Walk A Trail Commemorating Charlestown’s Ellison “Tarzan” Brown

/, 0 Comments

When: Saturday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m. (Rain date is Sunday, April 10 at 11:00 a.m.)
Where: Meet at the Kings Factory Road entrance to the Francis Carter Preserve
What: Walk trails in the Carter Preserve that are proposed as part of a trail commemorating Charlestown’s Ellison “Tarzan” Brown

The Charlestown Parks and Recreation Commission has proposed the creation of a trail to honor Ellison “Tarzan” Brown. Part of this trail will follow existing trails in the Carter Preserve. On Saturday, the Parks and Recreation members will lead an organized hike that follows the Pawcatuck River across the grassy field and through an old growth pine forest. The terrain is open and walkable for hikers of all ages. Everyone is invited to join in this hike. Bring your family and friends, but pets must be on leash. Members of Ellison Brown’s family will also attend.

Ellison Myers Brown Sr. (September 22, 1914¬August 23, 1975), was widely known as Tarzan Brown and as Deerfoot among his people of the Narragansett Indian Tribe.

Brown was a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon, in 1936 (2:33:40) and 1939 (2:28:51). A direct descendant of the last acknowledged royal family of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, he also participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Brown was scheduled to be in the 1940 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, but they were cancelled due to WWII.

Stories about Brown often appear in the Boston media. One is that, in 1935, he ran the last miles of the race barefoot, having discarded his tattered sneakers approximately 20 miles into the race. Another is that, in 1936, the defending champion overtook Brown on what is known as Heartbreak Hill, reportedly giving Brown a pat on the shoulder; Brown rallied and won the race. Another is that, in 1938, along the way to the finish in Boston, Brown jumped into Lake Cochituate in Natick to cool off.

Brown is one of two Native Americans to have won the Boston Marathon. Brown also set the American men’s record for a marathon at the 1939 Boston Marathon (2:28:51) and at a 1940 marathon in Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts (2:27:30).

Map Below shows location of Carter Preserve’s Kings Factory Road parking lot.