Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-08-18
STATE PARK FOR
Fl. ATKINSON
Residents of the Fort Planning ON
Conserving Old Fort Buildings
and Developing State Park
at That Place.
COMMITTEES ARE AT
WORK ON PROJECT
Would be Fine Thing For ths
County. and Make Very Beau
tifui Park, and Proposition
No Doubt Go Through

III the spring OF lSVO the DecOrah
Public Opinion first mentioned the
idea of making the remnant of the
old Fort into State Park. The idea
was copied by the Fort Atkinson
Times and given wide publicity and
received lot of favorable comment
from the press of Northeastern Iowa.
The matter was also brought to the
attention of the State Legislature
but with no definite results, and with
the extinction of the Fort Atkinson
Times the matter was Practically
left to drop.
The numerous friends of the pro-
Ject have kept agitating the idea
and have brought it to the personal
attention of the State Park Com.
mission. A few days ago the chair
man of the State Board of Couser-
walton from the Agricultural College
at Ames, Prof. L. H. Pammel, made
a personal visit to the place and cal
led citizens meeting on Saturday,
July 81. At this meeting a temper.
ary committee was selected as fol
lows: Joseph Huber, chairman;
Julius J. Chekal, secretary. Other
members: Anthony Moser, George A.
bieber, George F. Summers, Frank
Pouska and Edward Budke.
The ladies committee of: Ida M.
Rieber, Mrs. Agnes Doubek, Mrs.
Paul Krumm, Mrs. Fred Einwalter,
and Mrs. Geo. F. Summers.
On Sunday, August 1st, 1920,
Prof. Pammel in company with the
members of the COMMITTEES made an
inspection Of the remnants of the
buildings and in addition made a
tour of the proposed park addition
to the Fort Square proper
AS outlined by Prof. Pammel
some of the buildings would De con.
Verted into a museum. All would be
repaired and put into good condi-
tion. According to Prof. Pammel's
recommendation the park should
contain about 80 acres of ground and
would make circle driveway past
the old Fort buildings up to the
highest peak in the vicinity from
which magnificent view can be had
for miles around, down to the river,
then along the Turkey river through
a beautiful piece of natural timber
10 the mill dam where Prof Pammel
suggested base ball park and a
camping ground would be located.
Here would also be a fine boating
and swimming place. There are many
acres of natural timber land up
along the river and many level
Places for tenting and picnicing and
the boating would be very good for
about mile up the river from the
dam. The river would be stocked
with plenty of fish to please the
angler and places can easily be ar
ranged for swimming.
There are very few forts in Iowa
and this place ought to be conserved
by al means. The old Fort is situat
ed on a high bluff overlooking a
leautiful valley. From the high
point northwest of the Fort Hill
magnificent view can be had of the
valley below and of the prairies be-
yond as far as the eye can reach.
The proposed observation tower on
this peak would make one of the
g-andest sights for miles around.
The sight of the old Fort can be
only partly seen from the trains pas.
sing by, the greater part OF it is
obscured by the trees.
The people of Fort Atkinson are
in earnest to get the park this time
and they have the promise of Prof
Pammel that he will help us, pro
yiding, of course. that the citizens
! OF Winneshiek county ard vicinity
will show disposition to help the
matter along financially.
There is every indication that the
state will now conserve what re-
mains of the old Fort buildings.
Prof Pammel fayors the idea very
much.
The members of the committee
will soon be raising the necessary
funds for the purchase OF additional
grounds for the park.