This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website

 

Riverside Park

This file is under construction at this time

 

 

1908

09 25       Sale of Kussel farm, rebuild of Labaree St.   WG     Labaree St

11 13          Map of Riverside addition   WG

 

1909c

               E J Brandt headed the Board of Park Commissioners when Riverside Park was established

 

1910

06 03       Landscaping Park Bid.  Board of Park Commissioners received only one bid for landscaping the new Riverview park, that of J. L. Froding of Oconomowoc, his bid being $8850.  He received the contract.   WG

 

1911

04 06       Park Sprinkling Bids

Monday evening bids for the sprinkling system in Riverside Park were opened by the Park commission.  They were as follows:

Kehr Bros.:  $1141 20

Mendenhall & Son:  1263.65

Bursinger & Downey:  1400.00

O. Biefeld & Co.:  1652.24

Wm Schiebel:  1577.95   WG

 

04 27          Park Caretakers Named

The Board of Park Commissioners have named the following park caretakers: Gerhard Rippe for Riverside Park at a salary of $50 a month for the season, Wm. Radtke at a salary of $25 a month for the season to care for the city park Recreation Park and the College Avenue triangle.   WG

 

1942

06 06          Swimming pool dedicated on July 5, 1942.  It was constructed during the years 1940 and 1941.   WDT

10 15       Rip-rap to preserve the shoreline around park    WDT

 

1959

10 13          Riverside Park popcorn hassle; sales on midway restricted to carnival company   WDT

 

1999

05 04       Graduation moved to High School gym from Riverside Park    WDT

08 31          Erosion study of Riverside Park and Tivoli Island; portions of Tivoli have disappeared from sight    WDT

09 16          Millennium celebration in Riverside Park; midnight fireworks extravaganza    WDT

 

2001

09 06          The band shell at Riverside Park received roughly $30,000 in damage following a suspicious fire Tuesday night.  The fire, which started in the first floor area and extended into the walls and roof of the band shell, was reported by a citizen who saw the smoke at 6:59 p.m.  Five hundred gallons of water and fire fighting foam, containing an extinguishing agent, were used to put out the fire which kept 22 firefighters on the scene for 2 1/2 hours.  “Smoke was just pouring out of the roof area and eastern most side of the structure,” said Watertown Fire Chief Henry Butts.  “Flames were visible for a short period of time but there was thick black smoke and you could hear the fire burning in the walls,” Butts said.  Two engines, one ladder and an EMS team also responded to the fire.  No one was injured in the incident.  “The structure had a good amount of fire damage and will have a significant amount when we’re done,” said Butts.   WDT

 

 

 

Riverside Park

1911, "Riverview Park"

Riverside Park

1914, East side of park near current bandshell, WHS_004_NT_042

Riverside Park

1914, Shore pathway, from E Division St, WHS_004_NT_041

Riverside Park

1914, WHS_004_NT_037

Riverside Park

1915, Shore pathway, WHS_004_NT_070

Riverside Park, Band Shell

1953, Wenzel Prochazka legacy

Riverside Park, Band Stand

Early, Band stand, pavilion 1 of 2

Riverside Park, Band Stand

Early, Band stand, pavilion 2 of 2, 1920s

Riverside Park, Rustic Bridge

1915

Riverside Park, Rustic Bridge

1914, View from Island

Riverside Park, Rustic Bridge

1914, View from island, WHS_004_NT_038

Riverside Park, Rustic Bridge

1915, WHS_004_NT_074

Riverside Park, Rustic Bridge

1916, WHS_004_NT_136

Riverside Park, Rustic Bridge

WHS_004_NT_117

Riverside Park, Swans

1941c, Swans, WHS_004_NT_132

Riverside Park

1915, View from island, WHS_004_NT_073

Riverview Land Co

1909c but pre 1935, 11 E Main

Riverview Land Co

1913, 102 N First, real estate

 

 

Kussel Island

1909, postcard