USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Chicago, the Garden city. Its magnificent parks, boulevards and cemeteries. Together with other descriptive views and sketches > Part 6
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As a whole, there was probably never on this continent, nor in the old world, such a grand and complete conception of pleasure grounds and drives as was here presented. A great commercial mart of then over half a million souls, with rapidly increasing wealth and population, with untiring energy, and every condition that was necessary to insure its future position as the great metropolis of this continent, encircled on every side by park and drive- way, so developed, improved and perfected as shall render it a garden indeed; a restful spot, a breathing space of pure air, and free as the drawn breath to the thousands who may seek its quiet and repose; open to the son of toil and capitalist alike, and of such ample space as will meet the demands of a city of millions; surely the apprehension of this great idea was worthy of the far- sighted appreciation of the intelligent citizens of Chicago, and of the coming wants of this great city when its ample wealth shall insist upon the develop- ment of the esthetic as well as the material growth of its inhabitants.
With such encouragement and material aid as was afforded by the intelli- gence and wealth which made up the city's greatness, one could with reason expect that the present generation would be able to enjoy the pleasure of twenty-five m'les of continuous driving, commencing at Lincoln Park on the north (a wonder in itself) then west, south and east through woodland and grove, by gravel road and rustic viaduct, by lake and stream and bubbling fountain, by greensward and velvety lawn, the air redolent with the perfume of a thousand flowers, and song of bird as clear and free as in virgin forest; till South Park, with all its grand appointments, is reached on the south.
In 1881 the Board of West Chicago Park Commissioners consisted of the following gentlemen: Harvey L. Thompson, Consider B. Carter, George Rahlfs, Samuel HI. McCrea, John Brenock, Willard Woodard. Sextus, N. Wilcox, and J. Frank Lawrence. S. H. McCrea was President; John Buehler. Treasurer: Willard Woodard, Anditor; Thomas J. Suddard, Secretary, and O. F. Dubuis, Engineer. Mr. Wilcox was drowned in Lake Superior in June.
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1881, and Mr. J. Frank Lawrence appointed to succeed him. John Brenock, who was elected President of the Board in 1882, resigned that office in March of that year, and Patrick J. MeGrath succeeded him.
In connection with Mr. Wilcox, it may be mentioned, that early in the spring of 1878, he attempted to remove the treasurer of the board, Mr. Berth- old Löwenthal, from office and for no other perceptible reason than that Mr. Lowenthal refused to make loans out of the funds of his bank to the board, who at that time had to battle with might and main against financial dillicul- ties. The demand for his resignation was sent to him in writing, but the sender had chosen a very inappropriate time for the delivery of the message, for on that very day Mr. Lowenthal was carrying to the grave two of his be- loved children, who had suddenly been torn from him by relentless death. As no charges could be brought against Mr. Lowenthal, he of course paid no heed to the ill timed peremptory demand, and remained in office to the end of his term.
In accordance with an act of the State Legislature, and a petition signed by the owners of a majority of the frontage of the abutting property, the City Council, on September 29, 1879, conveyed by ordinance to the Board of Com- missioners the control of Washington Street, from Halsted Street to Garfield Park. On October 17, 1879, the Board, by formal action, secured control, and in 1881 the work was put under contract from Halsted Street to Rockwell Street.
The Board of West Chicago Park Commissioners, in the years 1883.4, was constituted as follows: Henry S. Burkhardt, Patrick McGrath, Harvey L. Thompson, Christian C. Kohlsaat, George Rahlfs, David W. Clark and John Brenock, and in 1885-6 the members of the Board were the following: Chris- toph Tegtmeyer, Henry S. Burkhardt, Patrick McGrath, Harvey L. Thomp- son, Christian C. Kohlsaat, George Rahlfs, David W. Clark, with George Rahlfs as President.
In the year 1885 contracts were let for the new greenhouse in Garfield Park and for the new conservatory in Humboldt Park. The green-houses are composed of stone foundations, briek substructures and wood, and consist of exotic houses, hot, cold and propagating houses, boiler, fuel, potting and store rooms, offices, passages and entrance porches. The Humboldt Park houses were built with glass superstructures, and cover an area of about 15,000 square feet, divided as follows: Exotic house, 48x64 feet and 62 feet high; hot and cold houses 25×60 feet each, and four propagating houses, each 12x100 feet, and the remainder of the buildings for working rooms and passages. This plant is so arranged that the large and lofty exotic house is in the centre, sur- mounted by two cupolas, with hot and cold houses as wings at the sides, entrance porches and offices in front, and working rooms in the rear, the pro- pagating houses radiating from the same. The Garfield Park plant covers an area about as great as that at Humboldt, divided as follows: An exotic house 48x48 feet, and 65 feet high, hot and cold houses 26x55 feet each, and four propa- gating houses 12×100 feet cach, and the remainder for working rooms and passages. The Garfield plant is so arranged that the exotic house, octagonal in shape and surmounted by a dome and cupola, occupies the center, with hot and cold houses as wings on either side, entrance porches and offices in front and working rooms in the rear, the propagating houses radiating from the same. Each plant is heated by a hot water system skilfully constructed, and so arranged that each house is independent of the other, and the water, after passing through about 7,000 feet of pipe, returns to the two large boilers to be re-heated. The main houses are covered with ribbed glass, decorated with stained glass, and have cement walks. The Humboldt Park conservatory was built at a cost of $22,594.08, and that in Garfield Park at about the same amount.
Union Park, located just east of Ashland Avenue, on the line of Wash- ington Boulevard, was, by ordinance of the City Council passed October 9, 1885, turned over to the Board of West Chicago Park Commissioners, and the Board accepted the control of same by ordinance passed October 12, 1885. This Park, with Washington Boulevard extended through it, provided quite an acquisition to the Park system. It was acquired by the city by pur-
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chase from S. S. Hayes, W. S. Johnston, Samuel L. Baker and others, in December, 1853, and February, 1854. It contains 14 4-5 acres and is bounded by West Lake Street, Bryan Place, Ogden, Warren and Ashland Avenues.
Union l'ark was improved a few years ago as follows: The lake is divided into three parts: First, one basin 300x200 feet, of an oval form; the contours are regular and defined by a moulded stone coping laid on stone foundations. Opposite Park Avenne is a lake landing 66 feet long and 35 feet wide, divided in its center by broad stone steps. and ornamented with stone pedestals for vases and flagstaff. The central feature is a canal 30 feet wide and 75 feet long, spanned by a stone bridge. The third feature is a basin 100 feet in diameter, with stone railing and central decorative fountain. These basins are of Portland cement concrete, and the water in each is six inches on the edges, gradually deepening to three feet in the center. The walks are ·well shaded, furnished with seats, and are much easier of ingress and egress than formerly.
The office building erected in Union Park during 1888 at a cost of $15,864.60 is a picturesque structure, set back from frequented paths, as befits its purely business and private character, and forms an agreeable feature of the park landscape. It has a stone basement, with a brick and frame super- structure and a one-story roof of the English cottage style, the gables being built with exterior timber and sluice panels. The entrance is through a veranda under the roof to the main business office, handsomely partitioned off, with a meeting room for the Board and offices for the President, Secretary and General Superintendent. In the basement are toilet rooms for ladies and gentlemen and a storage room for tools and implements. The interior finish of the building is of red oak, and the walls are sand finished and painted a neutral green. Three large vaults have been built to accommodate the large
mass of books and papers which have accumulated. The conservatory is limited in extent, its contents consisting principally of palms and ferns, but nevertheless a very pretty view as seen from the Board room windows. A graceful winding staircase leads up the interior of the tower, and to the rooms for the janitor and gardener. The material excavated from the basement has been utilized in filling the surroundings of the building and forming new lawns and terraces. A new driveway with an entrance from Bryan Place has also been constructed. The total cost of the improvements has been $19,135.09.
Vernon Park, located on the line of Polk Street, between Center Avenue and Loomis Street, was on October 12, 1885, turned over to the Board of West Chicago Park Commissioners, who accepted control of same by ordinance passed November 9, 1885. This park, covering an area of four acres, laid about four feet below the level or grade of the surrounding property. Thir- teen thousand four hundred and sixty-three dollars and sixty-five cents were expended in re-constructing this park. The total park area has been raised above the street grade, over 25,000 cubic yards of clay, sand and black soil have been used in the filling, 382 trees have been planted and 603 feet of stone curbing set. The park now is one of the most beautiful of the small parks in the city. It is in the center of a large and rapidly improving district, and will perhaps confer as much real benefit and pleasure to the public as any improve- ment heretofore made in our parks. It was donated to the city by Henry D. Gilpin, October 17, 1859, and is bounded by Macalister and Gilpin Places, Loomis, Sibley and Lytle Streets and Centre Avenue.
Jefferson Park, located between Monroe and Adams Streets on the north and south and Throop and Loomis on the east and west, is a pretty little park of about five and one-half acres. It is in the form of a square, and is sur- rounded on all sides by fine residences. This park was, by ordinance of the City Council passed October 9, 1885, turned over to the Board of West Chicago Park Commissioners.
Wicker Park, triangular in shape, located between Robey, Park and Fow- ler streets, in the northwest portion of the city, was turned over to the West Chicago Park Commissioners October 26, 1885. This park is inclosed on all sides by handsome residences, mostly owned by well-known and well-to-do Germans and Scandinavians.
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The public spirit of the people of West Chicago took form during the early winter of 1891 and resulted in the passage by the General Assembly of this State of an Act, approved by Governor Joseph W. Fifer on the 12th day of June, 1891, authorizing the corporate authorities of the town of West Chi- cago to issue bonds for the purpose of improving and completing the parks and boulevards held, controlled and maintained by the Board of West Chicago Park Commissioners, excepting therefrom, however, all boulevards acquired from pre-existing streets. In compliance with the provisions of this Act, such proper action was taken on June 30, 1891, by the corporate authorities of the town of West Chicago, as was necessary to place in the hands of the Park Board bonds of the town of West Chicago aggregating the total sum of one million dollars, to be applied in improvements of the original Park and Boule- vard system as specified in such Act of the General Assembly. These bonds are payable within a period of twenty years from the first day of July, 1891, with semi-annual interest thereon at the rate of five per cent. per annum. In order to secure the payment of the interest on those bonds as it becomes duc from time to time. and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof, accord- ing to the provisions of said Act, as the same shall mature, the corporate authorities of the town of West Chicago, in strict compliance with their legal duties under the constitution and laws of the State of Illinois, have provided for the levy and collection of an annual tax of one and one-half mills of the dollar on all of the taxable property of the town of West Chicago. The bonds so issued and delivered by the town authorities of the town of West Chicago to the West Chicago Park Commissioners are of the denomi- nation of one thousand dollars each. The amount received by the Park Board applicable to general park purposes during the year 1891 was but one hundred and ninety-four thousand six hundred and twenty-six dollars and cighty-three cents. Of this amount one hundred and fifty-seven thousand eight hundred and thirty-four dollars and fifty-one cents were expended in the maintenance of the park system as it was then, leaving the sum of thirty-six thousand seven hundred and ninety-two dollars, thirty-two cents for expenditure upon new improvements. The extension of improvements upon the park system necessarily increased the amount necessary for the purpose of maintenance, and without the timely provision of the one million dollars obtained through the legislation above referred to, it would have been many years before the system of parks could have been completed. The burden to the tax-payer occasioned by the issue of the one million dollar bonds is imperceptible when the beneficent results of a complete park system are considered and appreci- ated. These bonds came to the aid of the West Chicago Park Commissioners in a most opportune time, and enabled the Board to place its parks and pleasure-ways in a most attractive condition at all times, and especially for the delight and enjoyment of the millions who are our guests during the World's Columbian Exposition. Contracts were at once awarded for all the material necessary in the construction of the boulevards and for the completion of the unimproved portions of Douglas, Garfield and Humboldt Parks, and for such additional buildings as have been deemed necessary.
Contracts were also let for the construction of a bridge across the west branch of the south branch of the Chicago river and the building of a bridge in conjunction with the South Park Commissioners across the Illinois and Michigan Canal; both bridges were built within the South-West Boulevard. The construction of these two bridges effectually unites the South Park and the West Park systems, and gives to the world a publie pleasure-way unsur- passed anywhere in length, width and attractiveness for pleasure seekers.
On March 14th, of this year, Governor Altgeld appointed the following as members of the West Chicago Park Board :
John W. Garvey to suceed George Mason, Elmund Z. Bradowski to suc- ceed John Kralovec, resigned; Andrew J. Graham to succeed Hermann Weinhardt, resigned; Carl Moll to succeed Harvey L. Thompson resigned; and James J. Townsend to succeed Jefferson L. Fulton, resigned.
Scene in Humboldt Park,
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HUMBOLDT PARK.
This popular pleasure garden is situated in the northwestern part of the city, the two main entrances being on California Avenue at the intersection of this street with Division Street and North Avenue. It offers to friends of nature a greater wealth of picturesque views and sylvan retreats, than any other of our artificial forests and is especially fortunate in having been laid out and fostered by enlightened taste and skill, displayed in a high degree by Mr. Frederick Karnatz, the veteran landscape gardener and superintendent of this charming park. Here as in all of our other large public parks much money was spent in ornamental and landscape gardening, the fruits of which, the large number of noble trees, judiciously and picturesquely planted, add the greatest value to these grounds. Of course here too all the landscape, so to speak, had to be manufactured, but the grounds being naturally some- what higher than those at Garfield and Douglas Parks, less difficulty was en- countered in preparing the waste lands for their blessed purpose. The main feature of Humboldt Park is to be found in the magnificence and healthy ap- pearance of the great number and large variety of shade trees. The well kept driveways and footpaths leading through the length and width of the park present a series of natural vistas of land and lake scenery, which break like sudden glimpses of fairy-land upon the gaze of the delighted pilgrim from the hot and dusty city. A net-work of such drives and walks leads deftly over hilly formations, through forest-like groves, through glade and glen ; they take us from changing sunshine to shadow, from the margin of the glittering lake to.beds of fragrant flowers, to ever recurring vistas of rare beauty and variety - these, and the skilful arrangement of the flower garden in front of the palm house, the judicious grouping of blooming shrubberies here and there and many other beautiful things besides have transformed this spot into one of the loveliest and most delightful suburban parks in this country.
It was opened to the public in July 1877, but was at that time only par- tially completed. The Germans of Chicago, of whom a large number reside in the northwestern part of the city and the vicinity of the park, were greatly pleased when this park was named after the great naturalist and master in science, Alexander von Humboldt, their illustrious countryman, and they celebrated the day of the opening, it being a Sunday, in regular German fashion. They had a large and imposing street-procession, which was fol- lowed at the park by music, song and speeches, the whole taking the shape of a highly enjoyable "Volksfest."
The promise given by Humboldt Park at that early day, when it yet was in its infancy, has been faithfully kept, thanks to the skilful hand of the aforementioned landscape gardener. In no other of our parks is the separa- tion of the system of park-landscapes from that of garden-landscapes so plainly visible and so ably carried through as in this model-park. Humboldt Park has an area of 200 acres, of which in 1891 only half were under cultiva- tion. Since then however the entire northwestern part which until then had been a barren waste, has been taken in hand by a host of workmen, who are transforming all that territory into beautiful groves, lawns, drives and lakes. For these extensive improvements the board of commissioners appropriated no less than $220,000, this sum being a part of the $1,000,000 derived from the sale of bonds authorized by the state legislature. The new work comprises the excavations for a new lake, which will have an average width of 400 feet and will cover an area of about 31 acres. On its northern shore a handsome Casino, to cost $60,000, is now in the course of construction; it will be three stories high, and beneath it on the lakeshore will be the boat landing-place. This part of the park was also chosen for the erection of a handsome music- pavilion and promises as a whole to add quite an attractive feature to lovely
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Humboldt Park. All these improvements were greatly hindered in their progress by the long weeks of rainy weather in the spring of 1892, to which is owing the fact, that instead of bringing this new section to completion at the end of last year, it will not be ready for public use before next fall.
On the 16th day of October last (1892) there was unveiled in this park a very handsome bronze statue of Alexander von Humboldt, after whom the park was named. Fully 20,000 persons-some enthusiasts go so far as to claim double that number- witnessed the dedication. Even the lesser number was a tremendous outpouring considering the limited means of transportation to the beautiful park. The occasion was one long to be remembered, not only by the thousands of Germans who participated, but by the countless numbers of other nationalities present. Vast as was the crowd, it testified in mute though powerful manner to the truism that a truly great man belongs to no one nation. It seemed as if by silent agreement all the speakers on this occasion had taken this truism as their leading thought, for all dwelt up- on the fact that, abstruse as scientific research of. necessity is, Humboldt had in a rare degree the faculty of teaching all people of whatever nation and whatever walk in life. It was a glorious and impressive tribute to the great man's "Kosmos." There was, of course, a grand parade of civic societies; there was "music by the band" as well as by vocal societies, and there was an elaborate oratorical programme-separately and together effective, but far mnore impressive than it all was the great throng of people that was massed around the central space in front of the old pavilion, where the bronze figure of Humboldt stands, the earnest face whith its massive brow and the sharply accentuated features turned toward the rising sun. The Humboldt statue, the generous gift of Mr. F. J. Dewes, a prominent and highly respected Ger- man citizen of Chicago, is pronounced by connoisseurs a masterpiece of the sculptor's art. It was cast in the famous foundry of Gladenbeck & Son, in the German capital. Its height is ten feet and it shows the great savant in the position of a lecturer. In the half raised right hand, which rests against the body, he holds a flower, while the left, in which is clasped a book, rests easily upon the limb of the tree trunk by his side. Partly visible is a globe at his feet, alongside of which the head of an animal and other symbolic figures are seen, indicating the various sciences in which the great naturalist excelled. The whole breathes truth and warmth, pulsating life; the figure shows noble dignity, and the artist has admirably succeeded in portraying Humboldt's nobility of soul, genius and self-reliance. The observer is deeply impressed with the repose and equipoise so dominant in this work of art, and by all real artists considered the first law of sculpture. The monument is an original work of Felix Goerling, a young German artist of rare talents. The granite pedestal was designed and executed by H. C. Hoffman & Co., of this city. It is made from the celebrated Freeport, Me., granite. The ceremony of un- veiling the statue was conducted under the auspices of the German Press club. The first step in the direction of making arrangements worthy of the occasion was taken by several friends of F. J. Dewes, the donor of the statue, during his absence in Europe last summer. A committee of thirteen was chosen, and as a large majority of these were also associate members of the German Press club, the desire was expressed that this organization should take full charge of the preparations. The entire committee, to which two mem- bers of the Humboldt Celebration club-an organization formed for the sole purpose of arranging the parade of societies who participated in the ceremon- ies-were added, was as follows:
A. C. Hesing, Ed. Uihlein, Louis Wolff.
John Buehler,
C. H. Plautz,
J. Rosenthal,
Harry Rubens,
Edward Rose,
H. Greenebaum,
J. Goldzier, H. Weinhardt, Andreas Simon,
F. Amberg,
Edward Koch,
Theo. Janssen,
Dr. M. Henius,
Paul Haedicke, Dr. F. H. Bernard, Carl Haerting,
F. Glogauer,
E. F. L. Gauss,
J. P. Arnold, Felix L. Senff.
A. St. George,
Dr. H. Harms,
:
15 Copyrighte S. MFRIEDERANG
Monument of Fritz Reuter in Humboldt Park,
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Henry Greenebaum was selected as chief marshal and Jacob Gross, George Heinzmann and Franz Amberg were his aids. The arrangements in the park, for seating the distinguished guests, several hundred singers, and particularly for handling the vast crowds were in charge of Park Commis- sioner Weinhardt, and it is but just to state that not a single hitch occurred to inar the impressiveness of the scene. The formal programme opened with the arrival of the parading societies, twenty in number and several thousand strong, held well in line by Major Heinzmann, the chief of staff. The Hum- boldt Select Knights of America, in very handsome regalia, formed a circle around the veiled statue and Professor Hand's orchestra intoned a hymnus, which was followed by Mohr's Cantata "At the Altar of Truth," executed by the following singing societies, under direction of Gustav Ehrhorn : Teutonia Maennerchor, Schiller Liedertafel, Liedertafel Vorwaerts, Freie Saenger- bund, Humboldt Saengerclub, Almira Saengerclub. Then Mr. A. C. Hesing, president of the monument committee, formally presented the statue tothe west park board in a German speech full of his characteristic vigor and earnest- ness. Formal though the remarks of necessity were, Mr. Hesing was again and again interrupted by applause, especially when in conclusion he said: "This monument will not only be an ornament to the city, but it will prove a mighty incentive to deep thought and intellectual activity to every beholder. Douglas, Drexel, Martin Ryerson's Indian group, Schiller, Lincoln, LaSalle, Linnæus and Grant ornament our parks and give silent but effective proof of the drift of our people. For Alexander von Humboldt no better place could have been chosen than this beautiful park that bears his name."
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