New Sign for Mary Livermore Park Unveiled
Written and Photographed By Nancy Clover
I have long had admiration, maybe even an infatuation, with Mary A. Livermore.
She was a nurse, as am I. She was an abolitionist, and I hope I would have had the courage and fortitude to stand against slavery as she did. She was a suffragist, and every time I vote, I remember that women fought hard for that right. She was also a journalist, and I like to think I carry a bit of that spirit too.
That is why I was incredibly excited to be part of today’s unveiling of the new sign that will stand at Mary A. Livermore Park on Felton Place.
The beautiful sign was made possible through the collaboration of City Hall, the Parks Department, Ward Hamilton, the Melrose Historical Commission, the DPW, and Superintendent David DiBarri of Northeast Metro Tech. Most inspiring of all, the sign was designed and constructed by students at Northeast Metro Tech High School — a fitting tribute to a woman who believed deeply in education, civic engagement, and social progress.
Mary Ashton Rice Livermore (1820–1905) was one of the great reformers of the 19th century — a journalist, nurse, abolitionist, suffragist, lecturer, and humanitarian whose influence reached far beyond Melrose.
During the Civil War, she worked tirelessly for the US Sanitary Commission, organizing medical aid, supplies, and fundraising efforts for Union soldiers. She helped lead the enormously successful Northwestern Sanitary Fair of 1863, raising what would amount to millions of dollars today for wounded soldiers and hospitals.
After the war, she became one of the nation’s most powerful voices for women’s rights. She co-founded and edited The Agitator, which later merged with The Woman’s Journal, and traveled the country delivering speeches advocating for equality, education, temperance, and the right of women to vote.
She even challenged social norms in unexpected ways — speaking out against corsets and tight lacing because she believed women’s health and freedom mattered more than fashion.
Livermore later made Melrose her home, living on West Emerson Street, where she continued her activism and public speaking. She spoke at the inauguration of the Melrose Public Library and became one of the city’s most respected citizens.
Her legacy lives on throughout Melrose and beyond:
- Mary A. Livermore Elementary School (1891-1933) once stood on Main Street across from Ell Pond and is now a municipal parking lot.
- Mary Livermore Park, 26 Felton Place, which will now have a sign bearing her name.
- A World War II Liberty Ship was named the SS Mary A. Livermore.
May 23 marks 121 years since her passing. She died at the age of 84 and is buried in the Wyoming Cemetery.
Mary Livermore proved that one determined person can help change history. Her life remains a testament to courage, compassion, intelligence, and unwavering belief in justice.
Her spirit still lives on in Melrose. I hope this sign inspires generations to come.
