06/30/2025
July 4 marks the 125th anniversary of the dedication of Hagerstown’s Bloom Park. Dedicated on Independence Day, 1900, Bloom Park is the third-oldest war memorial in the United States to honor the veterans of the Spanish-American War. Only two that were dedicated weeks earlier in Los Angeles and Grand Rapids, Michigan are older.
To commemorate this event, museum exhibits provided by the Washington County Historical Society and living history exhibitors will be present at the park from 10 am to 4 pm relating the history of the park and Washington County’s role in the war.
In addition to the historical society’s exhibit, living historians representing the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, U.S. Volunteers (Theodore Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders”) and national guard troops will be present relating the roles of those units in the war. Reenactors representing the Spanish Army are anticipated to participate as well. Also, the United Spanish War Veterans (the “VFW or American Legion for Spanish War veterans”) will be represented in the living history program.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: For such a short war, Hagerstown had an out-sized role in the conflict. Hagerstown’s national guard company was mobilized for service and was led by Civil War veteran Captain George Fisher. Private Edward Suman lost his life serving as a U.S. Marine aboard USS Maine when it exploded in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. This explosion led to the U.S. declaration of war against Spain. Hagerstown native Lieutenant Samuel Strite, served as a naval officer aboard USS Olympia under the command of Admiral Dewey when he destroyed the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898. One of the most decisive battles in naval history, this is where Admiral Dewey uttered the famous historical line to the ship’s captain “you may fire when you are ready, Gridley” which opened the battle. After the war, Hagerstown’s veterans formed the Col. Joseph Byron Post #3, United Spanish War Veterans.
Bloom Park was donated by former Mayor Samuel Bloom, who also donated the cost of completing the memorial. The ancient cannon that is the centerpiece of the park was taken as a war trophy. United States Senator Louis McComas of Hagerstown arranged for the Federal government to donate the cannon for inclusion in the memorial.
The public is invited to visit and learn more about this overlooked period in our nation’s history and our community’s role in the war.
Attached illustrations:
1. Historical postcard of Bloom Park with Mayor Bloom’s home in the right background.
2. Members of the Maryland United Spanish War Veterans at Bloom Park during their statewide convention in Hagerstown in 1948.
3. Living Historians depicting Spanish-American War soldiers at Bloom Park.
4. Hagerstown’s Maryland National Guard company on the steps of Kee Mar College (former hospital site on King Street) just before the war. Civil War veteran Captain George Fisher front and center.
