In 1875 the Keene Driving Park Association was formed, by a stock company, fifty shares at $100.00 each being sold. A fine half-mile track was made on Main street, near Swanzey plain, with accessory buildings, etc., at a cost of $8,500.00. The first meeting was held thereon on the 3d of July, 1875, when there were eighty-five entries. In 1879 the company sold the park to a company of gentlemen of which M. J. Sherman was president, and F. A. Barker, secretary. In 1883 the Agricultural Society gave up its annual fair, and the members of the park prepared their grounds for exhibitions, made it a success, and in 1884 gave another successful fair, and they propose to continue the same annually. The present officers are M. J. Sherman, president; 0. G. Nims, vice-president; Henry H. Couillard, secretary; H. P. Muchmore, treasurer; and N. G. Guernsey, superintendent.


A gigantic display of fireworks at the Driving Park in the evening was witnessed by 7,000 spectators. One of the best pyro-technic displays ever seen in the city, it was opened by figures in fire, "1753 Keene 1903," and included hanging lights 100 feet long, pictures in colored fire, and comic features.

The electric railway opened service to the area of the Driving Park on lower Main Street that same day and ran trains of four to seven cars to and from the Square, yet hundreds had to walk in order to witness the spectacular.

Development of the Keene Driving Park into a residential area was begun in 1913; the name Edgewood was suggested by Mrs. H. H. Pease of Marlborough in a contest sponsored by the Keene Park Corporation, managers of this pioneer Keene home development. One of the last uses to which the area was put before the housing development started was as an encampment for units of the National Guard in the summer maneuvers of 1911.