As part of the Benson Wild Animal Farm Centennial Celebration, history took center stage at Benson Park on Saturday, July 25, as dozens of residents gathered for a Historical Marker Unveiling and Informational Open House honoring three of the park’s most significant historic structures.
The event, organized by the Benson Park Advisory Committee, celebrated the installation of permanent historical markers at the Train Station, the Kitchen/ Office Building, and the Hazleton Barn, all of which were added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Committee Chair Sue Clement welcomed visitors before leading the morning’s ceremonies, recognizing the many volunteers whose vision and dedication helped transform the former Benson’s Wild Animal Farm into the public park enjoyed by thousands today.
“Many years ago, a dedicated group of volunteers had a vision of transforming the old, run-down Benson Wild Animal Farm into the beautiful public park we all enjoy today,” Clement said. “Through countless hours of planning and hard work, that vision became a reality.”
Clement noted that preserving the park’s historic buildings remains an ongoing community effort and said the historical marker project had been nearly a year in the making.
She credited volunteer Jack Madden with helping launch the project by ordering the markers and thanked Roger Pellerin of Gate City Monuments in Nashua for donating the granite monument posts and historical markers. Pellerin, a longtime Hudson resident and former employee of Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, received a Certificate of Appreciation from Town Administrator Roy Sorenson in recognition of his contribution.
The Hudson Department of Public Works was also recognized for preparing each site by installing the monument foundations.
“Projects like this remind us that preserving history is truly a community effort,” Clement said. “It takes volunteers, businesses, town departments, and residents working together to keep Benson’s story alive for future generations.”
Following the unveiling ceremony, visitors were treated to guided walking tours of the three historic buildings. Committee members Jake Beachemin, Harry Schibanoff, Steven Prystac, Ellen Griffin, and former Advisory Committee Chairman Dick Empey served as tour guides, sharing the history of the former amusement park and zoo, the buildings’ original uses, and the continuing efforts to preserve them.
As the group made its way to the Hazleton Barn, Empey discussed the history of Benson Park and the former Hazleton Farm, providing additional insight into the property’s agricultural roots before the final marker was unveiled.
Also participating in the event was volunteer Paul Tracy, who has been spearheading the restoration of the park’s iconic Lion’s Pride statues in the basement of the Kitchen/Office Building, another important piece of Benson’s colorful history.
The Historical Marker Unveiling was one of several events commemorating the 100th anniversary of Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, celebrating both the park’s past and the volunteers whose commitment continues to preserve its legacy for future generations.
