USA > California > Riverside County > History of Riverside County, California > Part 10
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156. This fund was judiciously expended under the administration of James W. Johnson, the city engineer, and Charles W. Finch, a practical road maker then serving as superintendent of streets, and it has been the basis of the exceptionally fine street system of which the citizens are so justly proud. This first permanent roadway was an ordinary macadam, and was for several years without the asphalt protection now used. In the course of years the heavy teaming had worn it badly, the winds sweeping the powdered rock away until little more than half remained. The problem of how to preserve this was one that demanded intelligent study, and the credit of suc- cessfully solving it is largely due to A. P. Campbell, the present city engineer, who, aided by the valuable experience of Thad. K. Seburn, 'W. V. Darling and others who have served as street superintend- ents, devised a surfacing compound of the heaviest of asphalt oil filled with sharp rock screenings, which, combined in proper pro- portions has not only prevented further wear, but has in the course of years and at moderate expense, transformed these nearly out- worn roadways into perfect thoroughfares. This success has en- couraged a spirit of civic pride everywhere, which has led to most generous private as well as public outlay for street improvements, until Riverside can justly boast of a larger mileage of fine roads than any city of her class in the state.
The simple form of government under which our affairs had been managed for twenty-three years had become so thoroughly outgrown in 1906 that steps were inaugurated looking to the adop- tion of a special charter. At an election held October 9, 1906, the following freeholders were chosen to formulate it: J. G. Baird, L. A. Brundige, S. J. Castleman, Ethan A. Chase, W. B. Clancy, James Mills, W. L. Peters, L. H. Edmiston, S. C. Evans, W. G. Fraser, Lafayette Gill, W. P. Gulick, C. L. McFarland, W. A. Pur- rington and John A. Simms.
At the election of May 14, 1907, the following were elected: Mayor, S. C. Evans; city clerk, N. A. Jacobs; auditor, C. R. Stib- bens; treasurer, P. A. Gunsolus.
Board of education: Lyman Evans, Mrs. Stella M. Atwood, F. D. Ellis (resigned, and W. G. Irving appointed to fill vacancy), S. J. Castleman and E. S. Moulton.
Councilmen: First ward, L. C. Waite; second, Oscar Ford, president; third, Silas Masters; fourth, H. O. Reed; fifth, C. D.
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Helmer (died, and M. M. Strickler appointed to fill vacancy) ; sixth, George H. Dole.
The appointed officers named by the mayor for the first term were: City attorney, W. A. Purrington, 1907; W. G. Irving, 1909. Police judge, George A. French; city engineer, A. P. Campbell; superintendent of streets, G. T. McIntyre. Park commissioners: J. H. Reed, chairman and tree warden; C. A. Franzen, R. L. Bett- ner, A. S. White, James Mills, A. C. Lovekin. Library directors : H. L. Carnahan, A. N. Wheelock, L. V. W. Brown, C. L. McFarland, L. A. Brundige and Mrs. Belle N. Patterson (1912). Board of health: W. B. Clancy, Dr. W. W. Roblee, Dr. J. G. Baird. Public utilities : W. L. Peters, E. O. Rickard, F. F. Chase and H. K. Small. Chief of police, W. B. Johnson.
At the city election of 1909 Mayor Evans was re-elected, his opponent being L. H. Edmiston. The appointed officers who served under him were: Superintendent of streets, G. T. McIntyre, George F. Seger and W. V. Darling; health officer, Dr. T. R. Griffith; chief of police, D. G. Clayton (1909) and S. C. Harbison (1910) ; building inspector, C. F. Mathers; fire chief, Joseph Schneider.
At the election of 1911 William L. Peters was chosen mayor, his opponents being K. D. Harger and L. H. Edmiston. C. R. Stib- bens was re-elected auditor, G. A. Gunsolus treasurer, and G. W. Prior city clerk. Upon the resignation of Auditor Stibbens in 1912 Mr. Prior was appointed in his place; Harry C. Cree was appointed city clerk. P. M. Coburn was appointed chief of police and Dr. T. R. Griffith re-appointed health officer.
The members of the council in 1912, with the dates of their election were: First ward, Bradford Morse, 1911; second, A. J. Stalder, 1911; third, Silas Masters, 1907; fourth, J. F. Hanna, 1909; fifth, M. M. Strickler, 1908; sixth, J. W. Chase, 1911; and F. M. Brown, September, 1911.
The board of education in 1912 is composed of E. S. Moulton, president; Mrs. Stella M. Atwood, D. D. Gage, H. H. Craig and Col. J. R. Strang. Park commissioners, 1912: Gaylor Rouse, J. C. Hardman, W. T. Henderson, S. C. Evans, Mrs. Emma P. Holland, H. B. Adsit and S. L. Wright. Board of public utilities, 1912: H. F. Grout, A. J. Stalder, E. O. Rickard, T. F. Flaherty, H. K. Small (resigned) and W. W. Phelps. Evans Athletic Park committee: G. E. Dole, H. H. Craig and D. D. Gage. Censorship board: George
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L. Winterbotham, H. A. Plimpton and H. H. Monroe. Tree warden: J. H. Reed filled this position most efficiently for many years, or until resigning. His place was briefly held by H. B. Adsit in 1912 and upon his retirement S. L. Wright was appointed to the posi- tion.
CHAPTER VII RIVERSIDE'S PARKS By E. W. Holmes
The pioneers who laid out Riverside not only planted shade trees everywhere along the streets of the city, but set apart a tract of land in the center as a public park. When the street trees ma- tured it was found that some were undesirable as shade trees, and that many that were suitable had been so thickly planted as to make them injurious to the adjacent orchards. As the years passed those citizens who failed to appreciate the esthetic value of shade but were mindful of the value of wood for fuel in a naturally treeless land assumed the right to mutilate or destroy those whose presence they claimed to be a damage to their property. Some beautiful sidewalk trees were sacrificed in consequence, before the Riverside Horticultural Club undertook to put a stop to such proceedings by urging upon the city trustees the appointment of a "street orna- mentation committee" to whom all requests for removal or pruning of street trees should be submitted. The trustees appointed as this committee E. W. Holmes (chairman), Albert S. White, J. H. Reed, S. H. Herrick, Robert Lee Bettner, Priestley Hall and William Irv- ing. For seven years this committee guarded the trees and sought to stimulate an interest in further planting, but because the first city charter provided no way by which funds could be appropriated for such work the committee finally resigned. Interest in the beau- tifying of the city had, however, grown by reason of their efforts. Hon. C. M. Loring, a gentleman who has made Riverside his winter residence for a quarter of a century, gave funds for the planting of pepper trees along both sides of Walnut street, and through the efforts of Frank A. Miller and other members of the chamber of commerce, money was raised to enable J. H. Reed to plant trees
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and shrubs along the rocky sides of Mt. Rubidoux, and also to trans- plant many large native palms to some of the important business streets of the city. The adoption of a new city charter provided a way by which a paid official could be put in charge, and the authori- ties appointed J. H. Reed as a tree warden, with full power over the care and planting of street trees. This position he held for eleven years, during which time he added about fifteen thousand trees to those previously planted. The results of the work done under his administration and of the publicity given to his methods through the newspapers have led nine other California cities to adopt the plan of municipal control of its street trees. It is this treatment of the matter that has given Riverside streets a park-like character most gratifying to those who have labored so enthusiastically to this end.
ALBERT S. WHITE PARK
Reference has been elsewhere made to the early history of what, in compliment to another enthusiastic member of the first committee, has been named the Albert S. White Park. Mr. White took especial interest in this park during his term as trustee, and subsequently as a member of the board of park commissioners made it his particular care during the remainder of his life, gathering there one of the largest collections of cacti to be found in the state. The fountain near the center of the park was the gift of George N. Reynolds. J. C. Hardman has been superintendent of this park since the death of Mr. White.
FAIRMOUNT PARK
When the city undertook the paving of its main thoroughfares in 1895 it purchased a tract of thirty acres for the sake of the rock contained in a hill which was a part of it. Ten thousand dollars was paid for the property and much criticism was indulged regard- ing the purchase, for the bottom land adjoining seemed practically worthless. But the rock obtained for paving purposes proved worth the sum paid, while the apparently worthless tract beyond has been transformed into Fairmount Park, and made one of the most attractive and popular resorts within the city limits. Its fit- ness for park purposes was suggested by the action of the Grand Army Post, who, having obtained the use of it for a picnic, found it so satisfactory that they sent a committee, consisting of W. B.
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Johnson, A. S. Milice, C. M. Dexter and M. J. Daniels, to the city trustees asking that a portion of the tract be set apart as picnic grounds. They asked permission to plant shade trees and open up a spring and make other improvements. The city granted the request and by ordinance set apart the entire tract as a public park. Capt. C. M. Dexter was put in charge of the proposed improve- ments secured by the G. A. R., and during all the years since has devoted his time and energy to the work of making this present beautiful, enjoyable playground, and at first without remuneration. When he commenced there were no funds to work with. Through his enthusiasm he induced generous gifts of money, material and labor to carry on his plans for improvements. The trees now grow- ing were donated. An arbor day was appointed and many citizens brought and planted trees. But most of the improvements were made from money solicited and collected by Captain Dexter. The first boats used upon the lake were built on the grounds from such funds.
The success of the work inaugurated by Captain Dexter and other Grand Army men led Messrs. S. C. and P. T. Evans to give twelve and a half acres of additional land adjoining, with a five-inch water right, by means of which it was possible to add a lake to the charms of the spot, with a driveway around it. C. L. McFarland, when president of the board of trustees, acquired by condemnation an additional tract of three acres on the east side. During 1910 the Messrs. Evans presented still another deed to the city, giving eighteen acres more to the park, making its area over sixty acres, including the quarry site. The city has since bonded itself to enlarge the lake, provide baths and playgrounds and other features to make the park more useful and attractive. The lake is a beautiful body of water, and when the entire park shall be improved, as planned, few cities will possess a more charming spot for the recreation and rest of the people. The late George N. Reynolds has left an evi- dence of his taste and public spirit in the pretty section of the lake, where aquatic plants and flower-bordered islands afford a pretty contrast to the open water, where boating affords a pleasurable entertainment for young and old.
EVANS ATHLETIC PARK
In June, 1906, S. C. Evans, who for years had served the city as a member of the school board, and had therefore taken a deep
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interest in the sports of the school children, tendered to the city, as a gift, an eleven-acre tract, admirably located and adapted for the purpose, facing Fourteenth street and Brockton avenue, for an athletic park. The valuable donation was gratefully accepted. Later, in honor of the donor, the distinctive name of Evans Athletic Park was officially given by the city trustees, and funds were pro- vided for its improvement. The park was fenced, baseball grounds graded, a quarter-mile track made, grandstand erected, and other needed equipments provided. The improvements were made under the supervision of Dr. W. B. Sawyer. By provision of the donor all pupils of the public schools are admitted to all exhibitions and contests free of charge.
Directly north of the Evans Park are the grounds upon which is located the Grant School building. Before the gift of the above- named park this was the only ample playground available for the school children's use, and it is still used by the occupants of this beautiful school building. It contains the first gift given by a River- side citizen to beautify the grounds around a public building. Stephen Brainard Robinson was a young builder who was given the contract for building the Grant school house-his first large contract. The work was done in a way creditable to him, as well as to the masons who did the brick work-Messrs. Alguire and Downs-and he was proud of it. And when he died a few years later his will contained a provision giving a sum of money to be expended for some permanent beautifying of the Grant school grounds. This money was therefore used to build the pretty foun- tain which has ever since stood in the lawn facing Walnut street.
HUNTINGTON PARK
Huntington Park, composed of about 100 acres on Rubidoux Mountain, is owned and was improved by the Huntington Park Asso- ciation. The project of its acquirement and development was con- ceived and largely prosecuted by the enterprise of Frank A. Miller. A large area at the foot of the mountain is set to trees. The prin- cipal feature of the park is the substantial scenic drive, winding around the mountain and reaching the top, from which panoramic views in all directions are excelled by few spots in America. The roadway was built at a cost of $30,000, and is largely cut through rock. Going up, it has a grade of but four per cent. The separate
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road down has an eight per cent grade. In all about $60,000 has been spent on developments of the park. It is open to the public and is much used, being especially enjoyed by visitors.
CHEMAWA PARK
This park, located on Magnolia avenue, near Arlington, was largely developed by Frank A. Miller when managing the Riverside and Arlington Railway. It contains twenty acres and is now owned by the Pacific Electric Railway Company. It is laid out to trees, shrubbery and drives. It includes a considerable collection of birds and wild animals. A portion of the park is devoted to well-made polo grounds, equipped with stables, grandstand, etc., managed by the Riverside Polo Association, and it was here that the first polo tournament in the state was held.
CHAPTER VIII. RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY By E. W. Holmes 1
It was natural that the early colonists, being of the stock which has impressed its characteristics most strongly upon the nation, should, at the very outset, as soon as schools and churches were organized, undertake to provide themselves with a public library. But the little company which located so hopefully upon the arid plain, found that the work of transforming it into the ideal spot it was their ambition to make it, left neither time nor money with which to achieve success in library making, and that this most desirable feature must wait for more favorable conditions. These were afforded when the successful horticultural development of the valley induced a rapid increase in the population and wealth of the settlement.
In the year 1879, through the efforts of A. S. White and E. W. Holmes, the settlers organized the Riverside Library Association, out of which has grown our present free public library. Any citi- zen was privileged to become a member by paying $3, and such dues or fines as should from time to time be ordered to provide for the library's maintenance. The fund raised in this way being insuf- ficient to provide such a library as was desired, Mr. Holmes organ-
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RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY
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ized a dramatic club and gave the first drama ever presented to a Riverside audience. A stage and benches were improvised in the room on the first floor of the Odd Fellows' building, then near enough to completion to make its use possible. The play selected was "Better Than Gold," and the two-night performance netted the (for those times) handsome sum of $150 to add to the library fund. It seems proper. to record the names of those who took part in this affair. The cast included Mr. Holmes, Frank Emerson, Frank A. Patton, R. P. Waite, D. C. Ross, Miss Marion H. Har- ris, Mrs. G. M. Skinner and Mrs. W. P. Russell. The music was furnished by Dr. C. W. Packard, D. S. Strong, John Bonham and W. E. Keith.
The first meeting of the association was held July 15, 1879, when the following officers were chosen: President, Dr. C. J. Gill; vice-president, T. J. Wood; treasurer, Dr. J. P. Greves; secretary, Walter Lyon. The management of the library was placed in the hands of an executive committee composed of A. S. White, E. W. Holmes and A. J. Twogood. Later Mr. Twogood resigned and James Bettner was chosen in his place. About a thousand volumes were purchased and James H. Roe made librarian, and the books were kept in Mr. Roe's drug store until he sold out his business. Later another druggist, J. W. Hamilton, was elected librarian, and the institution prospered until a fire occurred, which resulted in the injury of many volumes, and the books were stored for a while.
Meanwhile the steady growth of the settlement had made advis- able its incorporation as a city, which was effected in October, 1883. In April, 1888, Mr. Holmes, being at the time chairman of the city board of trustees, obtained the consent of the stockholders, and offered the books to the city upon the condition that the city should organize and maintain a free public library under a recent statute giving municipalities power to take such action. The city board promptly accepted the gift, and appointed E. W. Holmes, A. S. White, Dr. C. J. Gill, N. C. Twining and Rev. George H. Deere, trustees. Dr. Deere was chosen president of the library board, which position he held for fourteen years.
The city used at that time the second story of a building located on the north side of Eighth street, between Main and Orange, as a "city hall," and two small rooms in the rear of the building were set apart for the use of the library. Mrs. Mary M. Smith was
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placed in charge as librarian. The choice proved a fortunate one, for she brought to the work exceptional ability and enthusiasm, and to her conscientious efforts in organizing the institution is largely due its success. Her assistant was Mrs. Frank T. Morrison.
At the outset there was no reading-room provided, and the library was only open to the public upon three afternoons and one evening of each week. When the city leased rooms in the Loring building, a year or two later, ample quarters were assigned the library in the central portion of the second floor. From this time a generous annual appropriation made possible the steady enlarge- ment of the library, and, with the rooms open practically every day in the year, the institution became one of great value, the circula- tion being always exceptionally large.
The steadily increasing use of the library and reading-room, during the first dozen years of its existence, demonstrated so thor- oughly its value to the community that the need of a building exclu- sively devoted to its use was fully realized. Dr. Deere, Lyman Evans and others sought, through friends, to secure aid from Andrew Carnegie toward the erection of a library building. It was the good fortune of Mr. Evans to be the one whose communi- cation first reached the noted philanthropist, and brought the grati- fying response that he would give $20,000 with which to erect such a building for Riverside-upon conditions regarding maintenance such as had already been met by the city. On September 3, 1901, the city trustees pledged the city to fulfill the conditions required, and formally accepted the gift. The library trustees selected as a site the quarter block on the corner of Seventh and Orange streets, accepted plans for a building in the Mission style, prepared by Burnham & Bliesner of Los Angeles, and gave the contract for its erection to J. W. Carroll of Riverside.
The completed building proved exceptionally satisfactory exter- iorly, and the feature of the interior most pleasing was the spacious, well-lighted and artistically decorated reading room, 40x80 feet in area, while the excellent stack room and conveniences required for library work seemed more than ample; and yet in less than ten years more room was required, and a further gift of $7,500 was made by Mr. Carnegie-making the total of his contributions $27,500. This sum, however, does not cover the cost of the build- ing; since the enlargement, city funds were required in addition.
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The city also erected the beautiful branch library building in the Arlington district, to provide special accommodations for that grow- ing part of the city. The total amount invested in library buildings and grounds amounts to about $62,000, and the total value, includ- ing contents, considerably exceeds $100,000.
The number of volumes now (1912) on the shelves amounts to about 45,000. There were circulated during 1911 over 93,000 vol- umes, of which fully 18,000 were classed as juvenile. With the enlargements made there is a possible shelf capacity for fully 100,000 volumes, and recent changes have provided ample and mod- ern conveniences for library work. The reading room for. chil- dren and the enlarged reference rooms are features most valuable. and have justified the liberal expenditures made to provide them.
It seems proper to record the names of those who have faith- fully served in creating and maintaining this popular institution. Those who have acted as trustees are Rev. George H. Deere, Albert S. White, Elmer W. Holmes, Dr. C. J. Gill, Prof. N. C. Twining, J. L. Koethan, Lyman Evans, E. B. Stanton, George H. Dole, George E. Bittenger, William L. Peters, Rev. Dr. W. F. Taylor, H. L. Carnahan, Prof. A. N. Wheelock, L. V. W. Brown, L. A. Brundige, C. L. McFarland and Mrs. S. F. Patterson.
Those who have served as librarians since it became a city institution are: Mrs. Mary M. Smith, Miss Grace Mansfield, Miss Margaret Kyle (now Mrs. F. C. Stone) and Joseph F. Daniels. The assistant librarians have been Miss Fannie M. Skinner (now Mrs. F. T. Morrison), Mrs. M. Stella Morrell and Miss Helen Evans.
The growth of the library has fully kept pace with that of the city, and made necessary the securing of the services of a trained library expert to reorganize it on the most approved lines. The trustees were so fortunate as to engage for this work Joseph F. Daniels, the present librarian, whose efforts since taking charge seem to fully justify the excellent things said of him by those who had been his associates in important school and library work in many eastern states during the past twenty years. Under his supervision the library building has been enlarged and equipped with all the necessary appliances required in a modern library, an ample force of young ladies trained in the best methods, and the foundation laid to make our local library among the very largest and best maintained by cities of our class. Through an annual
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appropriation by the county supervisors the free use of the books is now offered the people of the county at large.
The first money endowment to the library, known as the Ethan Allen Chase fund, was made in July, 1912. This endowment con- sisted of $5,000 in six per cent securities, four per cent to be used for books of science, biography and history, all above four per cent to be added to the fund each year.
CHAPTER IX.
THE RIVERSIDE SCHOOLS By E. W. Holmes
Reference has been made in the story of the Colony Days to the first schools established, when a score or so of pupils represented the school population of all the territory between Colton and the Temescal wash. The next stage in the growth of the schools was when a second house was built alongside the first on the Sixth street grounds, and these put in charge of Miss Belle Hardenburg (Mrs. F. A. Miller) and Miss Lillian Putnam (Mrs. P. T. Binckley). But these were soon overflowing. The trustees then in charge-Dr. Jacob Allen, P. S. Russell and James H. Roe-called an election, asking the voting of bonds for an eight-room building to take the place of those in use. The proposition was voted down-the only case in the history of the valley when a liberal school policy was defeated-and Dr. Allen, indignant over the refusal to support a project he had much at heart, resigned his position, and E. W. Holmes was chosen in his place. The latter held the position of clerk or president of the board for the fifteen years ensuing. A four-room building was immediately erected, instead of the larger one first planned, this being the rear half of the present Lincoln school house. But as the board had foreseen, it was overflowing almost as soon as completed, and in spite of the building of a school for the lower grades on Bandini avenue, they were compelled for years to lease private rooms to care for the increase. In 1880 some relief was gained by the organization of the Sunnyside dis-
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