Grayson County TXGenWeb

Forest Park
W. Chestnut St.
Denison, Texas

Detail from Henry Wellge (1850–1917).
Denison, Texas. Grayson County. 1886, 1885.
Toned lithograph, 17.6 x 26.9 in., by Beck & Pauli, Milwaukee.
(Published by Norris, Wellge, & Co., No. 107 Wells St., Milwaukee, Wis.).
Amon Carter Museum

The earliest mention of Forest Park as a recreational area for the newly formed town of Denison to be found thus far is from a Dallas paper, just three months after the first lots were sold in Denison.

Forest Park, the playground of Denison, was a gift from Mr. R.S. Stevens, one of the fathers of Denison. The tract was transferred from the Denison Town Co., the consideration being one dollar. It was stipulated in the transfer that the city should keep the park in good condition and that it should never be used for anything but a park, and in case of failure should revert to Mr. Stevens or his heirs, or words to that effect.
Until the young men of this city took charge of the situation, assisted by the present city government, the park has been shamefully neglected. As a popular resort the park was well patronized in the past twenty years. A great many public gatherings have been held there, consisting of public speaking, barbecues, ball games, picnics, etc.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, June 12, 1904
pg. 4

Some one was very busy Monday hauling away the fence from around the Park. In view of the fact that the construction of this fence cost the city of Denison several hundred dollars, we should consider it a very extravagant proceeding. (The Denison Daily News, November 24, 1873)
A number of years ago, largely at the insistence of Joe Euper and Ex-Mayor Yocom and the city council, the grounds were enclosed by an iron chain fence. About twelve years ago bicycle grounds were established, Walter Nevis being the principal promoter.
It is said the Forest Park was responsible for the cholera in the seventies which carried off so many people. There was a barbecue held in the park attended by hundreds. The grounds were like a bee hive. It rained while the meat was being barbecued, and a good deal of it was eaten which was only partially cooked. The next day or two a disease broke out with symptoms of which resembled those of Asiatic cholera, and many died very suddenly. Whether it was the result of the rain, meat or real cholera has always been an open question. Any way the sickness was confined to Denison and there were a good many deaths. A number of attempts have been made to make the park an inviting place to visit, but the efforts have never been successful for some reason. Even now, with the many beautiful improvements, the park is not a popular resort, and but few people go there. The Gazetteer attributes the reason largely to the location, considering the geographical situation, it is really in the center of the city. The park should have been northwest of Main Street. Some how or other our people are not park loving citizens, and thousands go to Woodlake who never visit Forest Park. When the park was first laid out it contained hundreds of majestic forest trees. Many have died, and many have been cut down. It is said that the dense volumes of black smoke which envelopes the park, from the Katy machine shops will eventually kill all the forest trees. At the present time they look dingy and many are decaying. There is a chemical substance in the smoke which is absorbed by the leaves, affecting the healthy growth of the trees. The late C.P. Parrish told the writer, as long ago as sixty years, he had seen groups of deer standing in the shade of the trees fighting off flies in the summer time and that he once killed a deer near the center of the park grounds. Col. Tom Lipscomb, now dead, had hunted on the same grounds many times, and no doubt the clamor of hounds in full chase of the wild deer and the notes of the hunter's horn has awakened echoes in Forest Park before Denison was even thought of.
There never was a real hearty effort to make the park presentable until within the past two years. Considerable money has been spent and the park is really a beautiful spot to visit, but somehow or other the people do not go there.
It was very popular on concert nights, and great crowds patronized the occasion. It would be a good idea to revive the concerts, but in a prohibition town it seems hard to get up public attention or public enthusiasm. Some people may decry this statement, but it is a fact none the less. It is very natural for people to want to get out of town, and Woodlake has drawn attention from our beautiful park .
It takes a great public occasion to draw people to the park, and the question is now up to the park commissioners to induce people to go there. The paved avenue to the park will be a factor to this end in the language of Loving & Glackin's business house motto, "Get the habit", and go to the park, take your families there, let the children play on the grassy swards. The touch of Nature will make them healthier and prettier. Revive the night band concerts. The tennis games are worth viewing. Hold picnics there, and do not let public interest languish, but stir up things and make Forest Park a popular resort.
Source : The "Infant Wonder" : Stories of Early-Day Denison. Grayson County Frontier Village. pg39.

Denison Daily Cresset
Tuesday, June 8, 1875

Moonlight Party
Forest Park, Friday Evening, June 11th, 1875

Yourself and ladies are respectfully invited.
Floor Managers
Max Grundstein, W.J. Scott, Rob't Modie, Emil Jacobs

COMMITTEE ON INVITATION
W.S. Lowe, J.A. Euper, Lee Koae, H.S.D. Berry

COMMITTEE ON ARRANGEMENTS
I.C. Waples
Arthur Coffin
Geo. Washington
Joe Cottreaux
Jas. Leonard
J.C. Montgomery

Now, here is an array of talent that should give tone to the entertainment, everybody is going, as everybody should, and it will be one of the most enjoyable affairs ever given in Denison.
Messrs. Euper & Co. will erect a platform 40x60 feet, with raised circus seats around the entire length and breadth of the same. Everything will be arranged in good style, with the grounds handsomely illuminated. Refreshments convenient.
None of our citizens should miss this rare opportunity for social enjoyment.

ca 1895
Source: "Art Work of Grayson County" (1895), fig. 4.6

Collection of Grayson County Frontier Village