A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1, Part 62

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 826

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In this emergency, Mr. Oliver, who had often before manifested his public spirit in favor of the community in which he had built up his great fortune, came to the assistance of the promoters of this civic enterprise. The contract entered into provided that he should have permission to enter on the premises owned by the city and erect thereon a city hall, the building to remain his property un- less and until the city should exercise an option given in the contract to purchase the same. The hall should be suited to the needs of the city, and according to plans and speci- fications named, and the work let to the best bidder, the cost not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars. The contract further pro- vided that when the building should be con- structed it should be leased to the city for twelve years, at an annual rental of seven thousand two hundred dollars, payable from year to year, as the same should accrue. It was also provided that the city should have an option to purchase the building at any time at a price equal to the original contract cost, with four per cent interest, less the several amounts of rent then paid, also with

four per cent interest. In case this option should not be exercised, the property should remain Mr. Oliver's, and in that case he should have the right to purchase the grounds.

As there was some doubt as to the validity of this contract, in order to test the matter, suit was brought by a property holder to en- join the city from performance. The cir- cuit court held that the contract was in effect a purchase, under the guise of a lease, and was therefore invalid. The supreme court, however, decided that, by reason of the option, the city undertook no obligation of purchase, and that the contract was valid.ª

CITY HALL, SOUTH BEND.

Mr. Oliver, accordingly, went ahead and constructed the building; and the city has since continued to pay him the annual rental, as stipulated in the contract. Although the city has assumed no obligation to purchase, vet as soon as it finds itself with sufficient funds, there is no doubt that it will exercise its option of purchase, and thus become the owner of this beautiful and convenient city hall.

The building is in keeping with its noble purpose. All the city officers and boards, a. See City of South Bend v. Reynolds, 155 Ind., p. 70.

THE

Ork FU

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Astor. er es and Tildon Fourcations.

1909

A Coquillard 1

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

including the police department, are housed within its ample walls. Indeed, it is doubtful whether any city in Indiana is provided with a more substantial, elegant and convenient city hall.

Sec. 6 .- PARKS .- In the year 1878 the first public expression was made in favor of a park for the city of South Bend. While generous in many respects, as we have seen, the pro- prietors of the original plat of the town seem never to have thought of a park. It may be that the fine oak openings which formed the site of the town, together with the Parkovash on the east side of the river and Portage Prairie on the northwest, to say nothing of the other beautiful prairies and woodlands in the vicinity, made the whole country a natural park, so that perhaps the doughty founders of the city would have smiled at the idea of reserving valuable town property for so useless a purpose as park or pleasure ground. Yet the founders of other towns as pleasantly situated did not think it unwise to set apart publie squares and plots

of ground for pleasure resorts for the peo- ple. The lack of liberality in this respect is painfully apparent in our confined court house grounds; and here a comparison with the neighboring county seats makes our de- ficiency the more marked. In Goshen, Ply- mouth, Valparaiso and Laporte a full square is devoted to the court house; but in South Bend but one quarter of a square was set apart in the beginning for that purpose. The county commissioners afterwards bought an additional lot for the county jail, and still later bought two more lots, one for the present jail and one upon which the old court house has been placed. The founders of the city of Kalamazoo, were more far sighted in this, particular, having laid aside two full squares for public parks, in addition to a square for the county buildings.

Even in 1878, when the subject of parks was first broached, the grounds considered were most unpromising. They consisted of an overflowed swamp waste along the east

side of the St. Joseph river, extending from Jefferson street to Division street. It was at first but a dumping ground; but, in the course of years, the unsavory locality has become the most beautiful spot in South Bend, and is known to the public as Howard Park. A more detailed history of this park will be given at the close of this section.

But little further interest seems to have been taken in public parks for many years. In 1889, however, Alexis Coquillard, who in- herited the enterprise and public spirit, as he did the name, of his distinguished uncle, the founder of the city, showed his zeal in this direction by making a gift of four lots to Howard Park, and, still more, by offering to the city for park purposes a fine tract of ground, of nearly one hundred acres, on. the east side of the corporation. He went so far as to lay out this park, plant trees and grade boulevards, walks and drives. In Coquillard Park, the city of South Bend seemed about to have one of the finest parks in the west. Unhappily, Mr. Coquillard, in the midst of his laudable enterprise, and in what should seem to be the prime of his active and useful life, died on February 25, 1890. With his death the life seemed to leave the noble project which he so fondly cher- ished. It was not until 1906 that all contro- versies as to this gift were settled, and the city accepted, in compromise of all its claims, a tract of ten acres, taken out of the grounds in dispute, for which the name of Coquillard Park has been retained.

With the coming in of the new century, attention was drawn to the large tract on the St. Joseph river, at the foot of Michigan street, which had been purchased in 1895 by the city for the use of the water works de- partment. The building of a pumping sta- tion on those grounds, and the sinking and capping over of numerous artesian wells, left the greater part of the tract suitable for use as an additional park, without interfering with its use for water works purposes. The

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

grounds were accordingly graded, planted and improved as a park.

On November 27, 1900, David R. Leeper died. He had been born very near to the present limits of the city of South Bend. on January 12, 1832 and was during the whole of his vigorous manhood one of our most honored citizens. He represented the county in the state legislature, in both house . and senate, and was also mayor of the city. His residence, during the later years of his life, just north of the river and near the new park, perhaps also suggested his name as one that might most appropriately be be- stowed upon it. The beautiful stretch of

in 1905, by the plaeing of a drinking foun- tain in this park, the gift of Mrs. Mary P. Bngbee, in memory of her husband, Almond Bugbee.

Another park along the river is La Salle Park, located on the east side of the river, near the Sample street bridge. This will be only a park in name until the bayou in the river at that point has been filled up. When finally improved La Salle Park, like all our other river parks will be a place of beauty.

The Studebaker Park, in the southeast part of the eity, named in honor of Henry Studebaker, and the Kaley Park, in the southwest part, are among the largest and

LEEPER PARK, SOUTH BEND.

ground along the river, including the island near the south shore, was accordingly named Leeper Park. In 1904, there was an extension of the park to the north along the river, from Michigan street to Lafayette street. Mean- while a boulevard had been constructed all along the river, from Marion street to Michi- gan street, which has since been extended north, the intention being ultimately to have a continuous driveway down to River View cemetery and the old portage. Leeper Park is destined therefore to be one of the finest pleasure grounds anywhere along the banks of the St. Joseph. The name of another worthy citizen of South Bend was honored,

most valuable of our recent acquisitions. These fine breathing places are gifts to the eity by publie spirited donors whose names they bear. Pottawatomie Park, the old county fair grounds between South Bend and the town of River Park, has been described in connection with the history of River Park."

A comprehensive summary of the condi- tion of the park system of the city, at the close of the year 1906, will be found in the following extract from the report of Herman H. Beyer, the park superintendent, for that year :

"The year 1906 was marked by numerous a. Chap. 9, Subd. 3, Sec. 4.

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

park extensions in South Bend. The city ac- quired in the past year approximately seventy-eight acres of park property, dis- tributed as follows: Coquillard park, com- prising ten aeres, secured by the city in the settlement of the old Coquillard park litiga- tion. This ground is in the northeastern part of the city on East Campau street. It lies directly east of the Perley school and is a. very desirable site for a public park. The most important park property which was added to our park system is the old County Fair grounds, presented to the city of South Bend by the county commissioners for park purposes. This ground is situated on the north side of Mishawaka road just beyond the eastern city limits. It comprises about sixty acres and is a most beautiful piece of rolling and wooded land. This tract will be known as Pottawatomie Park, in honor of the tribe of Indians of that name who formerly in- habited this locality.

"The city has also acquired by purchase an addition to Kaley Park which con- tains about three acres. This addition is a great improvement to the park as it is now entirely surrounded by streets. Formerly the south line was bounded by an alley which prevented a proper development of this beau- tiful piece of wooded ground. The next property acquired by purchase was about four acres from Messrs. Anderson and Du- Shane. This is situated at the foot of North Lafayette street, and will make a valuable addition to Leeper Park. It also forms a connecting link with the river shore drive (Marion boulevard) and Chapin Park.

"A great deal of work has already been done in the new park grounds. At Coquil- lard Park a great many trees and shrubs were planted; the entire park was seeded, and laid out with drives and walks.

"Kaley Park was thoroughly cleared of leaves and underbrush, twenty-four park benches were stationed in this park which were appreciated by the many people that 25

sought rest and shade in this beautiful piece of woodland.

"We have also done considerable work in Pottawatomie Park. This work was limited to the removal of stumps and underbrush. At this park were also placed thirty benches, which were much appreciated.

"There has also been considerable work done in Leeper and Howard Parks the past year. The west end of Leeper Park between Main and Lafayette streets, was graded, seeded and planted with trees and shrubs; this will soon bring this part of the park into good condition.

At Howard Park the new addition was de- veloped. In this location was ereeted the beautiful Studebaker fountain that was do- nated to this park by Mr. John M. Stude- baker, who is greatly interested in the de- velopment of this park. The band concerts at Leeper and Howard Parks were very much appreciated by the thousands of people that gathered in the parks on Sunday afternoons during the season.

"Our Zoo at Leeper Park is one of the chief attractions at that park on account of the numerous donations of pets that were received the past year. We were compelled to increase our eage room to take care of this fine collection of pets. This department is receiving considerable attention and is mak- ing gratifying progress."

After the foregoing report was made, Mr. Calvert H. Defrees, in the summer of 1907, placed in Howard Park a fine bronze drink- ing fountain; which, like the eleetrie foun- tain presented by Mr. Studebaker, and the drinking fountain in Leeper Park,, presented by Mrs. Bugbee, is highly appreciated by the throngs of summer visitors.

Closely connected with the pleasure resorts of the city, yet not of them, is Springbrook Park, owned and managed by the Chicago, South Bend & Northern Indiana railway company, and situated near the river on the line of the interurban, between South Bend and Mishawaka. Upon the grounds are a

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

baseball enelosure, a casino and numerous other places of amusement. Throngs of peo- ple visit Springbrook during the summer season.

In the light of the splendid progress that has recently been made in extending and ornamenting our parks, it may be interesting now to look baek over the history of our first park, the first effort at park making in our beautiful city. On April 7, 1903, the follow- ing paper was read before the Northern In- diana Historical Society by the writer of this history :

THE STORY OF A PARK.

"Prior to the year 1878, the tract along the east bank of the St. Joseph river in the city of South Bend, stretching from Jefferson street to the Grand Trunk (formerly Lake Huron) railroad, was an impassable morass, breeding malaria in summer and good in winter for skating only. Cottrell avenue ran on the eastern side of the tract, and the ownership of the part between the avenue and the river was in doubt. This morass was elaimed by Mr. William Heck, who platted the same into lots, which, however, remained vacant and unimproved, except that a part of the ground was scooped out deeper to make an ice pond for the cutting and storing of ice in the cold season.

"The place had become a nuisance in the summer as an ague breeder; but, as the city had no unquestioned control over it, the means of relief were not apparent; and yet the people were insistent on some plan for the abatement of the nuisance. Few persons in those days thought of parks, still less did any dream of turning this swamp into a pleas- ure ground. Something however, had to be done in the interest of the public health ; and here, as in many other cases, necessity became the mother of invention.

"On October 14. 1878, the writer of this paper, then a member of the city council, offered the following resolution, which was adopted :

" 'Resolved, by the common council of the city of South Bend, Indiana, That the city attorney is hereby directed to examine the title of the city to that traet of overflowed land lying along the east bank of the St. Joseph river, between the Jefferson street bridge and the Chicago & Lake Huron rail- road, and bounded as follows: On the north by Jefferson street. on the east by Cottrell avenue, on the south by Division street, and on the west by the St. Joseph river; and if the title of the city to said tract is found to be good, then that the attorney report an ordinance to the council setting apart said tract as a city dumping ground for the de- posit of all refuse matter from the streets and alleys of the city, with the view of finally filling, leveling and planting said ground, and thus, in time, converting the same into a public park or pleasure ground for the use of the citizens of South Bend.'

"On November 25, following, the city at- torney, now the Hon. Lucius Hubbard, re- ported that, in his opinion, the said lands were a part of Cottrell avenne, but that as 'Heck's addition' they were held adverse to the city ; and he requested authority to bring suit in the circuit court to quiet the title of the city; which authority was granted.

"On January 6, 1879, the attorney re- ported that John and George Beck, who ap- peared to have title to the greater part of 'Heck's addition.' were willing to quit claim to the city their supposed interest for one hundred dollars, each party to pay one-half costs of suit in court.

"On February 3, 1879, the city offered to pay sixty dollars for the lots in Heck's ad- dition held by John and George Beek. This offer was accepted and the purchase made.

"On February 4, 1879, the Hon. Lucius Tong, then mayor of the city; Jonathan P. Creed and Charles LaCoss quit-elaimed for a small consideration four other lots in Heck's addition. And on February 17, 1879, the city engineer was directed to mark the boundaries of the park.

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

"On March 17, 1879, pursuant to a motion therefor introduced by the writer, ordinance No. 524, establishing the city park and place- ing the same under the control of the city marshal, was adopted by the common council.

"On April 5, 1880, also on motion of the writer, the board of public improvements was authorized to plant 50 trees, elm and soft maple, upon the narrow ridge of ground near the river bank ; which was done. The maples all died, and some of the elms also, but many of the elms have grown and flourished, and now afford grateful shade in the summer weather.

"Afterwards, on like suggestion of the writer, the city purchased the Semortier property, between Hill street and Cottrell avenue, being lot 170, Cottrell's first addition to Lowell; and on June 4, 1883. the common council vacated that part of the avenue be- tween the Semortier lot and the river, thus greatly enlarging the original ground.

"No further action, except the gradual filling up of the low ground, was taken until November 5, 1889, when Alexis Coquillard, as a gift for the park, made a deed to the city of lots 195, 196, 197 and 200 in Cottrell's first addition. Lot 200, so given by Mr. Coquillard, proved to be of exceptional value, inasmuch as it fronted upon St. Louis street, and thus enabled the authorities afterwards to connect the walks and driveways of the park directly with that street.

"During the fifteen years, from 1878 until 1893, the 'City Park' was little more than a by-word among the people, and in the city press. The locality was indeed an unsavory one. At first a quagmire, the filling of street cleanings made it only slightly less offensive ; and those who saw a future 'public park or pleasure ground' in the repulsive tract were compelled to suffer much obloquy in connec- tion with the embryotic park. But the refuse continued to be covered from time to time with fresh earth; and when the years 1892, 1893 and 1894 came around, the people began to see that, in the end, the originators of

the park on the St. Joseph were sure to be vindicated. To give some idea of the work accomplished, it is said that the filling, or 'made ground,' is, in places from ten to fif- teen feet deep.

"On June 8, 1891, the common conneil elected a board of park commissioners, con- sisting at first of Frank Mayr, Corwin B. Vanpelt and Samuel S. Perley. On October 5, 1891, this board reported that steps should be taken for the improvement of the park. The filling was at this time nearly complete, and the ground almost ready for covering with fresh soil, preparatory to grading, lay- ing out walks and planting to grass, flowers and trees. On July 10, 1893, the park com- missioners took the first important action looking to the permanent improvement of the grounds. The members of the board at that time were Corwin B. Vanpelt, Frank Mayr and Joseph E. Robert. They recommended the appropriation of $5,000 for the erection of a sea wall along the river front and for other necessary work. The matter was before the council for several months; and it was not until June 25, 1894, nearly a year after- wards, that ordinance No. 949, making the appropriation requested. was finally passed.

"On February 26, 1894, the city engineer, William M. Whitten, reported that he had nearly ready for the engraver a new map of the city and desired to have a name given to the park, so that he might enter the same on his map. The engineer in his report was kind enough to refer to the action taken by the writer while a member of the council in securing the grounds for the city and pro- viding for their enlargement and improve- ment: and he suggested that the writer's name be therefore given to the park. The council accepted Mr. Whitten's suggestion ; and by a unanimous vote ordered that the tract should thereafter be known as 'Howard Park.'

"On June 25, 1894, Corwin B. Vanpelt, Martin JJ. Roach and Oren G. Huff were elected park commissioners.

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

"On February 25, 1895, the commissioners asked that the park cease to be further used as a dumping ground. The city then pro- cured other ground for the purpose, since known as La Salle Park, adjoining the new Sample street bridge, and also lying along the east side of the St. Joseph river.

"The commissioners now sought for a com- petent landscape artist to lay out the park, and were exceedingly fortunate in securing the services of Mr. John G. Barker, at whose magic touch the former swamp began at last to assume the fair outlines of a pleasure ground. Under his skilled hand a wonderful transformation has taken place. Those who enjoy the park, as it is today, owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Barker. He has shown by apt illustration how 'a thing of beauty is a joy forever.'

"During the summer of 1895 the fine sea wall and cement walk along the river was constructed. The report filed by the com- missioners, November 19, 1895, shows re- ceipts $5,673.96, and expenditures $5,663.62. The funds in the hands of the board were most judiciously expended. The results of that summer's labors are not only for the pleasure of those now living, but for the en- joyment of thousands yet unborn.

"The good work continued. The trees flourished from year to year. The green sod grew firmer. The gravel walks and drives were extended until they wound grace- fully over the whole tract. During the sum- mer months picturesque mounds of flowers mingled their bright colors with the deep green of the grass and trees and with the silvery sheen from the waters of the St. Joseph.

"And, lest the people in their enjoyment should forget that life is not all a holiday and that there had been times that tried men's souls, Captain Vanpelt, president of the board, secured three fine guns that had done service during the war, and had them mounted where they remain today, as if on guard against any possible enemy that might

appear upon the placid bosom of the fair St. Joseph.

"On October 25. 1897, the board, in a peti- tion filed with the city council, began to agitate the procurement of additional land to the east of the park up to the alley first west of St. Louis street. The demand for that addition did not then, however, seem to be sufficiently urgent to induce the city fathers to yield to the request of the park commis- sioners. That extension was destined to come, but only after many years.

"With his third, and final, report, filed January 24. 1898, Captain Vanpelt, in the following words, feeling perhaps that he had done his work of love, and done it well, handed in to the common council his resigna- tion of the office which he had so acceptably filled : 'Owing,' he said, 'to the pressure of private business, I feel it my duty to tender you my resignation, to take effect immedi- ately. I desire to thank you, on behalf of the board of park commissioners, for the uniform courtesy and consideration you have at all times extended to us in the matter of the im- provement of Howard Park, transferring a pestilential tract into what is, even now, a clean and wholesome spot, which, in time, will inure to the benefit of the general public. " 'C. B. Vanpelt, " 'President and Treasurer.'

"Would that every public servant might lay down his burden with as much honor to himself and with as many good wishes from the public who have been so greatly benefited by his unselfish labors.

"Captain Vanpelt had a worthy successor in the person of Irving A. Sibley, who was elected in his place, and who continued the same progressive methods, until the en- actment of the new city charter, when the department of parks was placed in charge of the board of public works.

"On Friday evening, August 18, 1899, the park was formally dedicated as a public pleasure ground. in one of the most splendid civic demonstrations ever witnessed in the

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queen city of the St. Joseph valley. The dedication was in connection with a patriotic festival in honor of Indiana's distinguished soldier, Henry W. Lawton, then winning his laurels in the Philippines. Dedication and festival were under the auspices and direc- tion of Auten Post No. 8, G. A. R., of which the writer was then post commander, and Auten Relief Corps No. 14, W. R. C. Full and graphic accounts of the double celebra- tion were given in the city press next day.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1, Part 62

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 826

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 826