Glen Miller Park Timeline- 1885 to 2009

Year:                                                   The Event & when it was reported in newspaper:

1884

The Lake at Glen Miller Park is christened Lake Egbert- 8-22-1884

1884

The City of Richmond is thinking about buying the Miller Park- 8-29-1884

1885

Richmond City Council votes to buy Glen Miller Park from John F. Miller.   February 17, 19, 1885

1885

Glen Miller Park opens to the public- 6-6-1885

1886

Bridge & Dam to cost $1300.00- 6-15-1886

1888

Maple Grove Cemetery is removed from the Park- 4-14-1888

1896

Fountain in stone grotto given by Wm. P. Cook- 6-13-1896

1900

Bosco the pet bear dies- 1900

1901

New bear arrives at the GMP zoo- 1901

1903

Chautauqua, 1903

1903

Dedication of Richmond™s oldest school house- placed in GMP- 1903

1905

City Engineers complete detailed map of GMP- 1905

1908

New Benches and Swings for GMP- 1908

1908

Chautauqua, 1908

1908

Size of GMP Zoo increased- 1908

1908

New greenhouse completed- 1908

1909

Lincoln Memorial Rock dedicated 2-12-1909 (on the 100th anniversary of President Lincoln™s birth)

1910

GMP acquires 35 additional acres- 1910

1911

Greenhouses opened to public

1913

Wagon, apx 100 years old placed in GMP cabin- 1913

1914

Lee B. Nausbaum™s Band gives summer concerts at GMP each Sunday-1914

1917

Council approves GMP playground- 1917

1918

Summer House given to GMP by Will Romey- 1918

1919

GMP zoo Alligator dies- Earlham to stuff & keep it in their museum- 1919

1921

Camping is allowed in GMP- 1921

1923

Golf Course opened- 1923

1928

New wading pool for children opened at GMP- 1928

1928

The Madonna Of The Trail Statue is dedicated- 1928

1929

New concrete bridge built- 1929

1930

New section of park and new road to Elks Country Club Rd.- 1930

1931

City secures 9 acres from Joe Hill & Co., for GMP. Cost is $20,000- 1931

1936

E.G. Hill Memorial Fountain dedicated- 1936

1937

Heavy rains damage GMP- 1937

1938

Richmond boy clawed by bear at GMP zoo- 1938

1938

Softball Diamonds at GMP replaced by new ones in Clear Creek Park- 1938

1941

New concession stands were under construction at GMP- 1941

1946

Madonna statue gets sand bath after 18th birthday- 1946

1948

Metal salvaged from the ship œMaine, sunk in 1898, is part of marker vets placed in GMP- 1948 (Richmond had sent 116 men July 1, 1898)

1949

An Elk was photographed at the GMP in 1949

1954

Save Our Parks Club organized- 1954

1956

Four new monkeys for GMP zoo- 1956

1958

Archery Club formed at GMP- 1958

1958

Baby Fawn born at GMP- 1958

1959

Escaped GMP monkey is shot as a safety measure- 1959

1959

Gazing globe dedicated in memory of Joseph Hill, placed in the Hill Memorial Garden, GMP- 1959

1959

Pair of Whitetail deer purchased for GMP zoo- 1959

1960

The 15th annual fireworks show at GMP was held. The event began at GMP in 1945.

1962

A Llama is donated to the GMP zoo by Harold Bohlander of Milton, Ind. 1962

1963

The Park Superintendent respects Buffalo after bringing two here- 1963

1963

2nd pair of Swans purchased for GMP- 1963

1964

Northern Elk are at GMP- 1964

1964

A Civil War marker was mounted on a unused courthouse stone- 1964

1964

Nearly 250 birds and animals are featured in the GMP zoo- 1964

1965

An article featured the park bench- embedded in a tree at GMP- 1965

1967

Alligators given to GMP zoo- 1967

1967

Alcoa donates greenhouses to GMP- 1967

1968

Three new animals added to GMP zoo- 1968

1969

Annual fireworks display draws 25,000 to GMP- 1969

1969

Larger zoo for GMP planned- 1969

1970

GMP has a new fawn- 1970

1970

Youngsters save wild ducks and give to GMP- 1970

1972

Two Kangaroos arrive at GMP zoo- 1972

1972

GMP zoo grows amid dissent- 1972

1973

New tennis courts completed- 1973

1975

GMP zoo gets new Cougar, is named Windy- 1975

1975

Lion Cubs are born at GMP zoo- 1975

1975

GMP zoo has new baby Buffalo- 1975

1975

Mother Lion at GMP zoo dies- 1975

1976

Chautauqua, 1976- Featured Miss America, 1965

1976

Kite flying contest at GMP- 1976

1976

GMP zoo passes inspection- 1976

1976

Escaped Elk from GMP zoo, destroyed after tranquilizers fail- 1976

1976

Male bear at GMP zoo dies- 1976

1976

Girl Scouts Fun Night at GMP- 1976

1977

Old City Hall stone becomes monument to Marines at GMP, dedicated November, 1977

1978

Santa™s House moving to GMP from the Promenade- 1978

1979

GMP lake is nearly empty- 1979

1979

Gators gone from GMP zoo- 1979

1979

GMP lake is dredged- 1979

1980

Klondike Derby is held at GMP- 1980

1981

New Fawn at GMP- 1981

1982

New female Lion at GMP zoo, is named Cin-Cin- 1982

1982

New shelter built for animals- 1982

1983

Girl Scouts Olympics held at GMP- 1983

1983

GMP zoo is criticized by the Humane Society- 1983

1983

GMP Park Board seeks public aid for zoo- 1983

1983

GMP zoo passes minimum standard tests for zoos- 1983

1983

GMP zoo gets praise from inspectors- 1983

1984

Fire destroys greenhouse at GMP- 1984

1984

GMP Sup™t says animals that die will not be replaced- 1984

1984

The Humane Society praises City for zoo clean up- 1984

1985

GMP celebrates 100th Anniversary- 1985

1986

GMP attendants say farewell to zoo animals- 1986

1986

New playground equipment installed at GMP- 1986

1990

Runners raise money for restoration of 1894 bridge at GMP- 1990

1993

Park road (to the old drinking pipe and Lincoln memorial) is closed for safety reasons. 1993

1996

Santa™s House will go- 1996

1998

Parks Department aims to restore GMP™s prestige- 1998

1999

Plans for park renovation over budget- 1999

2000

New playground- 2000

2000

Tennis courts at GMP receive much needed repairs- 2000

2001

Work begins on new Skate Park, might be ready by Oct., 2001

2002

Parks Board wants to renovate flagship park- 2002

2003

Domestic cat colony infests GMP. Cats to be removed & relocated from park-   2003

2003

Madonna Statue re-dedicated- 2003             (75th year)

2005

Annual fireworks display leaves GMP for Richmond Airport- 2005

2006

2009

 

2009

Fireworks return to GMP- 2006

GMP’s 2009 fireworks presentation marked the 63rd annual event (didnt count 2005 when fireworks were held at the airport).

 Richmond Indiana  won the national  “Playful City U.S. “ award

Source: Morrison Reeves Library local newspaper micro-film index, Richmond Sun Telegram, Richmond Palladium, The Palladium Item and Pal-Item, Richmond, Indiana.

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