For the past 4 years we have lived about one-half mile from one of the prettiest, most nicely kept, lake and park there is. Lake McKinley and Park were in the next town east of us - about 25 miles - when I grew up. We went there for picnics, family reunions, 4th of July celebrations and just to enjoy the scenery which is what I was doing forty-seven years ago when I took this snapshot of my three-year-old son, Douglas, in August of 1965. Now I go past the park and appreciate its beauty almost every day.
But until today, while I was looking up the history of the park, which you can read here, I did not realize it was originally built by the C.B. & Q. Railroad in 1874 to provide water for their machine shops and the round house. (Creston has always been a railroad town.)
The plaque on this stone reads: "In memory of John Hall and H. M. Spencer founders of this park. 1881-1928." The two men were owners of the Creston Ice Company who purchased the land surrounding the lake and decided to build a park for public use. In 1901 the city bought the park and lake area and renamed it after the former President of the United States. It had been known as Lake Park until then.
I think this might have originally been a drive way from an east entrance to the park down to the edge of the lake, based on the curbing on either side. In the middle of the picture, under the tree is the stone with the Hall and Spencer plaque.
This structure - made to hold a sign - was "Erected by Magnetewan Campfire, 1923". Was that the name of a Campfire Girls group?
There are three of these large flower planters. To me they look like bathtubs. They are made of iron. They have been painted so many times I can't make out the name on the side, only "Ironworks, New York". They look pretty old.
There are still many older structures in the park including this conical stone tower and four surrounding flower beds, "Erected by Creston Council U.C. I. of A. 1924". From the pipe at the top I would guess this was originally a fountain. In the background is the band shell which received some repairs and a new coat of paint this year. Concerts are a regular summer feature.
Unfortunately the park is losing most of its majestic pines. Several have already been cut down while more are marked to be removed. One of the park's eight shelters can be seen on the left. It is one of the ones along the east side of the lake.
The park has been undergoing several improvements this year; one of which is the first shelter to be built on the west side of the lake. Many new homes have been built overlooking the lake on that side. Imagine having that view throughout the changing seasons.
The walking trail now extends all the way through the park to the corner of Spillway Road and Lake Shore Drive. You could start here, walk through the park and continue on a walking path all the way north to Townline Road - and many people do just that.
A new bridge had to be built in order to extend the path to and through the historical complex. The small building behind the caboose was the train depot from Brooks - my husband's hometown.
All of this work on the south side of the park was done this summer. You can now take the trail from the camp grounds, through the historical complex and into the main part of the park - the swimming pool, shelter houses, skate park, band shell. The only negative was the pile of trees at the left of the picture which had to be bull-dozed. In the long run, though, I think the new open space will add to the use and enjoyment of this venerable locale - quite possibly for another 111 years.
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