Encyclopedia Dubuque
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JACKSON PARK: Difference between revisions
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[[File:JacksonPark2 copy.jpg|150px|thumb|left|View of Jackson Park from North Main. Photo courtesy: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium]]JACKSON PARK. Dubuque's first designated cemetery. The area now known as Jackson Park was originally called City Cemetery with the early settlement in 1833 and was fenced by subscription. (1) | [[File:JacksonPark2 copy.jpg|150px|thumb|left|View of Jackson Park from North Main. Photo courtesy: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium]]JACKSON PARK. Dubuque's first designated cemetery. The area now known as Jackson Park was originally called City Cemetery with the early settlement in 1833 and was fenced by subscription. (1) | ||
The old cemetery at Dubuque consisted of twenty | The old cemetery at Dubuque consisted of twenty acres, about one-half of which | ||
was laid out into lots. It was not well drained, because a circular tract in the | |||
middle was lower than the surroundings. It was thus thought best to secure another | |||
20-acre tract lying immediately west and contiguous to the old yard. It was arranged | |||
that 70 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of lots should be paid to the owner of | |||
the land, and the other 30 per cent go to the treasury to be used in laying out the | |||
ground, fencing it, etc. To Alderman Kiene was due this successful plan of securing | |||
the new tract. Mr. Norris laid out the lots, etc. The cemetery thus laid out and expanded | |||
land, and the other 30 per cent go to the treasury to be | consisted of forty acres in a regular square, beautifully situated and commanding a view | ||
both of the Mississippi and the city. The price of the lots was fixed at sums varying | |||
from $5 to $25 each. About four acres were set apart for a potter's field. (2) | |||
The site soon posed a problem. As early as November 18, 1837, a conflict of certain streets with the graveyard was reported and considered. During a [[CHOLERA]] outbreak in the summer of 1852, demands for a new burial site led to the cemetery being condemned. In 1853 a new cemetery was first opened, lots were sold and improvements were made. People whose fences had protected in part the old cemetery now removed them, leaving the graves exposed to cattle and hogs. (3) On March 13, 1856 all persons having friends buried in the old cemetery were requested to remove them to [[LINWOOD CEMETERY]]. In 1858 tombstones were removed, the remaining graves were excavated, and the remains taken to Linwood. | The site soon posed a problem. As early as November 18, 1837, a conflict of certain streets with the graveyard was reported and considered. During a [[CHOLERA]] outbreak in the summer of 1852, demands for a new burial site led to the cemetery being condemned. In 1853 a new cemetery was first opened, lots were sold and improvements were made. People whose fences had protected in part the old cemetery now removed them, leaving the graves exposed to cattle and hogs. (3) On March 13, 1856 all persons having friends buried in the old cemetery were requested to remove them to [[LINWOOD CEMETERY]]. In 1858 tombstones were removed, the remaining graves were excavated, and the remains taken to Linwood. |
Revision as of 05:30, 23 February 2016
JACKSON PARK. Dubuque's first designated cemetery. The area now known as Jackson Park was originally called City Cemetery with the early settlement in 1833 and was fenced by subscription. (1)
The old cemetery at Dubuque consisted of twenty acres, about one-half of which was laid out into lots. It was not well drained, because a circular tract in the middle was lower than the surroundings. It was thus thought best to secure another 20-acre tract lying immediately west and contiguous to the old yard. It was arranged that 70 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of lots should be paid to the owner of the land, and the other 30 per cent go to the treasury to be used in laying out the ground, fencing it, etc. To Alderman Kiene was due this successful plan of securing the new tract. Mr. Norris laid out the lots, etc. The cemetery thus laid out and expanded consisted of forty acres in a regular square, beautifully situated and commanding a view both of the Mississippi and the city. The price of the lots was fixed at sums varying from $5 to $25 each. About four acres were set apart for a potter's field. (2)
The site soon posed a problem. As early as November 18, 1837, a conflict of certain streets with the graveyard was reported and considered. During a CHOLERA outbreak in the summer of 1852, demands for a new burial site led to the cemetery being condemned. In 1853 a new cemetery was first opened, lots were sold and improvements were made. People whose fences had protected in part the old cemetery now removed them, leaving the graves exposed to cattle and hogs. (3) On March 13, 1856 all persons having friends buried in the old cemetery were requested to remove them to LINWOOD CEMETERY. In 1858 tombstones were removed, the remaining graves were excavated, and the remains taken to Linwood.
Jesse P. FARLEY and others petitioned to have the old cemetery converted into a public park. (4) The first efforts to reestablish the area into a natural setting were not completely successful. Skeletons occasionally washed to the surface after heavy rains. In 1869 under contract with the council William REBMAN graded down, leveled and planted with trees the old cemetery now called Jackson park. On July 5, 1869, the Daily Times reported that thoughtless boys were allowed to play 'shinny' with leg bones pulled from piles left by renovation efforts.
In 1872 the Dubuque Herald urged the city council to urged the city council to move forward with their pledge to purchase two outlots adjoining the former cemetery. The paper stated that "public property in Dubuque has never received the attention and improvement it deserves; there has always been a dilatory on the part of those in authority in obtaining property useful and necessary for public convenience, pleasure and ornamentation..." (5)
Efforts continued to proceed slowly. To improve Jackson Square a music stand or pagoda in the park similar to the one planned for Washington Square was constructed in July 1877 from $200 in donations. (6) HEER & NAESCHER won the contract for the $150 building project. (7) Ten people donated funds. The stairs on the pagoda were steep and without railings. Presidential candidate James G. Blaine declined to use the Jackson Park pagoda for a speech in late 1878. Instead he used an A. A. Cooper wagon bed. The newspapers chuckled that a Republican had stood on a “Democratic platform” to give his speech. (8) The pagoda was available for band use only and sitting in it was prohibited. (9) The incomplete nature of Jackson Park is suggested in an 1878 rumor that the Council was planning to purchase the lots north of the park to enlarge it, the Dubuque Herald offered “This is as it should be." (10) Apparently "Jackson Square" was not generally open to the public. In May 1880 the Dubuque Herald commented that Alderman Jones had offered the suggestion to the council at its last meeting. The newspaper commented that "as it is now, it (the park) is of no comfort to anyone...The objection that the young trees will be injured in far-fetched." (11)
Both parks Washington and Jackson parks have served as the sites for an impressive array of events, including musical concerts, and educational programs. One rather curious program conducted in Jackson Park in 1895 was a stereoscopic show by Professor J. A. Wilson, who represented the Afro-American Department of the Atlanta Exposition. (12) In recent years, the "Music in the Parks" program has offered families free entertainment from local groups and individuals. (13) Curiously the parks were not simply available for any public use and the early years are filled with complaints of inadequate benches, those available being located within the park and not on the outer street fronts, and usually filled with "riffraff" who intimidated "proper ladies." (14)
The park was formally presented to the city on September 12, 1877 when the pagoda was dedicated by Congressman David B. HENDERSON. (15) Due to neglect, however, the structure lasted only twenty years before it was torn down and sold for scrap. A memorial fountain to honor Judge Benjamin William LACY was added to the park in 1913. (16)
In 1890 the park was suggested as the site for the new DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. Among the reasons given for not using the site in this way was a city ordinance of 1861. This stated that the council:
reserved, dedicated and established as a public square (giving the dimensions) to be known as Jackson Square, forever that the said square shall be reserved and appropriated solely as a place of public resort and recreation. (17)
In 1966 a proposal was made to the Dubuque Park Board to sell Jackson Park as the site of a new DUBUQUE BOYS' CLUB building. Directors of the Boys' Club had suggested they waned to use about one-seventh of the land for the new building. On February 10, 1966 the idea was rejected by the park board with two members voting against the proposal and one abstaining. After the vote, the chairman of the board expressed the idea that the board should discuss the purchase of the land with representatives of ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. Board members conceded the park had not been kept up, but that was because of a lack of funds. (19)
At Linwood a common grave was created. On September 1, 1996 during Iowa's sesquicentennial a marker was dedicated to these unknown pioneer citizens. The inscription reads:
Unknown but not Forgotten. Buried on this hillside are the remains of unknown pioneer citizens of Dubuque. Bodies exhumed from the area of Dubuque now known as Jackson Park were re-interred at this site in 1867. This marker was dedicated September 1, 1996 in the sesquicentennial year for the great State of Iowa to honor these unknown pioneer citizens of Dubuque - Iowa's first city.
In 2014 the DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, working with several city departments, planned signage identifying the park and informing visitors of the area history. On September 27th members of the MESKWAKIES, joined an estimated one hundred Dubuque citizens and members of the city council in attending a dedication of the new signage and the 1913 memorial of Potosa. (20)
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Source:
1. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Online: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-10-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml
3. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Online: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-10-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml
5. "Jackson Square," Dubuque Herald, October 3, 1872, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18721003&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
6. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, July 15, 1877, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18770715&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
7. "The Park Pavilions" Dubuque Herald, July 17, 1877, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18770717&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
8. Jacobsen, James E. "Jackson Park Historical District-Phase IV District Report," (The Development of Jackson Park) Des Moines: History Pays! Historic Preservation Consulting Firm
9. Ibid., p. 7
10. Jacobsen, James E. p. 6
11. "The Parks," Dubuque Herald, May 5, 1880, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18800505&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
12. Jacobsen, p. 6
13. "Music in Jackson Park." Online: http://www.sustainabledubuque.org/index.cfm/51784/49505/music_in_jackson_park
14. Jacobsen, p. 7
15. "Jackson Park," Dubuque Herald, September 12, 1877, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18770912&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
16. Jacobsen, p. 7
17. "The Court House Location," Dubuque Herald, June 17, 1890 (no pages given)
18. "To Erect Fountain in Jackson Park," Telegraph Herald, December 18, 1913, p. 11
19. Thompson, Dave. "Use of Jackson Park by Boys' Club Denied," Telegraph Herald, February 10, 1966, p. 1
20. "Ceremony Dedicates Signs, Monument at Jackson Park," Telegraph Herald, September 28, 2014, p. 13A