Rock Spring Park Newspaper Articles
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HISTORY OF ROCK SPRING PARK, UPPER ALTON
The land that encompasses Rock Spring Park, located just west of
Upper Alton on College Avenue, was owned by private individuals
throughout the early years. The stone spring in the park was well
known for being used by Indians (in the earliest days) and
travelers. The spring was a naturally flowing water source that
poured into two little basins, supposedly carved by Indians. Even
before the land become an official park, it was used for picnics and
other outings.
In April 1896, Joseph F. Porter, President of the Alton Railway and
Illuminating Company (streetcar company), purchased from Harry Marsh
16 acres of ground just west of Upper Alton. The price paid was
$1,600. It was the dream of Mr. Porter to establish a park there,
and run a line of streetcar tracks to the park. He began planting a
variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers to improve the property. The
streetcar began running to the park in June 1896. A pavilion was
constructed, along with a stone dam for a lake. A cottage and
greenhouse were soon constructed, along with an open-air theater.
The park officially opened to the public in June 1907, and over
two-thousand citizens attended the grand opening. In November 1907,
William Elio Smith, co-founder of the Illinois Glassworks, offered
60 acres of his land adjacent to the park to the city of Alton, if
Mr. Porter would donate his land also. By December 1907, the park
officially belonged to the city of Alton. In 1914 a country club
opened at the park, which included golfing and tennis courts.
Rock Spring Park was a favorite park among the people. It offered a
stream of water, rolling hills, and plenty of shade during the hot
summer months.
STONE SPRING PICNIC [LATER ROCK SPRING PARK]
Source: Alton Telegraph, July 11, 1862
We learn there was a very pleasant picnic at the "old Stone Spring,"
between Middletown and Upper Alton yesterday. There can be found no
more pleasant place in our vicinity; and we are informed that the
day was spent most pleasantly and delightfully in dancing,
strolling, singing and other pastimes, by those so fortunate as to
be in attendance.
LAND PURCHASED BY ELECTRIC COMPANY FOR ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 7, 1896
Mr. Harry Marsh yesterday sold to Mr. Joseph F. Porter, for the
Alton Railway and Illuminating Company, a tract of land comprising
16 acres located at Rock Spring on the route of the Middletown line.
The price paid was $1,600. It is the intention of the Alton Railway
and Illuminating Company to lay out a park on this site and to make
it a place of resort during the days and evenings of the summer
months. Special excursion cars will be added to the company's
rolling stock to carry pleasure seekers to the grounds. There is no
prettier place around Alton than Rock Spring. It can be made more
beautiful yet. In years gone by it was a delightful spot for picnic
parties, and many happy days have been spent there.
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 17, 1896
Arbor Day was not very largely observed in Alton. President Porter,
of the Electric Line, set out 200 trees of various kinds in Rock
Spring Park. He is very much pleased with his purchase. The oftener
he visits the spot, the prettier it appears to him. He proposes to
fix it up handsomely so as to make it an attractive resort. He will
run the cars through on Sunday in order to give all who wish to look
at it a chance. If possible, Mr. Porter will have a lake, even if he
has to bore a well to get it.
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 18, 1896
In order to give all who desire an opportunity to visit Rock Spring
Park, the new purchase of the Electric Street Car Company, cars on
the Highland Park route will run through to Upper Alton tomorrow
(Sunday).
ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 02, 1896
President Porter of the electric lines, Monday afternoon invited the
City Officials, Councilmen and other citizens to a trip over his
lines. He first took his guests, of whom there were two car loads,
over the new State street line and return, then out to Rock Spring
Park over the old Middletown line, and
from
there to Upper Alton and back to City Hall, via Second Street
[Broadway]. Nearly an hour was spent at Rock Spring Park, the
grounds recently purchased by the company for a pleasure park.
Naturally of great beauty, President Porter has added to them very
materially. A road is now being built east of Mr. William Eliot
Smith's grounds to the park. A switch is also being built, and the
cars will be running by the latter part of the week so that
passengers will be carried directly to the park. The grounds have
been carefully cleaned of weeds and leaves; blue grass and clover
has been sown, flower beds laid out, trees planted, and shrubs of
all kinds are set out in every conceivable shape and in all places
where they will add beauty to the already varied scenery. Here, a
bed of brilliant geraniums; there another in the shape of a
crescent, another star-shaped, and others in various parts of the
grounds. Beds of roses greeted the eye at various points. The work
is still going on. On the top of the hill the ground plan of a
pavilion has been laid out, where dancing and other amusements may
be indulged in. The wonderfully beautiful and romantic spring still
gushes out of the almost solid rock at the foot of the hill. These
limpid [clear] waters for a generation or two have been the delight
of many of Alton's citizens. No more delightful spot for picnics and
real enjoyment in the woods can be found anywhere within many miles
of Alton. Forest trees of immense proportion still adorn the hills
and vales, and give to all a charm of country life, while the sweet
odors of the flower garden are wafted on every breeze. The visitors
were all charmed with the place, and are eulogistic of the
indubitable energy and enterprise of President Porter, who is
transforming the rare spot of Nature into a place still more
delightful. When completed according to the plans, it will be
difficult to find anywhere a more pleasant place to spend a few
hours than Rock Spring Park.
STONE DAM AT ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 10, 1899
The new stone dam at Rock Spring Park to continue water in the lake
there, is almost complete. A heavy wall that will not wash away is
being built and a fine body of water will be continued in the hollow
to form a lake.
SHAM BATTLE TO BE ATTRACTION ON JULY 4TH AT ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Thursday, June 22, 1899
One of the attractions at Rock Spring Park on July 4th may be a
skirmish drill or sham battle if the Naval Militia accept the
invitation of President Porter of the electric lines. The boys will
meet on Tuesday evening next when the invitation will be considered.
There are about 80 members in the division at present. If they
accept the invitation, they will appear at the park in their new
white duck uniforms, with Lee rifles, the Hotchkiss gun [cannon] and
other paraphernalia. The battle line will be formed in the afternoon
with part of the naval boys as Spaniards, Tagals or Mugwumps, along
the hillsides, with the valley between. The guns, while only loaded
with blank cartridges, will be fired with all the earnestness that
could be inspired if real Tagals were on hand. The only Hotchkiss
will be in the hands of the party assaulting the stronghold of the
Tagals, and the way it will make the welkin [sky or heaven] ring
will be frightful to the natives. It will be almost real, and will
be a grand fight. President Porter will stand all expenses and will
treat the boys right royally, as he is so capable of doing. In the
evening there will be a grand fireworks exhibition, of which the
navy boys will be in charge. It is hoped that the navy boys will
accept, as everybody wants to see them in their new uniforms, and at
least smell the powder and hear the noises of battle.
WHITE HUSSAR BAND PLAYS AT ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 1899
Last evening, at Rock Spring Park, a very large crowd of people was
present to enjoy the fine music rendered by the White Hussar Band,
and the beautiful scenery which nature and the proprietors of the
park have united in making. The music of the White Hussars is always
superior, and last night it was more than enjoyable. A gentleman was
in the park last evening who is familiar with the smaller parks in
Chicago, and he says he knows of none of them that will compare in
beauty with Rock Spring, and as to the music, Alton's band was far
ahead of anything he heard there. President Porter is entitled to
credit for the excellent taste displayed in beautifying the park,
until he has made a resort that is really delightful. He has now a
lake, about 1000 feet long and of varying width, which he will stock
with game fish, and which will no doubt be a pleasant place not only
for boating but also fishing in another season. Mr. Porter has
steadily set his face against allowing anything in the nature of
intoxicating drink to be sold in the park, or permit questionable
amusements. He determined at the outset that Rock Spring Park should
be a place where he could invite the citizens of Alton to go without
meeting unpleasant sights and placing before the young people
temptations that would be injurious. Mr. Porter has firmly kept this
determination when possibly a little laxity would have netted more
revenue for his cars. He is entitled to sincere thanks for Rock
Spring Park and the music.
ROCK SPRING PARK COTTAGE AND GREENHOUSE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 17, 1900
The cottage and one greenhouse at Rock Spring Park are complete, and
the second greenhouse will be furnished within a few days.
ROCK SPRING PARK THEATER
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 17, 1900
Mr. W. M. Sauvage and Mr. J. F. Porter today announced they will
establish a summer theater at Rock Spring Park to be opened about
June 1, where plays will be given during the summer. A theater to
seat 1,000 people and with standing room for as many more will be
built on the east side of the lake and will be approached by way of
a rustle bridge over the lake. Tables will be provided where ice
cream and soft drinks can be served and the place will be handsomely
fitted up. Mr. Porter has leased a strip of ground east of the park
to make room for the theater.
ROCK SPRING PARK STONE QUARRY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 12, 1901
Upper Alton News - Charles Wade will open a stone quarry at Rock
Spring Park, where stone will be obtained to be crushed into macadam
for the Upper Alton street paving. Mr. Wade has secured the contract
for furnishing 600 squares of macadam, and will move his crusher to
Rock Spring Park where it will be set up to crush the stone. The
macadam will be hauled in wagons to College avenue, where it will be
used as a bed for the paving.
ROCK SPRING PARK IN ALTON OFFICIALLY OPENS TO PUBLIC
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 15, 1907
Rock Spring park was formally opened to the public today. It is a
great surprise to people visiting the park that such a good class of
entertainment is afforded. The park is almost like a continuous
street fair. The vaudeville shows to be given will be of a high
order. The opening program, for the first week, in the new theater,
will be the complete bill from the Columbia, and hereafter the
entertainers will be brought from the Delmar and Forest Park
Highlands in St. Louis. Many new buildings have been erected to
house the entertainment features and they are brilliantly
illuminated. Dancing every evening will be another entertainment,
with Mathle's orchestra to furnish the music. Supt. Bailey, in
speaking of the opening, said that it is the purpose of the street
railway company to interest an orderly, well behaved class of
people, that the park will be conducted in first class way, and that
if it develops that disorderly people alone patronize the park, the
place will be closed up. It will be made a place of refined
amusement, he promises, where men can take their families and spend
a few happy hours or a day whenever it is desired, with no fear of
unpleasant incidents.
OVER TWO THOUSAND ATTEND ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 18, 1907
It is estimated that over two thousand people visited this beautiful
spot Sunday and Sunday night. The park begins to look like a real
White City. The theatre, the electric theatre, the Arcade, the
Merry-Go-Round, the Dance Hall, the Wonderland, the Shooting
Gallery, the Parlor Bowling, the Novelty Balls, the Ring Stand, the
Curio Shop, the Studio, the refreshment stand, were all well
patronized, affording all kinds of amusement for the visitors.
Hundreds of people witnessed the free balloon ascension at 5:30 p.m.
This daring ride by Professor Hill is considered to be one of the
best ascensions ever seen in Alton. The electric wire walking is a
great feature. Professor Hill's daring feat, the slide for life, is
a sensational act and should be seen by everybody. The slide for
life, the balloon ascension, the electric wire-walking and many
other high-class attractions are free.
The Rock Spring Theatre presented one of the strongest and best
vaudeville performances ever given in Alton, every performer
handling his part very cleverly. Radcliff and Belmont, the world's
greatest rifle shots, do a very clever act, shooting at small
objects in every position imaginable. Their equal has never been
seen in Alton. Stemm and La Grange, musical comedians, present an
exceptionally good repertoire of musical selections, playing on
various different kinds of instruments, bringing forth applause from
everybody who hears them. The Great Wagner, clown, trapeze and
contortionist, does one of the best trapeze acts ever seen in this
country, introducing something entirely new and never before seen in
this city. Miss Helen Stewart, lightning change artist in singing
and dancing specialties, brings down the house. The Deizell sisters,
song and dance artists, are very clever indeed and present the
audience with a unique and up-to-date sketch of real good songs and
clever dances. Francisco and Crosse do a very clever sketch
entitled, "Morning Exercises." It is funny, especially the dancing
feature, which is exceptionally good. The Majestic Trio, in a
roaring afterpiece, "The Dutch Judge," hold the audience in real
tears of joy and laughter. All in all, the performances given in
this theatre by the above people are really recognized to be the
best vaudeville attraction ever placed on the stage of any theatre
at such a small admission price.
The theatre is built on a large scale, amply able to take care of
the best attractions, and the management assures the public that
there will be no time lost in securing at all times the very best
attractions obtainable. The theatre was filled to its seating
capacity at the matinee and night performances yesterday. The
seating capacity of the theatre is 950 people, and there was a
little room left, which was also filled. The Temple Theatre
orchestra is engaged to render music for the theatre for the season.
J. Edgar Collins, owner and general manager of the Rock Spring
theatre and other concessions, including the Electric Theatre and
the Wonderland, is a manger of years of experience and seems to know
just what particular kind of attractions suit the public. Judging
from the comments passed on the performances given in Mr. Collins'
theatre. It is an ideal spot to spend the evening, cool breezes and
plenty of attractions is the talk of Rock Spring Park.
WILLIAM ELIOT SMITH OFFERS 60 ACRES OF LAND ADJACENT TO ALTON,
PROVIDED CURRENT OWNERS OF ROCK SPRING PARK WILL DEED THEIR PROPERTY
TO ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 16, 1907
The proposed city park project has taken a very promising
appearance. If the owners of Rock Spring park will deed the property
to the city of Alton as a permanent park site, property adjoining it
will be given also to make the park bigger. William Eliot Smith, who
has favored a public park and a more beautiful Alton for four years,
has announced his purpose of giving a beautiful tract of 60 acres to
the city, on condition that the Rock Spring park tract is given by
the street railway company. The piece of ground which Mr. Smith
would give adjoins Rock Spring park and would make a fine
improvement to the property and a very valuable acquisition for the
city. The following letter was received today by Mayor Beall from
Mr. Smith, who is at Colorado Springs, Colorado: "Dear Sir, As we
grow older the wish grows to leave some sweet memorial which shall
not perish. May not the Beall administration be handed down to time
for establishing the park system in the city of Alton? You will
remember I began in this line over four years ago and must confess
frankly I have been a complete failure. To this date there seems
little encouragement. Possibly we went at it wrong. I feel sure you
can make a success and should be glad to help you in any way I can.
If the electric line gives their present park, and proper
restrictions can be had, I shall be glad to deed to the city of
Alton say sixty acres of land for a permanent park. I have written
to my friend, Mr. Hatch, of Springfield, Ill., to advise Mr. C. A.
Caldwell the restrictions which they place on a park given their
city, and have also written Mr. Caldwell more fully with regard to
the real estate. I shall return to Alton in about ten days and have
the honor to remain. Your most obedient servant, William Eliot
Smith." Corporation Counsel McGinnis says that a park could easily
be maintained at city expense. He says that under the most recent
enacted state park law, municipalities are allowed to levy a tax of
2 mills on the dollar for park maintenance purposes. He cites the
law on this point and says that with the present valuation of Alton
property about $5,000 per annum could be raised. With this sum a
park could be maintained in fine condition and no one would feel the
burden of taxation, as the amount would be very small for each
$1,000 valuation of property, about 20 cents. The Park Commission
was called this afternoon by Chairman P. W. Coyle, to be held
Wednesday evening to consider the propositions and will try to
arrange some plan whereby the offer can be accepted and a guarantee
given that the property can be kept in good condition permanently as
a city park. C. A. Caldwell has also received a letter from Mr.
Smith, telling him of his plans.
ROCK SPRING PARK FORMALLY GIVEN TO CITY OF ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December 21, 1907
And now Rock Spring park belongs to the city. The deeds will be
transferred soon, the attorneys for the East Side lines and the City
of Alton having been authorized to draw up the necessary papers at
once. A meeting of the board of directors of the Alton, Granite and
St. Louis Traction company was held yesterday afternoon, and it was
unanimously voted to make the transfer. The F___ Commission was
present, and Mayor Beall also was there, and the gift was
acknowledged. General Manager Haynes instructed the attorney for his
company to prepare the necessary deed which will be given as soon as
possible, and Corporation Counsel McGinnis was instructed by the
Mayor to look after the city's interests. The conditions attached to
the gift will be few. The most important one is that the safe or use
of intoxicating liquors or beverages within the park be forever
forbidden, or as long as the city controls it. Another condition is
that the place must be maintained as a place of public resort and
that during at least two months every summer there must be weekly
concerts in the park, by not less than ten-piece bands or
orchestras. None of the conditions which have been named are
unreasonable. It is expected that they will be put in the deed with
the condition that the park will revert to the street railway
company in event of a failure of the city to comply with the terms
of the gift. It is expected that the gift of William Eliot Smith of
an adjoining tract will be made at the same time, and under the same
conditions as the city will agree to in accepting Rock Spring park.
Mayor Beall has invited the Parks commission consisting of Chairman
P. W. Coyle, J. N. Drummond, H. M. Schweppe, C. A. Caldwell, William
Eliot Smith to remain in office permanently. It is expected that the
city will be able to dispose of the refreshment and amusement
privileges at the park for enough to maintain the park in its
present condition and to pay for the concerts.
FORMAL OPENING OF ROCK SPRINGS PARK IN ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 3, 1908
The formal opening of Rock Spring Park to the public attracted many
people there Thursday evening, but before the program was over the
crowd was dissipated by a shower of rain. The park was in fine
condition. It was the first time many Alton people had seen the new
part of the park, given by William Eliot Smith, yesterday afternoon,
when a number of people visited the place. The program at the park
began at 7 o'clock last evening. Rev. A. A. Tanner of the
Congregational church, who has always been deeply interested in the
park, and who helped clean up the place on the park cleaning day,
delivered the opening address. It was a splendid effort. Rev. Tanner
hurried through with his talk and hastened away to get to his church
by 8 o'clock so he could attend the last prayer meeting he will be
with his congregation before his departure on his vacation trip. He
is going for a tour of chautauquas, delivering lectures. After the
address the White Hussars band, always a popular entertaining
organization, rendered a fine concert. The band was paid for only
twenty pieces of music, but the members contributed the services of
ten others to help make a success of the concert. When the shower of
rain came up, many people hurried to the street cars and went home,
but others arrived later and there was a fairly good attendance, but
not what it would have been with fair weather.
ROCK SPRING PARK CHANGED - NATURAL FOUNTAIN NO LONGER RUNS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 3, 1912
One of the prettiest features of Rock Spring Park, the little spring
that gave the park its name, has been done away with. The natural
fountain which bubbled forth from a cleft in the rock no longer
pours water into the two little basins that are said to have been
carved in the solid rock by the Indians. There were two little bowls
into which the water ran, and it was possible to scoop up a cup full
of water at a time. A few years ago the stream of water broke
through in another place and poured forth in two channels
thereafter. The park commissioners have had a hole cut in the rock
farther upstream, about six feet, and in this have inserted a sewer
pipe, well cemented in. The sewer tile drains all the water that
formerly bubbled out of the old-time spring, the work being
completed last night. Now, while the beautiful little spring has
been wiped out of existence, the water that once came forth into the
two little stone basins pours out of the mouth of the tile pipe, and
anyone wanted a bucket of water can get it by holding a bucket under
the end of the pipe. There will be many who will regret that the
old-time spring has been changed, wiped out of existence. It was a
pretty feature of the park, and one that was very attractive.
ROCK SPRING PARK COUNTRY CLUB FORMAL OPENING
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 16, 1914
The new Rock Spring Park Country Club, which is to be a new social
center in Alton, was given a very favorable start this afternoon
when the formal opening of the club took place, to be followed by a
dinner party this evening and a dancing party after dinner. The
managers of the club had made preparations to entertain a large
number of members and their friends this evening. Over 200
acceptances of the invitations had been received up to this morning.
The reception this afternoon drew many people to the new club house
to spend part of the afternoon. The club grounds were very popular
for golf players, and the tennis courts, which have been put in
order, were in use. This evening those who care to dance will be
able to enjoy dancing in the large club room on the main floor, and
on the club verandas, where many dancing parties will probably be
held during the coming summer. The membership of the club is said to
include fifty automobiles, though this may be a few over. However,
the club may add a few more in the course of a short time, and it
will be almost an automobile club as well as a country club. The
roster is as follows:
T. C. Moorshead, H. H. Ferguson, Charles Levis, R. H. Levis, E. M.
Gaddis, Eben Rodgers, Charles H. Degenhardt, C. Segar, Franklin W.
Olin, C. R. Beall, Harry L. Meyer, Louis J. Hartmann, Nelson Levis,
George M. Levis, S. W. Farnham, Abbott W. Sherwood, Edwin F.
Pohlman, A. F. Barth, A. J. Moorshead, Frank J. Eberlein, H. M.
Schweppe, J. T. Corgett, John M. Pfeiffenberger, S. H Wyss, A. J.
Norcom, A. R. Levis, T. S. Clark, J. B. Hastings, O. C. Macy, James
J. Aldous, E. M. Clark, F. F. Ferguson, J. W. Beall, George D.
Duncan, W. M. Duncan, James Duncan, J. A. Giberson, H. G. Giberson,
James J. Dorney, E. J. Anglin, Homer W. Davis, C. P. Levis, Eugene
Gaskins, O. H. Kramer, A. H. Cannell, T. M. Otrich, J. H. Booth, H.
B. Matthews Jr., W. J. Boals, George S. Milnor, J. R. Steck, Samuel
Wade, Edward Rodgers, Hosea B. Sparks, L. F. Baker, Harry R. Lemen,
G. S. Stage, C. F. Sparks, W. T. Loudon, R. P. Kennedy, J. A.
Miller, D. A. Wyckoff, E. H. Beall, John C. Ryan, E. W. Enos, J. V.
E. Marsh, Harry J. Rish, R. Wilder, William M. Sauvage, Fred Wade
Jones, Robert C. Luly, R. H. Roadhouse, Henry S. Baker, William E.
Levis, L. O. Landon, H. J. Bowman Jr., W. B. Joesting, George D.
Eaton, Franklin W. Olin Jr., J. M. Olin, Harold Hoefert, Clark
Rodgers, roland Radecke, James Morgan, Walter Levis, Harry Johnston,
Elden Betts, Nelson Schweppe, Frederick Bowman, Philip Gervig, P. W.
Day, and C. W. Williams.
EASTER EGG HUNT AT ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 6, 1916
I. D. Shepler, candy man, announced this morning that he would have
his annual Easter egg hunt for the kiddies of Alton on April 22, at
Rock Spring Park. This time he is planning to make the affair bigger
than it has been in the past. Over 10,000 candy Easter eggs will be
distributed over the park on the morning of April 22. The time for
opening the hunt and other details will be announced later. It will
probably start at 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning. The children from
all parts of the city will be invited to the park, and will gather
at the front entrance of the park to start the hunt. When the word
is given, the children will start on what promises to be the biggest
Easter egg hunt ever held in the city of Alton. Over one thousand
children attended the hunt last year, which was a big success. At
that time, three thousand eggs were hidden in the park and almost
every one was found by the children who took part in the hunt.
Distributing the eggs for the Municipal Easter egg hunt will be no
small matter. Mr. Shepler and a crew of men will go to the park
early in the morning, carrying the eggs in automobiles, and most of
them will be hidden before daylight. Mr. Shepler may find it
necessary this year to have some of the police of the city of Alton
aid him in conducting the hunt, so there will be no trouble with the
children. He is expecting over two thousand children from all parts
of the city to take part in the Municipal Easter egg hunt.
PUBLIC INSISTS ON DRINKING BANNED WATER AT ROCK SPRINGS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 5, 1917
That people don't believe in signs is evident, since they paid no
heed to the sign placed over rock spring - the spring from whence
Rock Spring Park gets it name. It has been about two years since the
park commissioners first placed the sign over the spring, announcing
the water unfit for drinking. People who had been drinking water
from the spring for many years gave no attention to the verdict from
the Illinois State University, pronouncing the water unfit for
drinking, and they kept on drinking it. Boys defaced the sign many
times. They erased the "un" from the word "unfit," so that the sign
read: "this water is fit for drinking." Numerous new signs were put
up by the park superintendent, but each time it was changed to read
differently from the original lettering. The park superintendent
took away all the cups many times, but others would carry cups there
and leave them. Empty soda bottles were used for drinking out of,
and old tin cans were gathered up left at the spring where the water
continued to flow in its usual quantity from the tile that had been
placed in the hillside some years ago by the park workmen to carry
the water out to the public instead of allowing it to run out
through the little stone basins that were supposed to have been cut
out by the Indians many years ago. The park commissioners have at
last given up trying to stop the public from drinking the water by
persuading, and they have blocked the water from the tile by
completely closing it up with concrete. The tile itself is covered
up with a mound of concrete, and the flow of water has ceased. The
water again runs out by way of the little stone basins in the creek.
If the public insists on using the water, they will find it a little
more inconvenient now to get at, but they can still get it by
dripping it out of the basins.
TWO GIRLS SHOT AT ROCK SPRING PARK
MYSTERY HANGS OVER AFFAIR
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 6, 1920
The wounding of two girls Saturday evening about 10 o'clock in Rock
Spring Park caused a mystery which has engaged the attention of
Chief of Police Fitzgerald, with no satisfactory solution. The
girls, Opal Whittico and Helen Shields, both employed at the Western
Cartridge Company plant and living at the Dolly Madison Hotel [in
Alton], went to the park Saturday evening in a motorcycle and side
car with Lawrence Porter and Charles Clark. Left alone for about
twenty minutes by the two young men who rode to Upper Alton to buy
some refreshments, the girls claim to have met a man who spoke to
them, asked them if they were not afraid to be alone in the park so
late, and later followed them. They believed he shot them. The
Whittico girl was shot in the breast, the bullet coming out her
back. The Shields girl was shot in the left hand, shattering a bone
there. The Whittico girl's wound was said by the attending surgeons
to be very serious and she would die.
Sunday afternoon Miss Shields was taken to Rock Spring Park, and
there she went over the ground with Chief of Police Fitzgerald,
Mayor Sauvage and two park watchmen, J. H. Dailey and Fred C.
Fahrig. Miss Shields said that when the two couples went to the park
Saturday evening they sat together, and it was proposed by the boys
that they go to Upper Alton for some refreshments. The girls
insisted that the boys ride on to Upper Alton and bring back the
refreshments. The young men departed in their machine. Just as the
sound of the departing motorcycle indicated the young men had passed
out of the park, the girls were approached by a man. Miss Shields
said that the man inquired if they were not afraid to be out in the
park alone, and he smiled at them. He passed on a short distance,
and the girls moved nearer to the pavilion on the top of the hill.
They went over to a gate west of the pavilion and stood there ten
minutes, they said, when they noticed the man standing nearby with
his arms folded and looking at them. The girls turned to run and
took a course toward the pavilion, when four shots were fired behind
them. The first bullet to take effect was in the hand of Miss
Shields, and the second one hit Miss Whittico. Just how the bullet
could have struck Miss Whittico in the front when she was running
away could not be explained, as the girls did not recall having
stopped in their flight to turn around. Miss Shields says that she
and Miss Whittico ran down the hill and across a valley and up
another hill and arrived at the Rock Spring Country Club. There they
were given help. Both girls fell from exhaustion from loss of blood
when they reached the country club. A dancing party was in progress
there, and the arrival of the bloodstained, wounded girls caused
much excitement. The police department was notified and an effort
was made to look into the story told by the two girls.
Their stories agreed in all details. They firmly believed that the
man was the one who shot them. They could attribute no motive for
the shooting. During the investigation of the ground where the
shooting occurred, it was evident that there was some confusion in
the story told by the girls as to where they had gone, what
direction they had run and where the person who did the shooting
could have been standing. Blood spots on the ground, on benches and
on trees indicated that the girls had taken a course different from
what was pointed out by Miss Shields. J. H. Dailey, watchman at the
park, said that he heard many shots being fired from passing
automobiles on the eve of Fourth of July, and he was of the opinion
that someone might have accidentally wounded the two girls. Fred
Fahrig corroborated his statement of shooting. He said that he had
seen a man hanging around the park during Saturday afternoon, and
the man acted very queer. The two young men who were at the park
with the girls said they had left the girls alone only when the
girls had insisted on it. It was denied that they left any revolver
with the girls or that the girls had a revolver. The two young men
said that they returned to the park after the shooting and met Fred
Fahrig, who, attracted by the discharge of arms, had gone over to
investigate. The girls were not around, having gone to the country
club. The two young men asked Fahrig if he had seen any girls, and
Fahrig said he had not but had heard girls crying for help and had
gone to help them, but could not find them. The spot where the girls
were shot was indicated by a hat belonging to one of them, which was
dropped. Both girls had fallen to the ground after being shot, and
one lost her hat, but the other kept hers. It was the location of
the hat, coupled with the girls' story of their movements, that
caused some confusion, together with the fact that one was shot in
the breast, the bullet passing straight through her body and coming
out her back.
The two girls came here from Gillespie last April to take jobs at
the cartridge plant. Their families live at Gillespie and were
called to Alton when the girls were injured. The attending surgeons
found Monday that Miss Whittico was in a bad way. She took a turn
for the worse, developed bad heart conditions, and it was concluded
that she would not be able to pull through. She was living this
morning, but it was the opinion of one surgeon that she would not
last through the day. Assistant States Attorney Gilson Brown and
Chief of Police Fitzgerald went to the hospital this afternoon with
the intention of taking a statement from Miss Whittico.
NOTES:
As the days went by after the shooting, Opal Whittico came down with
pneumonia, but showed signs of improving. The girls never changed
their story, although it was never explained how she was shot from
the front when running away. I could not find any record of Opal
Whittico dying, so I believe she recovered from the incident. No
further mention was made in the newspaper regarding the shooting.
Did the two young men leave behind a revolver and the girls were
playing with it, and accidentally discharge the weapon? They may
have been afraid to tell the truth about what happened, and made up
the story of the man in the park stalking them. The incident remains
a mystery to this day.
NEW PAVILION AT ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 16, 1921
L. M. Taggart has decided to start work on a pavilion which will be
erected on his property adjoining Rock Springs Park. The pavilion
will furnish a good place for dancing and also a refreshment stand.
It will be of large capacity and capable of accommodating a great
number of dancers. The property is situated outside of the city of
Alton, just over the line. Mr. Taggart plans to conduct the pavilion
as a high-grade amusement place, with the best of music. Work is to
be started by the park commissioners in a few days on a brick
building to be used as a toilet room for men and women, and also as
shelter house. This is to be finished in time for the American
Legion picnic to be given on the Fourth of July.
ATTENDANT ELECTROCUTED AT ROCK SPRING PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 8, 1922
John Baldwin, 18 years old, was electrocuted this morning at 11:15
o'clock in Rock Spring Park, where he was helping to operate a small
merry-go-round. The accident has put a damper on the picnic for a
time, that was being given for the children of the Alton Catholic
Orphanage. Baldwin came to Alton with George Alderman of
Collinsville, who owned the merry-go-round. The little machine had
been operating all last week at East Alton in connection with a
carnival that was showing in that village, and Alderman consented to
set up the machine just for one day in Rock Spring Park for the free
amusement of the children of the orphanage. The machine had been
set-up and had been running a couple of hours amusing the children
before Baldwin picked up a live wire which killed him instantly.
The merry-go-round has been running and carrying the children, but
there was no music, the organ not being connected up with the
electric wires to furnish power to run it. Alderman, who is an
electrician himself, decided to rig up another wire to operate the
organ. He did so, and taking one end of the wire, he climbed a pole
in the park and made a connection with an electric fed wire that
carried 110 volts. He had scarcely made the connection when Baldwin,
not knowing of the danger, picked up the other end of the wire which
was lying on the ground in the center of the merry-go-round. He was
instantly electrocuted. There was only a half dozen people standing
nearby at the time the accident happened, including Father Merkel,
Father Spaulding and several younger priests. It was several minutes
before anyone knew that something wrong had occurred, so quick was
the accident, and not a sound was heard from the young man through
whose body the 110 volts of electricity had passed while he was
standing on the wet ground. As soon as it was realized that the man
had been electrocuted, the priests rushed in to telephone in the
Valley Park pavilion and called for help. Drs. Taphorn, Davis,
Walton and Brunk arrived in a few minutes. Two pulmotors were rushed
to the park and everything possible was done to try to save the
young man's life, but all efforts in an hour's time failed to revive
him.
Alderman, the owner of the merry-go-round, when he learned that the
boy had been killed, became distracted and his sorrow was great. He
said that he had been a lifelong friend to the boy's father and
mother, and he felt that the relatives of the dead boy would feel
that he was responsible for the lad's death. He refused to be
comforted in spite of the efforts of many people in the park to
persuade him that the accident was purely unavoidable, and that the
boy's family would not blame him for it. When the physicians gave
the boy up for dead, the body was turned over to Deputy Coroner
Streeper, who took him to the undertaking rooms in Upper Alton.
Alderman brought the merry-go-round to the Park yesterday afternoon.
Work of setting it up was started at once, and it was running early
this morning when the automobiles of Alton people commenced to
arrive at the park with the orphans for their annual outing. The
kiddies were enjoying the fun of riding on the machine, although it
was a very small one. It had been set up on the picnic ground in the
valley of the park, opposite the Valley Park pavilion. The picnic
was almost broken up after the fatal accident. Alderman, because of
the happening, would not run the machine any longer. At noon the
White Hussar band members arrived at the park where they had been
sent by the Egyptian Hustlers to give a concert for the orphans at
their picnic. At 1 o'clock the band started to play and the children
resumed playing. Another young man who had been with Alderman in the
operation of the merry-go-round, consented to run it, and he again
put the machine in operation. Alderman insisted that he be taken to
his home at Collinsville after telegraphing to his wife of the
accident, and instructing her to tell the boy's relatives. Alderman
said Baldwin's father and mother are living at Millersburg, a little
town southeast of Pocohontas in Bond County.
NOTES:
John Baldwin was born March 11, 1905, and was the son of William and
Ellen Baldwin. He was buried in the Hug Cemetery in Pierron, Bond
County, Illinois.
PARK "SPOONING" TO BE REGULATED IN ROCK SPRING PARK
GIRLS NO LONGER CAN SIT IN BOYS' LAPS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 31, 1922
That spooners will have to be a little less public in their show of
affection in the city parks is an edict that has gone forth to the
watchmen in the parks, or they will be arrested and held for action
by the police judge. This became known today after the arrest of a
man and a woman and the hearing of their case in the police court
this morning. J. H. Dailey, a deputy sheriff with powers in the
park, said today that he wanted it known that he was going to begin
making arrests right away of all who make public display of
"spooning" in the parks. He said that it had come to be "fierce" in
Rock Spring Park, broad daylight, bright electric lights, or crowded
places seeming to make no difference to some of the lovesick
couples. Dailey says they are going to be sicker than that
henceforth. He says that summer time may be a time for making love
all right, and it may be romantic to seek parks, but that the love
makers will have to seek places where they won't be obtruding
themselves on the public gaze. Dailey is no kill joy, but he thinks
there is a time and place for all things and that secluded nooks
always were the proper thing for lovers, and he proposes to educate
some who don't seem to know it, or had forgotten about it. He
proposes to make Rock Spring safe for anybody, and girls cannot sit
on the laps of their fellows in the park, anyhow not where folks are
going to see them.