The Melrose Messenger

Gazebo Restoration Begins at Ell Pond

Last week work began on the gazebo at Ell Pond Park, kicking off several improvements to the area on the eastern edge of the park.

The project was originally spearheaded by former Mayor Paul Brodeur, and is funded by a $93,000 earmark in the state budget secured last year by State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian and State Senator Jason Lewis.

The first part of the project involves restoring the gazebo, which was built in 1984 as a tribute to Gerry Nadel, a founding member of the Victorian Melrose Society. The gazebo is not a Victorian-era artifact, as some might assume, but it has become a recognizable part of the town in the 40 years since its construction, and its image is often used to visually represent Melrose.

While some minor repairs have been made to the gazebo in recent years, wear and tear over time and a lack of ongoing maintenance have resulted in the need for extensive structural repairs. The post legs and stage have rotted and need replacement, and the umbrella part of the structure needs sandblasting and repainting.

However, the project goes beyond just the restoration of the gazebo itself. Joan Bell of the Parks Department explained that the state-funded project will involve a number of improvements to the surrounding park area. One part of the project will involve updating the park’s electrical systems and adding Victorian light posts to the park’s walkways. The Parks Department will also work with the Conservation Commission to add a fountain to the park to improve both irrigation and aesthetics.

Finally, the city plans to use some of the state funds to purchase a portable stage that will allow larger groups that won’t fit inside the gazebo to use the space for performances. The stage will be available for groups to borrow through the Department of Public Works. According to Bell, the park is often used for weddings as well as public performances, and all of these improvements will allow the space to be more usable and appealing for the public.

After the passage of the House’s version of the state budget last April, Rep. Lipper-Garabedian remarked that the gazebo repairs and other improvements to the surrounding park would “anchor our central shared outdoor space.” We hope that improvements to the park area, with its key location on Main Street and on Ell Pond, will help revitalize this part of town and encourage a wide variety of uses of our outdoor spaces.

The History of the Ell Pond Gazebo

The Ell Pond gazebo was dedicated to the memory of Gerry Nadel, a founding member of the Victorian Melrose Society (VMS), who died suddenly at age 32. He was a nationally known magazine and news writer and achieved a remarkable amount during his short life, as his obituary in the New York Times indicates.

The gazebo itself was a gift from the VMS to the city of Melrose, and volunteers from the VMS and the community at large installed it after it arrived from New Jersey, where it had been built.

News articles from the Melrose Public Library's collection provide more history behind the gazebo and its installation.