The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-16
fine PARK DEDICATED
Harvey Park, the Gift Of Mrs. t. t.
Harvey to the City of Leon, for
malIy Dedicated Thursday.

malIy Dedicated Thursday.
The beautiful Harvey Park, pre-
scented to the City of Leon by Mrs.
e. E. Harvey, as a memorial to her
husband, the late Judge J. w. Har-
vey, was formally dedicated with ap-
propriate ceremonies last Thursday
afternoon and the enormous attend
ance testified to the appreciation or
this magnificent gift.
The dedication program commenc-
ed at 8 o'clock, all Of the business
houses of Leon being closed during
the dedicatory ceremonies. The X. OF
p. band marched to the park ana
rendered some fine music, and one
of the prettiest sights we ever saw IN
Leon was the marching OF all the
children from both the schools to the
park, each pupil carrying a SINAI!
flag. Jas. F. Harvey, president OF
the Park Commission, presided, and
after music by the band and the
High School. chorus, the invocation
was delivered by Rev. Geo. E. Mitch
ell, of Weldon. Gen. D. j. Palmer
of Washington, Commander in Chler,
of the G. A. R., made short talk, in
the course of which he spoke of his
years of acquaintance with Judge
Harvey, and to his sterling worth as
a soldier, citizen, and jurlst. lie
especially mentioned the spectacle OF
the school children attending and OF
their carrying flags, and said it was
the most beautiful sight he ever wit
messed in his life. After another song
by the schools, Congressman H. NJ.
ToWner, the speaker of the day, made
the dedicat tory address. Judge Town
er is always fluent and eloquent
speaker, and on this occasion he was
at his best. His tribute to the mem
ory of Judge Harvey was a beautiful
one, covering personal acquaintance
of many years, and we heard many or
our citizens say that it was the best
speech they ever heard Judge Town
er deliver. The large audience enjoy
ed every word of his address. After
everybody joined in singing "Amerl-
ca the services closed with the bene-
diction by Rev. Chas. w. Reeder. .
Harvey Park is one of the prettl-
est little parks to be found in the
state of Iowa, located conveniently to
the business center and comprising
more than two city blocks, which is
amply large enough for a park In
city the size of Leon. The park was
presented to the city of Leon by Mrs.
E. E. Harvey as memorial to her
husband, the late J. w. Harvey, be-
ing turned over to the city last year,
and it is in charge Of q park commits
sion composed Of Jas. F. Harvey,
Capt. ]. D. Brown and DR.. J. w.
Rowell. No work was, done on the
park until this spring when COM
petent landscape artist was employed
to make plans for beautifying the
grounds, a beautiful pergola was
erected, walks laid out, much shrub
berry planted and the grounds grad
ed up. A huge red granite boulder
weighing between five and eight tons
which has laid on the farm of Capt.
j. D. Brown, north of Leon, was
hauled to the park and on this boul-
der bronze tablet has been placed
with the inscription: Harvey Park,
Presented to the City of Leon in
Memory of John w. Harvey, 1S4O-
1913" The state geologist visited
Leon last week and on seeing this
boulder said it was the finest boulder
he had ever seen in the state OF
Iowa. In another year or so many
more improvements will be made at
the park, and everybody in Leon is
proud of Harvey Park.
Among the distinguished visitors
who were in attendance were Con-
gresham and Mrs. H. M. Towner, of
Corning; Gen. d. J. Palmer, of Wash
ington, Commander in Chief of the
G. A. r.; Mrs. Sarah A. Fox, of Mus
catine, Past President of the w. R. c.;
Gen. Guy E. Logan, of Des Moines,
Adjutant General of Iowa; Capt. T.
H. Brown and Capt. James E. Wilson,
of Lincoln Post G. A. r., Chicago;
DR.. X. L. Chase, of Des Moines, and
many of the old soldiers from differ
ent parts of the county. The Leon
G. A. r. Post and w. K. c. attended
in body, and martial band COM
posed of veterans from Weldon and
Leon, assisted with the music.
In the evening the ladies of the w.
r. C. served splendid bean supper
at the M. E. church, the visitors and
many of our citizens enjoying the ex-
cellent repast. This was followed by
an old fashioned camp fire held in
the auditorium of the church, at
which the visitors and local veterans
told of amusing stories of old army
life. This was followed by a smoker
held at the Commercial Club rooms,
where General Guy E. Logan made a
fine talk, explaining about the Iowa
State Militia, and it's equipment, and
how application should be made in
order to secure company for Leon
when the first vacancy occurred, and
plans have been started to secure q
local company. Several very pleasant
hours were spent, with songs by Gen.
Palmer and Capt. Wilson, while 9TH
ers told stories.
The dedication of Harvey Park
will long be remembered by our citi-
zens and from the attendance the
giver of this beautiful park, Mrs. e.
e. Harvey, knows that the gift is
fully appreciated.