The roses in the gardens of Norwich were in full bloom on Sunday, July 11th 1948 when the Rose Garden at the Rockwell Street entrance to Mohegan Park was accepted pin a short ceremony by the City of Norwich.
The idea in 1940 was to bring back to Norwich once more its name as “the Rose of New England” but there was war and other priorities but Roy D. Judd and Edward W. Jewett never forgot it. During 1946 and 1947 the rocky and overgrown lot was cleared once more and leveled. More than 100 tons of rock were removed but only 275 truckloads of rich loam were needed for more than 1,300 rose bushes and annuals and tulips for the total of 3,200 bushes of 175 varieties. The first rose bush, a Lady Stanhope was planted with great ceremony on April 16, 1947 at 10: AM by Henry D. Johnson, Chairman of the Mohegan Park Board.
The pergola was built and donated by the Rotarians Ernest and Paul Zachae. The pool given by the American Legion, the bubbler by Higgins, 1500 school children gave time and labor as well to the memorial Rose Garden. The story was told of one boy who rode his bicycle three miles during his lunch break to pitch in.
Eaton-Chase Co donated hardware; Charles Osgood, paint; Jacob Slosberg, lumber; the Norwich Trade School donated their students labor.
Miss Helen A. Suchoski of Robert O. Fletcher Post #4 American Legion removed the drape from the field stone with the plaque engraved “A Memorial to Those Who Gave Their Lives and In Honor of Those Who Served in World War Two Norwich Memorial Rose garden 1948.
In remarks by Mr. Sweerser, President of the American Rose Society he referred to a commencement address he had heard at Tufts College in 1943 and quoted, “ As long as the earth lasts, roses and the stars and the surging sea will still delight the senses and the soul.”
Rev. Dr. Charles F. Banning of the Central Baptist Church concluded the ceremonies with a prayer.
The final cost for the garden was around $25,000. In the years since there have been many more donations of plants, beds, decorations, fences, arches and money for the upkeep of the rose garden. The largest perhaps, at least known by me, was by Roy D. Judd, who bequeathed the income from a sum of $25,000 to be used for the maintence of the garden.