Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-09-02
Suggestion Made That Open
Air Stage be Built Be-
tween the Two City
Parks.
USEFUL CONTINUANCE
Secretary Want HUI En-.
larges on Idea Suggest
ed by w. H. Cook.

Dora tlnS SOlneWldC OH II SUGGESTION VI
our mutual friend, w. H. Cook, whose
artistic genius is overcome only by his
modesty, l submit plan for "a pro-
posed open-air stage and band-stand,
with seating area for the audience
and parking space for vehicles, which
| believe would serve an exceedingly
useful purpose in Webster City, and
for which our city has an uneXampled
opportunity.
The plan. !. provides for closing
Superior street permanently between
the double city parks, street which
is used very little and is non essen
tial so far as traffic is concerned, and
adding the space to the parks them
selves. At the head of Superior
street, Immediately adjoining Bank
street, there could be built handsome
ornamental arch. which in the sum-
mer season might be. appropriately
decorated with living plants by the
park board, and which would form the
back of large stage or platform,
running the full width of Superior
street. At the rear of this stage,
should be placed circular shell or
sounding board, thus throwing the
full volume OF sound from the stage
down Superior street. The street it
self should be paved with concrete,
this providing an excellent and dura-
bic floor for all time to come. II the
stage proper were placed upon good
solid concrete foundation, the space
underneath could be used for storage
of band Instruments, trunks, etc, and
a portion of it divided into suitable
dressing rooms. Ample seating for
the audience could be placed on what
is now Superior street, and if neces-
sary at either side in the two parks.
Here could be entertained the largest
audiences Webster City and vicinity
could turn out, and ample stage room
would be provided for the biggest
bands, entertainments, Fourth of July
celebrations. Chautauquas, and public
gatherings of every description. This
would do away with the necessity for
building and tearing down temporary
platforms and furnish ample and com
Portable accommodations for the pub
lie Automobiles could be parked
around the two city parks and be
within convenient reach.
Webster City has recently acquired
two excellent musical organizations
viz: the Webster City band, under
the leadership of Wesley Schaub, and
the Webster City Glee Club, under
the direction of Rev. ii. A. Koenig.
Both are worthy of every support and
encouragement; neither has had much
of this in the past. Both may be.
made to contribute largely to the ell
jOyment and pleasure of our people
and those of the surrounding terri
tory. Both should be given every OPP
portunity for development.
If public open-air ampitheater of
this kind were provided and regular
series Of concerts given under proper
management through the summer
months, there is little doubt but that
our people would largely patronize
them.
The city at present has very little
to offer in the way of popular amuse-
ment. Because we are at war, it is
not absolutely essential that all else
shall be at standstill. A little
rational amusement, under proper and
agreeable circumstances now and
then, would do all of us a world of
good, and relieve the strain Of every
day affairs. The expenses, If partici-
pated in by all the people, OH taxa
ton basis, would be so small as to
hurt none, and be far over-reached by
the resulting benefits.
Many cities throughout the country
maintain a regular summer concert
season in public parks ut public eX-
pense. This item becomes Il regular
part of the municipal budget. The
amount depends merely upon the fire.
qIrncy with which the concerts and
entertainments are given. In some in
stances, as in st. Paul and Mime
apolis, there are regular nightly park
concerts for series of seven or eight
weeks. We might start the ball roll
ing here with once or twice a week.
The examples of other cities show
that people will flock to these affairs
in very large numbers, and appreciate
the relaxation thus afforded. While
we have no lakes at our doors, we
have an excellent opportunity close at
hand in the double city parks. When
other cities support such enterprises
from the public treasury, why can
not Webster City do likewise? 1t is
neither fair nor right that such enter
tainment be financed by few, when