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Date: 4/25/2023
PALMER — The Steaming Tender restaurant will once again host the Artisan Emporium, a vendor fair and event at Olmsted Park, 28 Depot St., on Sunday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This nearly 40 vendor event, featuring live music from acoustic duo The Kings Of Ghost Town as well as a “fantastic” selection of artisans and more to shop from, will also provide Olmsted Park some restoration funding, said organizer Scarlet Lamothe. Lamothe said all vendor fees go toward restoring the park, which was designed by Frederick Olmsted — the same person who designed Central Park in New York City.
The Steaming Tender restaurant, home to the 1.5 acre park, will also be open for cocktails on the outdoor patio and seating indoors as well — perfect for Mother’s Day, Lamothe commented.
Lamothe, a self-proclaimed history fanatic, said the park was built at the same time as the train station in 1884 when “Palmer was a transportation hub and almost had the same population as Springfield, and needed a public green space, an oasis in the midst of all the hustle and bustle.”
The train station and park were funded by the Vanderbilt family, who had a fondness for Olmsted and used his landscape design abilities in many of their personal and public projects. They also made sure he was the one to design the station’s park.
Lamothe said one of Olmsted’s signature designs in his parks was a grotto — a water feature with a stone arch — which is the next step in restoring the park. After that, she said, they are going to try to bring back the gardens that were once there.
“We’d like to bring more awareness about the park, in hopes trying to keep history alive. The idea is to bring it back to its glory,” Lamothe said.
“During the early years of the park, there used to be contests of parks near train stations, and Olmsted Park would usually win,” Lamothe added, demonstrating how impressive the park must have been in its heyday.
One of the very special features of this year’s Emporium and one Lamothe is particularly thrilled about is the attendance of Gail Olmsted, a distant relative of Frederick Olmsted, who will be there selling and signing an award-winning, critically acclaimed book she wrote on Olmsted and his wife, titled “Landscape of a Marriage.”
The park is privately owned by the Steaming Tender, but Lamothe said, “Anybody can go and use it. We want to see activity out in that park, We also encourage local businesses to use it for functions.”