Fowler Square

Square Location

Boston and Fowler Street

(click link for map)

Ensign Francis M. Fowler served in the US Navy during World War I. He was born on April 9th, 1896 in Newburyport. Prior to joining the military, he worked as a draftsman and lived on 16 Shore Avenue. He also graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1918. Ensign Fowler initially enlisted on February 29th, 1916 to Company HQ, 1st Field Artillery, Massachusetts National Guard. He served on the Mexican Border from June 26th, 1916 to October 31st, 1916. He was later transferred on September 9th, 1916 to Battery D, 1st Field Artillery, and then honorably discharged on May 19th, 1917. Six months later, he reentered the military on December 11th, 1917 to the US Navy. He was later commissioned an Ensign on July 9th, 1918 and assigned to the Naval Aviation Detachment of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He again transferred on August 31st, 1918 to Construction and Repair, Navy Department in Washington D.C.

Tragically, he was killed from an accident at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida on May 17th, 1919. He was the son of John and Mary Frances (Roach) Fowler and brother to John Kenneth, all of Salem.

His square is located at the corner of Boston and Fowler Streets, dedicated in his honor.