:
• Mark Avery, agronomist and local historian, will speak about the lives of A. Boyd Cummings and Jane Cummings Brandon.
• Mary Sieminski, founder of the Lycoming County Women's History Project, will focus on the Civic Club of Williamsport, who undertook the fundraising and construction effort.
• Bruce Huffman, historical investigator and researcher, will reflect on the 37-year endeavor to acknowledge the park's benefactor, the architect who designed the gateway, and the many patrons who supported it.
• Vincent Pulizzi, Williamsport City Council Vice President, will provide remarks to officially dedicate the gateway.
• Deb Allison, co-chair of the Brandon Park Commission, will touch on the commission's role in the park.
Though unable to be present,
Anthony H. Visco, Jr., owner of AHV Architects in Williamsport for more than 40 years, gave some thoughts on the importance of gateways.
"A historic entrance portal serves as the symbolic gateway to a park, creating a sense of arrival while reflecting the community's history and character. As a prominent landmark, it preserves the park's heritage, strengthens local identity, and connects generations of residents and visitors to the site's cultural significance."
Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair if desired. For safety purposes the Cummings Memorial Gateway will be closed to all automobile traffic from 12:30 until 2 p.m. that day.
Park and gateway history in brief
On February 21, 1889, A. Boyd Cummings, a native of Williamsport but then living in Philadelphia, gifted "43 acres and 39 perches of land" in the 8th ward to the City of Williamsport "in trust... for the use of the public forever." In the deed conveying the land to the City, Mr. Cummings specified that it be used "for the purpose only of an open space or park" and that it "be called Brandon Park" in memory of his sister, Jane Cummings Brandon.
In the resolution "tendering thanks... for his splendid gift" on April 1, 1889, the Williamsport City Councils recommended that "a life sized statue, in stone or bronze," be erected "at or near the main entrance... as an enduring memorial of a grateful people." For years and decades after Mr. Cummings' death on March 1, 1891, there were numerous suggestions and efforts for some appropriate recognition of his gift.
In December of 1925, the Civic Club of Williamsport, which was founded in 1913 and was involved in secondary fundraising efforts for the Brandon Park Band Shell, decided to undertake to have "a suitable memorial" erected to Mr. Cummings. By April of 1926 the Brandon Park Commission gave preliminary approval for the Civic Club to move ahead with its proposed plans for a "memorial gateway."
That July, the Brandon Park Commission accepted the design of Carl V. Welker, an architect of Williamsport, for a gateway of mountain stone pillars with limestone trimmings, surmounted by ornate globe lamps, and emblazoned with bronze tablets. After having previously staked out the site, workmen "excavated the ground... for the foundation of... the gateway to be placed there" on September 22, 1926.
The Civic Club's fundraising efforts officially began on September 27, 1926 with a stated goal of $5,400, and offering "but one opportunity for the people of Williamsport to express a merited and long over-due appreciation of a munificent gift." Hundreds of individual citizens of Williamsport, businesses, and organizations contributed donations, large and small, to the fund over an initial period of 6-8 weeks. Due to unforeseen circumstances, fundraising continued into 1927.
The gateway, described as "a handsome and appropriate memorial to the donor of the park," was declared completed on Monday, November 8, 1926.
It was reported that "Miss Lucy O. Scott was designated chairman of this undertaking, and it is to her zeal and indefatigable effort, the Civic Club owes the completion of its ideal."
Though vague plans to dedicate the gateway were mentioned at the time, none seems to have occurred, likely because of the additional fundraising needed.