Quincy, Mass. Blog #9: Faxon Park!

 In today's blog about things we did during our 2-month stay in Quincy, Mass. you'll read about Faxon Park, where we visited for a short hike with the dogs.

(Photo: L to R: Rob, Dash, Tyler, Cody, Tom. Credit; R.G.)

WHAT'S AT FAXON PARK? Two Little League Fields, Softball Field with lights, Basketball Court, Tot-Lot, Picnic Area with Pavilion & Many Walking Paths. The fields host various local softball teams. There's also places to grill out, too. Parking is free. 

(Photo: Tom and Cody hit the trail. Credit: R.G.)

WE TOOK A LITTLE HIKE, YOU CAN, TOO -  If you drive to the back of the park, there's a little rotary of sorts where you can park your car and walk down past the picnic areas, on the road which leads out. Before you get to the exit, there's a wooded trail on your right side which leads you to the entrance. Walk up the driveway from the entrance back up a hill to the little rotary and you've made the full circle. It takes about 20 minutes and is a nice walk.

WHERE IS FAXON PARK? 2003 Falls Blvd, Quincy, MA 02169

THE RECREATION SCHEDULE - If you're a resident or if you just like watching softball games, here's the local recreation schedule: https://quincyma.myrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=10605

WHO WAS FAXON PARK NAMED AFTER? -The park was named after a man named Henry Hardwick or H.H. Faxon (1823-1905).    In 1885 he gave to the city 28 acres of land and then his son, Henry M. Faxon, added another 11 acres in 1935. This is now Faxon Park. 

According to the Quincy  United First Parish Church's  (UFPC) History page: "H.H. Faxon  hosted and paid for a meeting in Boston in 1879 for temperance Republicans only. The New York Times covered the meeting and referred to him as “that eccentric Quincy millionaire.” 

H.H. FAXON WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY UPTIGHT  -  He also considered himself to be the moral guardian of the city, especially when it involved temperance. He was instrumental in keeping Quincy “liquor license-free” for years and was known as the “millionaire policeman” because he donated his services as an unpaid constable “to ferret out rum-sellers.” Faxon bought the Hancock Tavern just to close it because strong drink was sold there In 1883 he wrote and published a book entitled “Quincy Under the Ban of Prohibition” which compiled all the laws against gaming, the violation of the Lord’s Day, and drunkenness. It was not a big seller. Unfortunately for him, he died before Prohibition because he would have been in his element patrolling the city looking for bootleggers, stills and speakeasies. 

Incidentally, Mrs. Henry M. Faxon was one of the founders of the United Quincy Alliance in 1890, the women’s group at UFPC, and was the president of the state-wide organization of church women’s groups. Her daughter-in-law, another Mrs. Henry M. Faxon wrote a history of the church and presented it at the New England organization of women’s groups in 1948. 

FAXON FAMILY GOES BACK TO THE 1600s IN QUINCY - The Faxon family maintained strong connections to the church for well over three hundred years.  Thomas Faxon arrived from England in the 1640’s, bought some land from church member, Samuel Hough, in 1652 and took the Freeman’s Oath in 1657. Henry M. Faxon was appointed in 1731 to the church building committee which built the Hancock Meeting House in 1732.

Through the years there was usually a Faxon family member on the board of United First Parish Church and committees. When UFPC celebrated their 250th anniversary in 1889, Henry H. Faxon was on the finance committee and his son, Henry M. Faxon on the music committee. FOR MORE INFO, visit: https://ufpc.org/ufpc-vignettes/f/the-faxon-family

NEXT: The Great Esker Park, Hingham, Mass.