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Collection: Books and Periodicals > Nevada County Historical Society Bulletins

Volume 054-3 - July 2000 (8 pages)

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fim. Memorial Park, Grass Valley by Cliff Bowen il ie LAND THAT IS NOW MEMORIAL PARK consisted in 1921 of an eight-acre abandoned orchard that was purchased by the Empire Mine Company for its below-thesurface mineral rights. A committee from the Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce wanted a site for an automobile camping ground, and it contacted George Starr of the Empire Mine about this parcel. Mr. Starr agreed to deed the land if the Chamber could raise enough funds to make it a success. Originally planning to spend less than $500, James C. Tyrrell, secretary for the Chamber, took on the project. Because many of the merchants of Grass Valley had recently returned from serving in France in World War I, they urged Mr. Tyrrell to dedicate this project to the men of the Grass Valley draft district who had been lost in the war. With the emphasis on making this a memorial park, an immediate response came from the business community, local organizations and individuals, with early pledges totaling over $3000. (~ Nevada County Historical Society Bulletin VOLUME 54 NUMBER 3 JULY 2000 NX a When the Chamber, in cooperation with the local American Legion Post, was able to raise more than $8000, the project was expanded to include a recreation facility as well. The playground director of the City of Los Angeles, M. B. Raitt, was brought to Grass Valley for several days to study the plan and help with the planning. He later made a second trip, receiving only reimbursements for expenses. Locals visited similar parks in the surrounding areas to make certain no idea for the improvement of the park was missed. An early photo of Memorial Park taken from Colfax Avenue, looking east toward downtown Grass Valley. The swimming pool is in the left foreground, the ball field in the middle right, and the auto camp in the background. (Courtesy of the Al Dilts and Ron Sturgell photographic collection.)