New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-17
PITTSBCRG'S TOKEN or GRATITUDE.
A STATUE TO BE ERECTED IN HONOR OF EDWARD
NJ BIGELOW. THE FATHER OF THE
CITY'S PARK SYSTEM

A STATUE TO BE ERECTED IN HONOR OF Eb"Ah
NJ BIGELow THE FATHER OF THE
CITYs PARK SYSTEM.
Pttsburg Aug. Is (SpeciaD.The leading anti
"ring" newspaper Of Pittsburg is raising fund TO
build a monument TO a living man. a city official
who has made himself solid with the people by
securing a great public park The ground was
presented by an aged woman Of London. former
Pittsburger, who at sixteen eoped from a staten
Island boarding school with British army officer
Another monument TO a living was unveiled
near here about three years ago. 1t was paid for
by the 1000 employees Of a great manufacturer
Edward NJ. Bigelow is the director OF the Depart
ment Of Public Parks. and public parks his
OInmendable hobby. There were no free pleasure
rounds here about four years ago. although
here hundreds Of acres Of uninproved land
n the heart OF the city. which the owner declined
either to lease sell. She is Mrs Mary f. Schen-
ky only child of Colonel Croghan and member
Of the American family OF the same name which
distinguished itself in the OF the Revolution
and OF 1872
Colonel Croghan was Of the first settlers OF
Pttsburg. and acquired at a cheap rate vast
estate. He was a widower and sent his daughter
Mary to a fashionable boarding school on Staten
Island. This was forty years ago. Miss Croghan
became infatuated and away with Captain
William Schenley. a British Army officer on a
THROUGH who was visiting hts sister. the schooi
mistress Of the Pittsburg girl The marriage was
performed in Newport City. the couple sailed Tor
England and it was several years before old
Colonel Crcghan became reconciled Mrs. SchenIey
has ever since resided abroad. paying an occa-
sional visit 70 P.ttsburg. the last over twenty
years ago. when asthmatic trouble prevented
her from staying In town over night, and she was
daily carried to Cresson Springs. one hundred miles
east. in a special train. Now she Is very old
woman and her husband Is dead
Nj Blge.ow visited her in London and persuaded
her to precrt 70 the city 300 Of and for park
purposes and aow the Council TO purchase 100 acres
In addition FOR nominal sum per acre IL ~
natural park including dense forests and pctur-
esQue rav.nes and among us improvements are
milion-dollar building for free library ana con-
ssrva,ory which sl0S.00 for the building a.one
Mr. Carnegie gave the money for the library build
Ing while one Of his partners. Henry Philips. )r'
betrayed the entire cost OF erecting the conserve
10Y. which Is the largest IN America ~ c Wnns
ne choicest pants and flowers from ths MV,'u
Fair exhibit at Chicago. and although bought al
low prices about $4,000 was spent The PARK ~
eu1es line menagerie ana several ini.iioh 1nns
have Already been spent by The cry IN an5
1,Nes etc There are sunday Dand e' ma all these
!uxurles denied P,tsburgers before MT i,se1
iow succeeded In getting into Mrs Senentey sooti
grateful TO Mr Blge.ow. although for a while a
large cement opposed park expenditures on are
scae and ,he-e great how. ABOUT specu'a-
tors In adjacent real estate. o,,u
ana county administration politically started .ne
community by starting $4,000 fund to build mon
ions to be 800 each. the newspaper OF COURSE n
his political associates we're durnfounded He was
100 full Of grateful surprise for uterance
lines owned by Chris" MAGE the KepuorToh
leader. indorsed the scheme edtoT!aly ana proinp,-
sent its check 10 the office Of the rival hewsPapei;
Nr Macee also sent his own personal check, so dld
vs political and business partner StSte S ns
Finn. Eugene NJ O'Neill. proprietor OF inc Ds-
yateh Joined the procession. ana so nay ~ liz
S'es others, including men OF prominence I'm
christopher Magee Uhe DemocraO, 'hal.es D.
Clarke, Captain J j. Vandergrif,. Robert Pitcalri,
OUne Dan
~ other single individual and b. r. Jones' Jones', e*-
imam OF the Republican National CoHihl,,'ee. =,
,,N balance Of the fund Will soon be raiser, anu
s ns dssy was caused by the absence IRON Tow" vi
'srniaer tours many prominent resicehts., h
,.N Bgeow monument idea was SUES IT,, ~ ns
me ne existence In Brooklyn OF statute 10 d h''"e
an Mr. Stranahan. ., u.o.
me other monument referred TO hereaDouts VIZ ~
erected In honor OF aged Captain j. Is rora on ~
me pioneer window glass manufacturers OF amer ~
me granite shaft surmOinted by o statute Oh W.
Tspan is located near the tracks OF the A.Ies ,h ~,
paiey Railroad at Ford CITY. forty miles noian -.
,rll,tsourg and on the main line Of travel beiwr"n
ns City and Buffalo 1t built by the 9.Vp eli.
poyes Of the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company y th'ec
pants al Ford City, Creighton and Tarentum