Garden of Meditation
Lithuanian Wayside Cross
A two-acre park set aside by the Fair provides a place for rest, relaxation and reflection amid the bustle and excitement of the other attractions. The Garden of Meditation is screened by pine, birch and oak trees; mountain laurel, azaleas, lilies, irises and other plants line its paths. There are benches on an oval walk near an informal pool; plaques carry references to appropriate Biblical verses and a quotation on the wonder of nature from Sir Francis Bacon.
The Garden of Mediation was created by the Fair to fill a spot originally planned for a pavilion that never came to be. While not widely utilized, it was a pleasant area that offered up some good photographic opportunities. (CD # 54 Set 229 #66)
"God Almighty first planted a Garden; and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man." - Sir Francis Bacon (image courtesy of John Pender)
Here's an additional quote from the 1965 version of the guide book: Directly across from the park is the Lithuanian Wayside Shrine, where a carved wooden cross memorializes those who have given their lives in defense of Lithuanian freedom. (CD #25 Set 137 #1)
The plaque at the base of the Lithuanian Wayside Cross. The cross was left in the park when the Fair ended, but was seriously damaged by vandals in April 1979. New reports stated that the cross would be restored but the work was never done. All that remains today is the crumbling concrete base. (CD #25 Set 137 #2)