Elm Park and Isaac Sprague Memorial Tower
Also known as: Clocktower Park
Why it's listed
Elm Park is a small triangular public park of 1.24 acres at Wellesley Hills Square in Wellesley, Massachusetts. It was laid out in 1908 on land where a hotel and stable had been demolished after the town bought the site. The park gave open space to a congested commercial and institutional center. At its heart stands the Isaac Sprague Memorial Tower, built in 1928 to a Georgian Revival design by local architect Benjamin Proctor, Jr. Rising about 75 feet, it is made of rough-cut fieldstone with an octagonal base, limestone door surround and a copper-roofed cupola. Inside are a bell and clock given to the town in 1874 by John W. Shaw, which were moved from a demolished school. Bronze plaques added in the 1940s honor Shaw, Proctor and Sprague. Elm Park and the tower were listed for showing how civic involvement shaped village improvement, and for the tower's architecture. Brick paths, plantings and a 2004 entrance have been added without harming its historic character.
Significance in brief: The park was created through the combined efforts of business leaders, residents and the town, rather than through a gift of land from a prominent citizen. The tower is a unique structure in Wellesley and houses the first recorded gifts to the town, a clock and bell given in 1874 by John W. Shaw. Together they illustrate village improvement through civic involvement and long-term recognition of community history.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 07000511, listed June 5, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 305 Washington St., Wellesley |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | June 5, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000511 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1908-1957 |
| Architect / builder | Proctor, Benjamin, Jr. (architect); John W. Duff, Inc. of Boston (builder); Howard, Edward (clock); Blake, William, and Company (bell) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a public park and monument; the form says it retains integrity and has been maintained with recent improvements to paths, lighting, fencing and plantings. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.31295, -71.27419 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 07000511.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5366304
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.