Thompson Park streets named for former Watertown mayors Graham, Butler Jr.

Zachary Canaperi, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
·2 min read

Oct. 5—WATERTOWN — Former mayors Jeffrey E. Graham and Joseph M. Butler Jr. now have streets named for them in Thompson Park.

Mayor Jeffrey M. Smith nominated the two former mayors for the honor, and on Thursday morning, it became official.

During a ceremony at the park's main pavilion, Smith and the two former mayors spoke in front of a crowd that included city officials and members of the public.

Afterward, everyone walked the short distance to the end of North Entrance Drive, where it intersects with Pinnacle Wood Drive. A black cloth was lifted off a shiny metal post, unveiling a brown sign, with the white lettering, "Jeffrey E. Graham Dr."

The crowd then strolled a few hundred feet back the other direction, to the end of West Entrance Drive, by the Zoo New York parking lot. A similar sign was unveiled, with the lettering, "Joseph M. Butler, Jr. Dr."

The three men, who can all put Watertown mayor on their resume, had only kind words for one another.

Smith began by congratulating Graham, who served in his position for 20 years.

"Mayor Butler and I had the privilege of working with you, as councilman, and I found it to be a great honor," Smith said. "I think you did a wonderful job for the community as being the longest-serving mayor — that speaks volumes. So, congratulations Mayor Graham."

Graham said he appreciated being given the honor, and he wishes that people think about those he worked with along the way, and those before him.

"It represents not only the man — or soon to be woman, I should say — but that era and those people. Because there are a lot of people that came before, to put all of this together, and this great park," Graham said. "I want to thank the people I had the chance to work with and the community I had the chance to serve, and whatever accomplishments that were made in that period, were the result of a lot of different people."

Councilwomen Sarah V. Compo Pierce and Lisa A. Ruggiero are running for mayor in November. Smith is not seeking reelection.

Smith also congratulated Butler, who was in office from 2016 to 2020.

"Joe and I have been friends for years, and Joe has done a great job serving the city, for eight years on the council and four years as mayor, and he continues to serve our community. He is the civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army," Smith said.

Butler said that he appreciated the honor, and that someone he feels grateful for is his father, Joseph M. Butler Sr., another former mayor who attended the ceremony.

"He taught me how to be a good father, how to love, the values of hard work, how to be a professional — all the little things that helped him get elected," Butler said. "He paved a lot of roads for me."