Thompson Park

Mr. Thompson donated 100 acres of land to the city of East Liverpool, Ohio to be used as a public park in 1899. Born in East Liverpool, he was the author and composer of “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling”, “Gathering Shells By The Seashore”, and many other religious hymns and popular songs published throughout the world. He was owner of the Thompson Music Company and also donated land to the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church. He started the East Liverpool Historical Society and served as First President and was President of Trustees of Carnegie Library. He received his doctorate of music from Mount Union College and studied at Boston Conservatory of Music and in Leipzig.