photo by Cindy Hartford
Often referred to as “The Jewel of Milltown”, the current Milltown Bandstand on the corner of Church and Queensway stands on the site of the first Milltown High School, which was built in 1876 and demolished in 1922. The original bandstand stood where the large artillery gun war memorial now sits, and was built in the late 1800’s. Older residents will remember a large bell from the cotton mill occupying this same space, prior to the gun. The same year as the removal of the school, the land was designated as a park and the new bandstand was built. Windsor Dewar, the manager of the Milltown cotton mill, was instrumental in the project; petitioning the town council, designing the bandstand himself and funding much of its construction.
the original Milltown High School
The park is just a short walk from the St. Croix River and the site of the cotton mill, which operated from 1881 to 1957. The mill was a major economic force in early Milltown, generally employing more than 1,000 of its residents. In fact, the Elm Park neighborhood in Milltown was built specifically for the purpose of adding more housing to accommodate the ever-growing work force of the cotton mill. A monument to those workers, which was unveiled in 2007, can be found on Milltown Blvd. on the hill overlooking the former site of the mill. Across the street from the monument you can also visit the historic Roman Catholic Church, built in 1838 and famous for its Gothic Revival Architecture and vintage stained glass windows.
Milltown cotton mill workers monument
Tennis courts were later added to the park, along with additional seating. The area has long been used as a community hub by residents, hosting events such as concerts, festivals, community picnics, summer dance parties, holiday celebrations and more. Each year at Christmas, the park attracts large crowds for the annual “Lighting of the Bandstand” event, where community volunteers hand out hot drinks alongside the arrival of Santa. New memorial benches were also placed in the park by residents in the summer of 2023.
A separate War Memorial also stands on the grounds, dedicated in 1956 to honor residents who fell in service during WWI, WWII and Korea.
The bandstand is a testament to Milltown’s sense of identity, reflecting an era when it was a bustling center for industry.
