The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-21

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:; DoRILUS MORRISON, 81
i At Whose Store on Washington Avenue s
We're Held the First Town Park s
xxxxyaexsa
nuss s, dedicated to the city by Ed
ward Murphy.
q Franklin Steele square," donated
by the daughters of Franklin Steele.A
"Hawthorn park" triangular
block bounded by Linden and Haw-
thorn avenues and Thirteenth street,
obtained in 1882 by condemnation at
cost of Sic, 503.5O, of which $6,737.50
was contributed by citizens.
Market square, on the site of the
present Exposition building on the
East Side, being twenty one lots in
block 80, given to the city by the st.
Anthony Falls Water Power company
in exchange for city bonds IN aid of
the preservation of the falls. .
y On July IA, 1883, immediately after
the organization Of the now park board,
DR.. Jacob S. Elliott decided to the
city as gift for park purposes the
at the corner Of Ninth street and Ninth
avenue s. The city extended this
property by purchase at $40, 900 Of an
adjoining property from the Homeo-
pathic hospital, making park Of four
acres S@s2z&sssaz...E
On june 80, 1883, Professor H. W. s.
Cleveland, the famous New England
Landscape gardener, submitted to the
park board, at their request, the now
historic report, with maps and PAM
phlets, outlining for the city the plan
of a park system, which is the founda-
ton of the present system.
First Year Of the Park Board.
The first Minneapolis board Of park
commissioners set splendid example
for its successors. It was composed of
men of .sterling abilities, experience
and influential in business. full Of en-
thusiasm and energy for the park
cause, and ready and, willing to give
their time, labor and, if need be, their
money, to furnish Minneapolis q park
system at the earliest possible&day It
was in no respect a. one-man, a. two
man or q three-1nan board; for every
member was ready and fully equipped
to do his share. ~ - .@E<. ~
The board lost no time in dividing up
the work of acquiring park properties,
and eset to work. sis Is " u s5i
Members Bracket, Wilson and Lor-
ing were authorized to acquire the
various properties Composing Central
park. - shtts'5-1 70 :. 'sa sss'&
Members Nelson P1llsbury and
Chute, the East Side members, were
10 10 fhn f,.cf TN0,r
park property: yis,
Members Morse, Austin and Oswald
were delegated to secure the Third
Ward park property.
Commissioner Morrison, as chairman
Of the finance committee, had an active
part in the acquisition of all the park
properties named.
Acquisition of Central Park. N
AS early as May s, 1883, within -four
days after the special election by the
people had confirmed the passage OF
the park act and the election of the
board, the latter designated the boun
daries of the first large park. Central
park, as reported by Committeeman
Bracket, Wilson and Loring, and dur
sixty days after the election, the board
thru the fundamentally Of Commits
sioner Morrison, chairman of the finance
committee, received the deeds Of ,
large portion of the Central park prop
| critics; the date Of the recording OF
these deeds being July l6, 1883.
In January lIowing, during the alb
sence of President Loring in Europe
on account of his impaired health, Com
missioners Morrison, .Brackett and vii
son, by authority Of the board, raised
chase Of the Cole. & Weeks addition
Ioring retarn May as f%i o. Com
missioner Brackett, chairman of the
park rovement e ommittee, had prac
tically completed the excavation O.
johnson s lake In Central park; anc
the first large park in the possession
the first years. labor Of the new parl
board; to take on the familiar and at
tractive features which for invent.
years have been SO popular.
1 AS showing the spirit which doni
mated the board during this early pc
riod, an interesting account is give1
of how Central park obtained it's name
a number of the new members ha'
suggested to christen the park Nor
rison park, y because it was felt that
of all the members, Dorilus Morrison
perhaps more thap any other, had e2
erted effective Influence in fnancin
and securing possession for the city o
the Central park properties, and ais
because Of the strength which his nam
land business standing in the communi
lty, as well as his generosity and har
Ito the park cause in Minneapolis. Blu
Mr.. Morrison would not hear Of it. III
Ideclared, with his characteristic mos
a esty and good sense, that such "a desie
: nation would be inappropriate and on
Eof place and an injustice to the othe
Eeminent and hard-working members VIII
had labored to secure the park. u
held that no one member should reee1y
the glory of the achievement, and &C
4 vocated the name Central park, = an
that name was thereupon chosen.
= How thoroly the board was made u
Iof Woodworking members and how littl
the absence Of single member, hov
eyer eminent and active marred tf
working efficiency Of the board, is al
4 parent from the following synopsis {
board proceeding, f during a the mno 9 81
: while President Lering was absent
: sick leave in Europe:
Meetings Of Board anuary-May, 1888
January 5, 1ss4-
Vice President Ames-in thee chair. Membe
!, present: Austin, Bracket. Chute, Cross, Nelso
Morrison, Morse, Roberts, Pilisbury, Oswal
4 Wilson.
Professor H. W. s. Cleveland reported pla
and drawings for laying out and improving Ce
trail park and first ward and third ward park
fled and REFERRED.
/, Chairman Morrison of finance committee I
j lported a resolution to borrow $1O0, 0OO secur
!, | by city bonds. thirty years at ~ per cent.
!, purchase and improve park properties. Adopt
: by aye vote of all present above named.
II Morrison moved that $4,000 of above be pa
, to Jane C.. Place for execution and delivery
!. deed for Central park property bought of he