Washington Park was dedicated by Wright Wire Company in 1919 to its employees and their families for recreation and pleasure. George Washington, father of his country and first President of the United States, traveled over this spot in June 1775 on his way to Cambridge to take command of the Colonial Army in the Revolutionary War for the freedom of America, and he passed here again in October 1789. Many other historic events took place near this spot, which was the center of the Old Bay Path from Springfield to Boston, the first trail made by the Indians hundreds of years ago and again by white men three hundred years ago. The river was forded until about 1732, when Scott’s Bridge, south of this spot, was built at the location of the present old bridge across the Quaboag, or Red Water, River.