The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-05-03

The first parks were out North aud
South Parks. two tracts designated By
the federal government out of the In
dian lands, when the city was founded
in 1871 Each of the. two tracts con-
tains twenty acres. South Park is level.
North Park has a high knoll in the
southeastern. corner. The parks are
on opposite sides OF the Frisco railroad
and only few blocks from the busi-
ness center of the city Their improve
ment is due primarily to the Civic
Club, an organization of ladies', mum
bering now about 800 members Mrs.
II. w C. Shelton is president. This
club has had the cooperation of the
city government.
AT first both parks, like most of the
country around were bald prairie.
About ten years ago a beginning of
improvement was made with South
Park, where maple and elm trees were
set and where now there is ample
shade from well-grown trees. This
park has grayeled driveways, concrete
sidewalks and curbing, the drives wind
ing through the trees and enliyened
by beds of flowers and by shrubbery.
In the center is a fountain, spouting
artesian water under its natural force
from the city's wells This was erect
ed by public subscription and is per-
manent improvement. Seats are dis
posed about the lawn. There are six
good clay tennis courts and abundant
places for the children to play. Parts
of the grounds are used for picnics.
Improvement in North Park is more
recent Near the center is lake. 200
yards long and IS yards wide, with an
island, about quarteracre, near the
center Rustic bridges connect the
island with the shores and boats are
placed in the water, which in no place
is more than six feet deep. On the
knoll are cascades of artesian water,
the water flowing from them into the
lake
elm, maple and evergreen trees
have been set out and are doing well.
though not yet sufficiently shady. fhe
drives and walks are graveled.
'Close to the City Hall there is an.
other public park, donated to the city
by the Frisco Railway as condition
for the city's purchase of the adjacent
property wher the City Hall is situa.-
ed. 1t is at the junction of the Frist .
and Katy Railways, and is one of the
prettiest sights in the country, a we'-
come to travellers on both the lines. as
well as a delight to the citizens. The
City Hall property was bought for $685.
900 from business men who had erect
ed the brick structure, two stories high
for auditorium purposes. The first
floor has the city Offices. The second
has an auditorium seating more than
1900, a theater with a stage sixty feet
wide and sixty feet deep, all we'll
equipped. 1t is one of the few munich
Ipal theater buildings in the country
The park is called Parker Plaza, fer
Judge Luman F. Parker, former fed
eral judge, a son of man OF the same
name who was general solicitor for the
Frisco line. 1t is Immediately east of
the City Hall property. 1t has been
beautified with flowers and shrubbery,
walks and sodding of Bermuda grass.
There is flowing fountain of artesian
water in the center. Around the City
Hall are verandas encircling the struc-
ture and supported by great colonial
columns
| "The little city has twenty-seven
miles of cement sidewalks, two and
one-half miles of streets paved with
vitrified blocks in the business section,
and through the residence districts
the streets are graded well and curb
ed. The natural SOIL when graded and
rounded, makes a splendid hard street
in all sorts of weather
| HCLC dtC AOAb 1hB dlLColdi
wells in Vinita The city owns six of
these, their depths varying from 500 to
1I00 feet, and all giving pure water
with a good pressure, Near the City
Hall Building there is public drink
ing fountain on the latest lines OF san
itary arrangement About the city
there are four places where i've stock
may drink.
"The court house is the old time fed
eral building a rlain red brick, where
provision is still made for sessions OF
the federal corl:. The house has been
made attractive with vines and the
grounds with grass and flowers.
"The new high school building OF
buff brick has lately been completed
at cost of $4,000. 1t has three
stoi ies' and a basement 1t stands in
a lot 64Ox33O toet. There are two
m her white ecaOoIs and .one for n.