The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-08-17
State CONSIDERS
MORE CHANGES IN
II YEAR OLD PARK
TRACT is MONUMENT
TO FORESIGHT OF
SEVERAL MEN


to some measure of its native
wild beauty of 81 years ago if
present plans of the state de-
partment of parks go through
and should if a $4,000 appro-
priation asked by the city of
Redwood Falls for park remod-
cling be granted by the legis-
lative emergency committee
which meets this month.
The tract has lost some of its
natural grasses and trees
through the constant traffic of
thousands upon thousands of
persons utilizing it as the re-
irrational section of a wide
area.
The history of Ramsey park
is history of public spirited
men.
DR.. J. G. Riheldaffer, who own
ed the tract for 40 years with
out realizing any revenue from
it never allowed it to be de-
spoiled, even by pasturing.
Its FOrefatherS
The moving spirit behind OBJ
tanning the tract for a park was
II. M. Hitchcock and the legisla-
tive campaign for its establish
ment was led by Senator Frank
Clague, aided by Joseph Keefe of
the house of representatives
They obtained $4,000 appro-
priation for its purchase in 1911.
The park was named for Min.
nesota's first territorial governor
at the suggestion of Mr.. Hitch
cock who advanced it in reading
a paper, to the Commercial club
during the establishment drive
of 1910 and 1911.
The greatest personal devo-
ton to the development of the
park was displayed by Joseph
Tyson, first park superintendent,
who laid out the roads, obtained
the McPhail cabin for permanent
exhibited there and transplanted
wild flowers, trees and shrubs
to the area.
Tyson served for IL years, as
sisted by B. j. Reynolds in some
of the early surveying work.
Marion Johnson, who had
worked for Tyson, became the
second park superintendent.
Then A. j. Potter took over
the superintendency, to be sue
ceeded nearly nine years ago by
Waldo Marsh, present super
visor. A sportsman and con-
servationist, Marsh has built up
the park zoo containing several
kinds of animals and wild birds,
as well as deer, elk and buffalo.
The father buffalo of the herd
here was obtained from Okla
homa in 1922 by Frank Clague.
Eberhart Here
The first tract, running from
the O. B. Turrell home west to
include Ramsey Falls was dedi-
Gated in June 1912, with great
festivities. Governor A. 0. Eb-
erhart was principal speaker.
Subsequent additions of adjacent
land has brought the park to
167 acres of woodland, river,
creek. waterfall and cliffs-a
picturesque area surrounded by
prairie country.
The development of the park
for many years was largely the
work of the park board which
included MIR. Keefe, DR.. w. A.
Brand, George A. Barnes, w. S.
Brammer and H. M. Aune.
In 1885, the Works Progress
administration made a grant OF
$4,000 for development OF the
park and the work started then
is still in. progress.
With the completion of new
stone bridge and parking areas,
the project will probably pro-
coed to re-routing of roads for
safety, closing off of the road
ways beyond Ramsey Falls to
create wilderness area IN which
deer will roam free; construction
of modern toilet facilities and
extension of electrical service to
the park; building of stone
structures, one to include a kit
chen, refectory and concession
stand; resodding or seeding OF
worn-out picnic grounds and
planting of trees.
C. j. Delaney, supervisor OF
park construction, has charge OF
the work now underway.