Riverside Park: 1872-1885
In the early half of 1872, Henry Sherry, a lumberman, offered to sell an area of land on the river side of Wisconsin Avenue. The size of the land was between 15 to 20 acres and would be sold at a price of $220 dollars per acre, with a total price of $4400. Many citizens were upset by the cost and thought that the money shouldn't be spent on a park when the Village already had two designated park spaces. There were, however, a few who supported the purchase. One supporter was John Proctor, who owned half of Neenah's largest flour mills. Proctor not only supported buying the land offered by Sherry, but also urged the Village Board to consider buying all of the land north of Wisconsin Avenue-the idea never progressed. Another supporter was Charles Boynton, the editor of THE NEENAH GAZETTE newspaper. In a June 22, 1872 newspaper article, Boynton strongly stated his opinions for using the riverside land for a park, in doing so, he criticized those who thought it would be a useless investment. Boynton's article can be seen below. (Full text shown below image)
.The Document to the left Reads:
During the past week a large number of our leading business men have interested themselves in the subject of asking our authorities to purchase from Mr. Henry Sherry, from 15 to 20 acres of ground, on Warner's point, immediate adjacent to Wisconsin Avenue, for a public City Park. There surely is not a more delightful place in Winnebago Co. for a park than this very spot. Nature seems to have lavished of her rich abundance, a bountiful supply of lovely attractions. One of the finest groves of second growth hickory, elm and maple cover the entire grounds; while the placid waters of the north channel of Fox River, skirting along the entire north and west side; with a high dry bank, lends a charm that cannot easily be excelled. It is the observation of every person, that one of the grandest ornaments of any city, is its public parks, with its beautiful walks amid the cool and leafy shade of its ornamental trees. A place where the rich and the poor, the old and young, fathers, mothers, and the little ones, can for awhile lay aside the busy cares and anxieties of daily life, and invigorate themselves amid the scenes where beautiful nature displays herself in such rare abundance. The inhabitants of large cities are always sighing the hot summer months, for a drought from the pure, fresh country air. The time is not far distant when the people of Neenah, surrounded by the cares and anxieties of business, the merchant, mechanic, yes, all, wish for just a spot, where they can wander, and enjoy the blessings which this place would afford. A scientific writer tells us that: Within the last twenty years there has been a great increase in the number of deaths from heart disease in the same population. This increase is almost exclusively among men. This is believed to be the result, in a great degree, of the mental strain and hurried excitement if the times, to business competition, and the sleeplessness attendant on overheating labor. Incessant labor can not be endured by any one continuously. Businessmen require some definite recreation: and they may well be alarmed when care and thought intruded into the hours of the night, and prevent helpful sleep. It is objected by a few, that we have parks, already appropriated, one in Bigelow town, and one in Jones plat. It is possible, that we have a single intelligent trader, that, seriously, calls these two parcels of land parks! Not a vestige of shade, not a shrub, or tree marks their existence; they serve their present purpose as cow pastures, and cannot be used to better advantages without an immense outlay of time and money. At Riverside, we have everything in readiness to occupy at one, and the most pleasant spot in all the country. The proposition submitted by Mr. Sherry, the owner of these grounds, seems to us to be fair and generous, while the price for the land is not exorbitant. He proposes to lay pit and construct a drive, turnpikes and graveled, along the shore of Lake Winnebago form near the ice house to the old Council tree, following down the bank if the river and intersecting the park grounds, a distance of a mile and a quarter around. To many of our readers, this drive is considered of neat as much value as the entire amount asked for the park. Should the villages secure this ground, which, we think, they should by all means, the result would be that it would give a stimulant to every person able to own a horse and carriage, that would result in bring out some of the finest turn out in the country. Our livery men, too, would find their business largely increased, and the town correspondingly benefited. We say then by all means buy the park, and secure this magnificent dive. If the law will not now allow the necessary appropriation of money, let the authorities, enter into a stipulation with Mr. Sherry for its purchase, so soon as the authority can be granted, Mr. Sherry will then lay out the balance of the ground, open the drive and we can christen the new era by a grand picnic, sail, frolic, on the 4th of July. At a special meeting, since the above was in type, the authorities have agreed to contract with Mr. Sherry for the purchase of 20 acres, subject to the approval of the people. That a proposition will be submitted as soon as the authority can be secured, and if the people approve this contract, the conveyance will then be made; if not, the village is protected, and the property reverts to Mr. Sherry. In the mean time, the grounds will be fences, and drives put in order. The Board, we think acted wisely and their action will be almost unanimously endorsed.
During the past week a large number of our leading business men have interested themselves in the subject of asking our authorities to purchase from Mr. Henry Sherry, from 15 to 20 acres of ground, on Warner's point, immediate adjacent to Wisconsin Avenue, for a public City Park. There surely is not a more delightful place in Winnebago Co. for a park than this very spot. Nature seems to have lavished of her rich abundance, a bountiful supply of lovely attractions. One of the finest groves of second growth hickory, elm and maple cover the entire grounds; while the placid waters of the north channel of Fox River, skirting along the entire north and west side; with a high dry bank, lends a charm that cannot easily be excelled. It is the observation of every person, that one of the grandest ornaments of any city, is its public parks, with its beautiful walks amid the cool and leafy shade of its ornamental trees. A place where the rich and the poor, the old and young, fathers, mothers, and the little ones, can for awhile lay aside the busy cares and anxieties of daily life, and invigorate themselves amid the scenes where beautiful nature displays herself in such rare abundance. The inhabitants of large cities are always sighing the hot summer months, for a drought from the pure, fresh country air. The time is not far distant when the people of Neenah, surrounded by the cares and anxieties of business, the merchant, mechanic, yes, all, wish for just a spot, where they can wander, and enjoy the blessings which this place would afford. A scientific writer tells us that: Within the last twenty years there has been a great increase in the number of deaths from heart disease in the same population. This increase is almost exclusively among men. This is believed to be the result, in a great degree, of the mental strain and hurried excitement if the times, to business competition, and the sleeplessness attendant on overheating labor. Incessant labor can not be endured by any one continuously. Businessmen require some definite recreation: and they may well be alarmed when care and thought intruded into the hours of the night, and prevent helpful sleep. It is objected by a few, that we have parks, already appropriated, one in Bigelow town, and one in Jones plat. It is possible, that we have a single intelligent trader, that, seriously, calls these two parcels of land parks! Not a vestige of shade, not a shrub, or tree marks their existence; they serve their present purpose as cow pastures, and cannot be used to better advantages without an immense outlay of time and money. At Riverside, we have everything in readiness to occupy at one, and the most pleasant spot in all the country. The proposition submitted by Mr. Sherry, the owner of these grounds, seems to us to be fair and generous, while the price for the land is not exorbitant. He proposes to lay pit and construct a drive, turnpikes and graveled, along the shore of Lake Winnebago form near the ice house to the old Council tree, following down the bank if the river and intersecting the park grounds, a distance of a mile and a quarter around. To many of our readers, this drive is considered of neat as much value as the entire amount asked for the park. Should the villages secure this ground, which, we think, they should by all means, the result would be that it would give a stimulant to every person able to own a horse and carriage, that would result in bring out some of the finest turn out in the country. Our livery men, too, would find their business largely increased, and the town correspondingly benefited. We say then by all means buy the park, and secure this magnificent dive. If the law will not now allow the necessary appropriation of money, let the authorities, enter into a stipulation with Mr. Sherry for its purchase, so soon as the authority can be granted, Mr. Sherry will then lay out the balance of the ground, open the drive and we can christen the new era by a grand picnic, sail, frolic, on the 4th of July. At a special meeting, since the above was in type, the authorities have agreed to contract with Mr. Sherry for the purchase of 20 acres, subject to the approval of the people. That a proposition will be submitted as soon as the authority can be secured, and if the people approve this contract, the conveyance will then be made; if not, the village is protected, and the property reverts to Mr. Sherry. In the mean time, the grounds will be fences, and drives put in order. The Board, we think acted wisely and their action will be almost unanimously endorsed.
Due to large disagreements, the purchase was held off until a vote could be taken, which eventually happened December 24, 1872. The vote was taken by the male members of the village; 141 voted For the park and 84 voted Against. Following the results, the purchase was completed, and Riverside Park became an official park.
The above pictures are copies of the original deed for the purchase of the park from Henry Sherry.
In June of 1885, Henry Sherry made a donation to the Park. He had a wood dance hall and outdoor bathrooms built on the north end of the park which were the first structures built at the park.
Sources
Dunwiddie, William E. "Riverside Park." The Parks of Neenah: An Historical Interpretation. S.l.: W.E. Dunwiddie, 1993. 3-6. Print.
The photo of the pavilion came from the Neenah Historical Society Flickr page
The scan of the deed for Riverside Park was given by the Neenah Parks and Rec. Department
Boynton, Charles. Neenah Gazette [Neenah] 22 June 1872: n. pag. Print.
The photo of the pavilion came from the Neenah Historical Society Flickr page
The scan of the deed for Riverside Park was given by the Neenah Parks and Rec. Department
Boynton, Charles. Neenah Gazette [Neenah] 22 June 1872: n. pag. Print.