Historical Society of Bloomfield | Photo Gallery | Town Improvement Association (TIA) Lantern Slides |
TIA Memorial Gateway at Watsessing Park

Watsessing Park was created by Essex County to replace the swamp left when Lake Watsessing was drained in the 1880's. Inept surveys of the property had resulted in law suits caused by overlapping boundaries and squabbles over ownership. The use of the park has steadily declined since the 1920's, when it was the scene of fireworks displays, baseball games, and school picnics. The bandstand, unused for many years, has been recently restored. The noise from the toll plaza and exit 148 of the Garden State Parkway on the east side of the park does not make this either a pleasant or peaceful spot.

Frederick Branch, July 2010