Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03

city of Grand Rapids consisting of f.
j. Wood, Earle Pease, Geo. w. Mead.
E. w. Ellis and Theo. W. Brazeau
was appointed by the Women's FEEDER
alton of the city of Grand Rapids for
the purpose of considering the propo-
sition of obtaining for the people of
this city all of the benefits and
beauties Of the banks and scenery of
the Wisconsin river now available
within the heart OF. the CITY, The
Federation felt that the portion of
the banks now. remaining were fast
disappearing and that it would not be
long before one of the greatest beauty
spots in Wisconsin would be DESTROYED
and that the opportunity of preserva-
ton was now at hand. This commit
tee so appointed soon after organized
and carefully considered the problem
from all stand points and after con-
sulting with almost every business
man in the city concluded that the
time was ripe for the city to act and
to obtain for the benefit of it's people
the banks of both sides of the Wiscon-
sin river in so far as they could be OBJ
tanned, The proposition of obtaining
the east bank below the buildings of
Il .
committee through the generosity of
f. j. Wood, Geo. n. Wood and other
owners and options were obtained up
on all of the property beginning with
lot l, block and ending with lot i,
block of Neeves first and second adj
dition to the city of Grand Rapids at
a very reasonable figure. The prOpo.
sition Of obtaining the property begin
ming with the west end of the bridge
at the La Madeline building and eX-
tending to the Commercial hotel was
little more serious. But the plan OF
taking the old delapidated and dis
figuring buildings now strung along
this property and converting the same
into a beautiful handicapped park,
which would give a view of botl
banks of the river met with the
greatest enthusiasm of any part OF
the committees scheme and after
careful consideration it was unani
mously decided that the city could OBJ
tain this property and create within
| the center of the city the greatest
beauty spot Of which any city in
northern Wisconsin could boast.
In order to better handle the propo
sition and to make the title secure
for the benefit of the city corpora
! tion was organized with f. J. Wood
Geo. w. Mead, L. M. Nash, T. E
| Nash, E. P. Arpin, @. f. Kellogg, e
w. Ellis, Earle PeaSe, G. f. Steele
and B. r. GOgginS as incorporatorS
the business and purposes of which
corporation is to purchase, take, hold
trade and re sell real estate AND othel
: property in and about the city O
| Grand Rapids, Wood County, WiScOn
sin, for pleasure and play grounds anC
| to convey property so acquired t.
said city without profit. The corpor
alton is organized for charitable anC
or profits are allowed. Later this
corporation was organized with Isaac
p. Witter, Ernest Oberbeck, d. d,
| Conway, W. j. Conway, T. A. Taylor
Geo. l.. Williams and w E. Wheelar
as additional stockholders. The COR
poration has obtained options for the
benefit of the. city upon the lots
mentioned on the east bank OF the
Wisconsin river and also all the
property on the west bank beginning
| with the LaMadeline property and
ending with the MulToy property op
posite the Commercial House except
the property of Saul Preston and
Harvey Gee. The association also
has quite positive assurance amount
ing practically to an option that if ii
can obtain the property below The
bridge in said city the Centralia Pulp
& Water Power Company will also
convey to it for park purposes the
three islands and the banks consisting
of about "a acres at $50 per acre which
it heretofore offered to the park com