King Philip’s Stockade is neither a stockade, nor was it King Philip’s. So what’s the story?
Entering or exiting I-91 from the Springfield/ Longmeadow border, you can’t help but notice the ball field and months-long Bright Night’s display at Forest Park on one side of Route 5 and a steep slope up and (usually) closed, black iron gate marking the entrance to an area called King Philip’s Stockade. A question from a Facebook follower (whose mother forbade him from playing there when he was growing up) prompted us to take a deeper look into the mysterious location.
Access Pathway facing Western Drive in Longmeadow
King Philip’s Stockade is actually a section of Forest Park, Springfield, though it abuts Western Drive in Longmeadow. Parking about half-way down Western Drive, you will find a paved path that enters the park. Continuing a street or two down Western Drive, you will find less formal footpaths that have emerged over the years as entrances through the bushes into a lovely, and very quiet, landscaped section of Forest Park. Winding roads split off into “choose your own adventure” style paths. Following any of these paths, it won’t take you long to hear the sound of the highway that robbed the park of what had no doubt previously been a serene view of the Connecticut River. The river is still there, you just have to block out I-91 to imagine what the view would have been when Forest Park was first designed in the 1880’s.
Winding pathway at King Philip's Stockade
There is ample parking for a covered pavilion with enough picnic tables to host a large gathering. And there is a tall, bronze-colored statue of a Native American gazing into the distance to keep you company - though he is secured behind a black iron gate. There is no marker or plaque to identify the subject of the statue or his significance to the area - though common legend has it that depicts Toto, a native man who became famous in Springfield area history for being the savior of Springfield by running here from Windsor in October, 1675 to warn settlers of an impending attack during King Philip’s War.
King Philip, otherwise known as the Wampanoag sachem, Metacomet, actually hailed from eastern part of Massachusetts and was the native leader of a devastating series of battles between English colonists and the indigenous people. There was a stockade in Springfield, but it was a short distance away in area of Longhill Road in Springfield.
A 1901 map of Forest Park shows that a road always divided the area noted as “King Philip’s Stockade and Outlook” from the rest of the park. What is not noted on the 1901 map, of course is I-91, which would not come through the area until the mid 1950’s, threatening low lying areas of Longmeadow and King Philip’s Stockade as well.
L. J. Richards & Co.. New Topographical map of Forest Park, Springfield, Mass., 1901
Close up of King Philip section of Forest Park on 1901 map of Forest ParkL. J. Richards & Co.. New Topographical map of Forest Park, Springfield, Mass., 1901
One of the hallmarks of King Philip’s Stockade remains in the form of the statue of Toto. It has survived multiple incidents of vandalism and theft in the century since it was first placed in the park. The depiction of Toto was controversial as far back as 1926 when it was designed as its “costume differed radically from anything Toto … ever wore” as one writer for The Springfield Republican wrote. After repeated thefts of the hollow bronze-colored statue, it was allegedly filled with concrete in the 1960’s to prevent more mischief. The Springfield Parks Superintendent at the time reported fielding calls from concerned citizens eager to give Toto a safe home and antique dealers offering to buy him. It was even suggested that Toto might be safer in the “Kiddieland Zoo” area. Today Toto has been returned to his perch in the King Philip’s Stockade section of the park and is surrounded by a tall iron fence to deter would-be villains.
Springfield Republican
July 25, 1926
Statue of Toto overlooking I-91 and the Connecticut River
In the summer of 1987, a plan was on the table briefly to use King Philip’s Stockade as a commuter parking lot for workers in downtown Springfield. Bus service would have been provided for just $.25 a ride to shuttle people into the city, but Longmeadow residents protested on grounds that Forest Glen, Route 5 and Western Drive was the worst intersection in town already and couldn’t handle any extra traffic. Surely, that will not surprise anyone who spends far too much time sitting at the light at that intersection today.
As it stands now, King Philip’s Stockade is still a part of Forest Park. It’s a lovely place for runners, walkers, and dog walkers. Be sure to stop by and acknowledge Toto, and perhaps apologize for the historical injustice that was done to him in the 1920’s and for the ruffians that caused him to be filled with concrete and secured behind a fence.
Sources:
Holcomb, Robert N. “New England Indians are Wrongly Pictured” in Springfield Republican, July 31, 1932.
L. J. Richards & Co.. New topographical map of Forest Park, Springfield, Mass., 1901. Map Collections (MP 000). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries from http://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mump000-g3764-s7-2-f6-c2-1901-i001accessed on May 1, 2023.
Springfield Republican July 25, 1926
Springfield Republican, March 20, 1927
Springfield Union, June 25, 1964: “Nimble-footed Toto Faces Heavy Going.”
Springfield Union, September 4, 1964: “A Happy Hunting Ground for Toto is Suggested.”Springfield Union, May 23, 1987: “Stockade Parking Use Ok’d.”
Springfield Union, June 16, 1987: “Council Addresses Parking Problems.”