Volume 075-4 - October 2021 (10 pages)

NCHS Bulletin October 2021 The newspaper article, before concluding, took an editorial tone: “And no one will deny that the people should express their appreciation to the soldiers and sailors [by contributing to a park fund]. Here is the chance.” The editorializing continued in subsequent issues: “Back in Mining engineers played a direct role in planning the park. Starr and his colleague Bennet “Ben” Penhall, and engineers from the Idaho Maryland and North Star mines, offered more than suggestions. They walked the ground with an expert, C. B. Raitt, Los Angeles director of playthe war days it was declared when the boys came marching home a grateful populace would rise up as one person ( and do something magnificent for them. The boys did not march home — ceremony and ostentation, and some, alas, did not come at all.’ le oat eect e f app . of anc il i quilt fo: ot “Give A Shift for the Park” . What the project required, the editor . a continued, was for every person in the vicinity to contribute a dollar to . the park fund. Throughout the spring . . and summer, Morning Union editor . . Edmund Kinyon continued drumming for the park. The plan pushed by Tyrrell envisioned . ] _ a park established by subscription and . Oe without public funds or new taxes. . This appealed to taxpayers, Chamber of Commerce members and mine : owners. Tyrrell and Starr especially believed in the feasibility of the plan, having seen first-hand during the war what the people of Grass Valley could fe 3/11/1920. (meron of the Past Wet Build for the Future they came by ones and twos, minus all Grass Valley’s ‘Memorial Park . and Play Grounds = . : vice men of this city and the adjacent communinon the part of the citizens of Grass Valley and of the subscribers to date will be published within the next few days. It is to be for all the people of the community all the time. Of the Chamber of C In Memory of the Past We Build for the Future, announcement in the Morning Union grounds, who spent two days in Grass Valley and submitting an encouraging . report on the park plans.’ Let the Dirt Fly . By May dirt was flying at the park site. . . The Chamber of Commerce contracted . for fencing to enclose the grounds and for water, sewer and electrical lines. The newspaper reported the swimming pool, “the largest in Northern California,” was the gift of Libby Starr and the bath house a gift of the Empire mine, and George Starr directed construction of these facilities. Nearby Penhall designed and supervised the construction of a stone bridge over the stream which ran through the property. Idaho Maryland staff built a community building, a gift from the mine, and Anita B. Fulton, wife of a mine manager, designed the communal facilities at the autocamp. The Farm Bureau contributed materials and expertise.* Editor Edmund Kinyon revealed not everyone supported the project. “Poido. Starr had raised funds for Belgian relief and the Red Cross, and he and Tyrrell had led recurring bond drives. They saw locals repeatedly contributing their mites to exceed the county’s goals. They calculated Grass Valleyans would do the same for a park.° Supporters, including civil leaders, the American Legion, lodges and clubs, merchants and students quickly pledged support. Miners urged their coworkers to “give a shift” for the park. The Elks sponsored a fund raising dance. The Redman Lodge contributed the $700 proceeds from their rodeo. Contributions arrived from beyond the town. An anonymous donor from Smartsville wanted to recognize “the young men who went forth to battle for the principles which have made this country the mecca of the oppressed of all lands.” A Nevada County reunion picnic in Los Angeles raised $65 for the park. As in the wartime drives, the Morning Union printed contributors’ names. The fund drive requested nothing of veterans, who the park would honor, and yet veterans contributed alongside other citizens. One ex-serviceman said he gave with gratitude for coming home and “to honor those who didn’t.’ soned whispering,” he said, falsely accused the men in charge of skimming money off the top. Jim Tyrrell replied that every cent contributed went to creating the park and was spent on materials and direct labor only. From its own coffers, the Chamber paid for designs and surveys and fund-raising expenses. Kinyon later had the satisfaction of writing, “Memorial Park Has Silenced Knockers.” Scroll of Honored Sacrifice One unique task engaged the whole community. The Morning Union began publishing batches of names of men who had served in the Great War for inclusion on a giant scroll. The paper asked readers to advise Editor Kinyon of any misspellings or names of any left out, and the lists and updates appeared in the paper for weeks. The eligible men represented the Grass Valley draft district, a region from the Bear River to Town Talk, just north of the city limits. It didn’t include Nevada City and settlements further north.'° By late September the park had taken shape. The pool and structures were complete, and the bath house nearly finished. Local activist Frances Jones, who had tirelessly

NCHS Bulletin October 2021 The newspaper article, before concluding, took an editorial tone: “And no one will deny that the people should express their appreciation to the soldiers and sailors [by contributing to a park fund]. Here is the chance.” The editorializing continued in subsequent issues: “Back in Mining engineers played a direct role in planning the park. Starr and his colleague Bennet “Ben” Penhall, and engineers from the Idaho Maryland and North Star mines, offered more than suggestions. They walked the ground with an expert, C. B. Raitt, Los Angeles director of playthe war days it was declared when the boys came marching home a grateful populace would rise up as one person ( and do something magnificent for them. The boys did not march home — ceremony and ostentation, and some, alas, did not come at all.’ le oat eect e f app . of anc il i quilt fo: ot “Give A Shift for the Park” . What the project required, the editor . a continued, was for every person in the vicinity to contribute a dollar to . the park fund. Throughout the spring . . and summer, Morning Union editor . . Edmund Kinyon continued drumming for the park. The plan pushed by Tyrrell envisioned . ] _ a park established by subscription and . Oe without public funds or new taxes. . This appealed to taxpayers, Chamber of Commerce members and mine : owners. Tyrrell and Starr especially believed in the feasibility of the plan, having seen first-hand during the war what the people of Grass Valley could fe 3/11/1920. (meron of the Past Wet Build for the Future they came by ones and twos, minus all Grass Valley’s ‘Memorial Park . and Play Grounds = . : vice men of this city and the adjacent communinon the part of the citizens of Grass Valley and of the subscribers to date will be published within the next few days. It is to be for all the people of the community all the time. Of the Chamber of C In Memory of the Past We Build for the Future, announcement in the Morning Union grounds, who spent two days in Grass Valley and submitting an encouraging . report on the park plans.’ Let the Dirt Fly . By May dirt was flying at the park site. . . The Chamber of Commerce contracted

. for fencing to enclose the grounds and for water, sewer and electrical lines. The newspaper reported the swimming pool, “the largest in Northern California,” was the gift of Libby Starr and the bath house a gift of the Empire mine, and George Starr directed construction of these facilities. Nearby Penhall designed and supervised the construction of a stone bridge over the stream which ran through the property. Idaho Maryland staff built a community building, a gift from the mine, and Anita B. Fulton, wife of a mine manager, designed the communal facilities at the autocamp. The Farm Bureau contributed materials and expertise.* Editor Edmund Kinyon revealed not everyone supported the project. “Poido. Starr had raised funds for Belgian relief and the Red Cross, and he and Tyrrell had led recurring bond drives. They saw locals repeatedly contributing their mites to exceed the county’s goals. They calculated Grass Valleyans would do the same for a park.° Supporters, including civil leaders, the American Legion, lodges and clubs, merchants and students quickly pledged support. Miners urged their coworkers to “give a shift” for the park. The Elks sponsored a fund raising dance. The Redman Lodge contributed the $700 proceeds from their rodeo. Contributions arrived from beyond the town. An anonymous donor from Smartsville wanted to recognize “the young men who went forth to battle for the principles which have made this country the mecca of the oppressed of all lands.” A Nevada County reunion picnic in Los Angeles raised $65 for the park. As in the wartime drives, the Morning Union printed contributors’ names. The fund drive requested nothing of veterans, who the park would honor, and yet veterans contributed alongside other citizens. One ex-serviceman said he gave with gratitude for coming home and “to honor those who didn’t.’ soned whispering,” he said, falsely accused the men in charge of skimming money off the top. Jim Tyrrell replied that every cent contributed went to creating the park and was spent on materials and direct labor only. From its own coffers, the Chamber paid for designs and surveys and fund-raising expenses. Kinyon later had the satisfaction of writing, “Memorial Park Has Silenced Knockers.” Scroll of Honored Sacrifice One unique task engaged the whole community. The Morning Union began publishing batches of names of men who had served in the Great War for inclusion on a giant scroll. The paper asked readers to advise Editor Kinyon of any misspellings or names of any left out, and the lists and updates appeared in the paper for weeks. The eligible men represented the Grass Valley draft district, a region from the Bear River to Town Talk, just north of the city limits. It didn’t include Nevada City and settlements further north.'° By late September the park had taken shape. The pool and structures were complete, and the bath house nearly finished. Local activist Frances Jones, who had tirelessly