Paxton History Tour Sites
Thank you for your interest in Paxton's rich history. This page is maintained by the Paxton Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about the 24 selected historic sites around our community, you can either browse this website or preferably visit the site in person and, using the camera on your phone, scan the QR code, which will be displayed at most sites. Each QR code link will bring up a brief history of the site and several pictures. Our goal is to continue to improve this project by adding more historic sites, pictures and information.
Almost all of the QR codes are up around Paxton now!
See map below for locations of QR Codes
Pells Park has been home to Paxton's Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration since the early 1980s.
Pells Park
Paxton was without a park so Hannah (Pells) Bogardus gave a block of ground set to trees for that purpose. The public wanted an addition to the park, again she responded with a gift of more ground, with the only stipulation that the gifts should bear the name of "Pells Park," in honor of her father, William H. Pells.
Later the park would be expanded by another city block to accommodate the Chautauqua and the pavilion. At one time, Pells Park had a lagoon that hosted fishing tournaments for area youth. It was filled in by the late 1950s likely due to a Malaria scare because of mosquito infestation.
Pells Park Pavilion
In 1909, during the height of the Chautauqua a park pavilion was built to protect from the rain. The building materials were purchased from the old Swedish Lutheran Church dismantling.
This new pavilion was built 125 feet, 2 inches long, and 84 feet wide. The stage is 18 feet deep, 26 feet wide, and 15 feet high. The seating capacity of the building was around 3,000 at that time.
In 1919, Ex-president Taft would speak that the pavilion to promote the League of Nations.
This Pavilion still stands and is used today, especially during Paxton’s Annual Old Fashion 4th of July Celebration which has been an annual event since the early 1980s.
