website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Washington Park
A prominent feature of the Richards Hill neighborhood is Washington Park,
which was originally known as Richards Picnic Grounds. The park was a prime gathering spot as early
as the 1860s. William Thomas, Richards’
grandson, developed his ancestor’s land into a city park, and by the early
1900s it became a center for sporting events, such as baseball and football
games.
c.1895
BICYCLE RACING
1898
04 06 OPENING FOR
THE SEASON
W. R. Thomas has had numerous
inquiries of late as to the reopening and maintenance during the season, of Washington Park, the popular pleasure resort in
the First ward. He desires
to say that the park will be kept up as it was last year, providing sufficient
membership tickets are placed to help defray expenses. He intends issuing
tickets, granting privileges to tennis courts and bicycle track, at one dollar
for the season, and requests all who desire to subscribe for these privileges
to advise him at once. WR
05 11 PARK
IMPROVEMENTS AND RULES
The above-named pleasure resort,
greatly improved since a year ago, was opened to the public yesterday and will
continue to be numbered among our places of amusement the balance of the
season, under the accommodating management of W. R. Thomas. The bicycle track has been banked higher and
otherwise made better, another tennis court has been added, a fine baseball
diamond has been laid out and other desirable improvements made.
The
following rules have been posted for the guidance of visitors:
The
park is open to the public, except the use of track
and tennis courts, and on special days of bicycle races or baseball games.
Anyone caught
taking flowers or doing any damage will be prosecuted
No
profane language allowed in the park.
No one
allowed in the park after 10 p.m.
Small
children must be accompanied by someone, as no one will be held responsible for
their getting hurt.
Season
tickets are not transferable, and will be revoked if presented by any other
person than the one whose name is written thereon.
A 5-cent
admission fee will be charged to all persons using the
track or course not holding a season ticket.
Season
ticket to park is $1.
c.1898 
c.1904
1899
05 23 FENCE AROUND
WASHINGTON PARK
The members of the baseball association are very thankful for the donation
of Wm. Hartig, the brewer. He was asked to subscribe to the fund, and
forthwith agreed to erect the necessary fence around Washington park. WR
05 30 THREE PERSONS
BACK BASEBALL TEAM
Three persons
have agreed to back the baseball team this year. They are Gustav
Buchheit, Albert
Fredrich and Reinhold Schott. A lease has been granted for Washington park
and everything will be done in the proper way.
The season will open about June 2 and it is hoped that only success
awaits the undertaking. WR
08 29 POSSIBLE
INTEREST IN PURCHASING PARK
It has been reported that parties
from Milwaukee have been in the city recently taking a look at Washington park
and adjoining property with a view of purchasing the same. To what use it is going to be put is not known. Washington park is a very desirable spot and
should remain in the hands of our citizens to be used for park
purposes. WR
c.1900
-- -- BASEBALL
GAME AT WASHINGTON PARK
c.1910
-- -- WATERTOWN CITY
LEAGUE TEAM
Field
and fans in stands at Washington park
c.1920s
-- -- BASEBALL AT THE PARK
Plans
for distant grandstand held by Maas Bros.
1925
02 18 WASHINGTON PARK CONVERTED INTO A CITY ATHLETIC FIELD
The purchase of the tract of land known
as Washington Park, to be turned into a city athletic field, was under
discussion at the city council meeting.
A
communication from the board of education petitioning the city to purchase the
eight and one-half acres of land known as Washington Park and turning it into a
city athletic field was taken up and after considerable discussion it was
referred to the board of education requesting them to obtain an option on a
twenty foot strip of land which lies between Washington Park and Twelfth
Street.. This strip of land is owned by the Col.
A. Solliday estate. Members of the council
expressed themselves as being unwilling to take action at present unless some
arrangement can be made regarding the purchase of the additional twenty foot
strip.
The
Washington Park area can now be purchased for $5,000 it was said, and this is
considered a bargain by many. Action
must be taken soon, however, it is said, in order to get the property. It was pointed out as an ideal spot for
sports. Just what action will be taken
will depend upon the school board's next report to the
council. WDTimes
1928
02 18 SHOWERS INSTALLED
Shower bath for players installed
under grandstand as a park improvement.
WDTimes 06
21 1938
1929
07 17 SNUGGLE PUPPIES AT WASHINGTON PARK
Town Talk: Well, well, well. Now the city council has decided that
something ought to be done about breaking up petting parties in Washington
Park. It is proposed to install a
400-candlepower electric light in the park to discourage snuggle puppies from
parking in the park. The matter was
brought up at Tuesday night's meeting of the council and one alderman said
there have been too many "goings on" at the park and that people
around there have been complaining about cars parking at night while the
occupants go in for some heavy petting.
Anyway, no action was taken on the light at last night's meeting. The matter was held over until the next
session. Evidently the council will try
to say: "Let There Be Light."
Watertown
Democrat
1949
05 18 NEW
BASEBALL DIAMOND AT WASHINGTON PARK
1958
01 31 WASHINGTON
PARK TRACK TO BE READY BY APRIL
Construction
of the new track at Washington Park is now well underway and it is expected to
be ready for use this spring. The track
is one of the facilities the high school has always wanted but it was mostly a
dream until late this fall when it began coming into reality.
Few
people actually realize what a mammoth undertaking
this is. The $20,000 oval track will run
one-fourth of a mile and will feature a 180 yard
straightaway on which such events as the 100 yard dash, low hurdles and high
hurdles are held. The track was dug
approximately four feet into the ground, then partly filled with gravel, which
will be topped with clay and finally finished with cinders.
If
everything goes as planned, the track should be ready for the first meet which has been scheduled for April 5th. Coach Colletti plans
to have quite a few lettermen back this year and says the team should be "pretty
good."
Regardless of a few "rough spots" this track should prove to be a great
asset to our school.
09 10 COLORFUL NEW SCOREBOARD
A “shot in the arm” for the high school
athletics
Watertown's newest addition to
the football field at Washington Park - an electric football scoreboard - will
be in use for the game tonight but will not be presented officially to the city
by the Watertown Junior Chamber of Commerce until the Homecoming game Oct. 17
between Salem Central and the high school Goslings. The colorful new scoreboard is really a “shot
in the arm” for the high school athletic field - a convenience for fans, players and coaches.
The board adds a lot of “color” to the game and makes it much more
interesting from the spectator's standpoint.
The prompt flashing of the outcome of each play (yards gained), the team
score and time remaining in each quarter will give the fans an up to the minute
rundown of the game. Watertown Daily Times, 09 10 1958
1969
03 19 NEW REST
ROOM BUILDING (COMFORT STATION)
The 35-foot square building contains men and womens
rest rooms and a shower room. Was also equipment storage place for the ball team.
Mens faced baseball womans faced playground. Then
the Park and rec summer camp faced Webster.
And the door that faces the parking lot was a shower an
locker room for all the baseball players that used to use it. I remember back in 91 the internal mens
room/locker room was unlocked and we scared the park
&rec adviser. - Tj Scott
2008
MERKLE FIELD
AT WASHINGTON PARK
2008 WHS_005_884
Cross References:
Fred
Merkle, chapter on
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin