|
Neighborhood History
We would like to develop a comprehensive, online history
museum of the Union Park neighborhood. In order to do that we
ask that everyone with materials (pictures, documents, oral histories,
etc.) to either contact one of UPNA's
officers or the website's webmaster.
We welcome articles and photographs for our association
newsletter and website. We would especially like to receive
materials related to:
- History of Union Park since 1880
- Transportation history (railroads, bussing streets and
paths)
- Business development
- Family life during the last millennium, Great
Depression, & WWII
- Famous persons from the neighborhood
- Landmarks, schools, and places
- Racial and ethnic Issues
- Life along the Des Moines River
- And more...
What is the real identity of Des Moines?
~ Snoosville ~
The Union Park Neighborhood's history needs to be
viewed in the context of the sporadic progress of the entire
city and county - from its start as a military enclave to
corrupt state political capital to progressive, reform-oriented
community enamored of the three pillars of the
City Beautiful Movement: civic buildings, private home
ownership, and parks or open space.
- "Under the Territorial government, counties were first
organized along the Mississippi River. As other counties
were formed, they were attached to the older counties for
judicial and election purposes, until they were able to take
care of themselves. Thus, Louisa, Washington, and Mahaska
were attached to older eastern counties, but with Polk it
was different. It had been so largely settled and well
governed by the Claim Club, it was able to maintain a
separate municipal government. There was no nearby county to
which it could be attached, and it was given an independent
existence without probation. It was sui generis
{unique} in that
respect. To give prestige to its importance, it was given
jurisdiction over all territory in the state north and west
of it, and the several counties subsequently carved out of
it were attached to Polk until they could go alone." ~
Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa - Reminiscences of Early Days
As the city grew so did the need for housing and public open
space on the east side of the river north of the Iowa State
Capital. Thus, the basis for the first Des Moines suburb,
Sherman Hill, and eventually the Union Park neighborhood.
"On February 23, 1849, a land grant from
the U.S. government was given to Andrew McFadden Thompson.
The land covered 200 acres from University Avenue to Guthrie
Avenue, between East 14th Street and the Des Moines River.
Around 1866, many Scandinavians (e.g. Norwegian, Swedish,
and Danish) immigrants who had settled in the City of Huxley
in Story County) began to move into Des Moines. The majority
of these settlers concentrated in an area of northeast Des
Moines, roughly centering around East 9th Street and Hull
Avenue and extending in all directions. During these days,
the area was called Snusville due to the alleged fondness of
many of the old-time Scandinavians for "snus" or snuff.
During World War II the name became Snooseville, a
derivation from "Snooseville Snooper", then the
neighborhood's newspaper.
Strong churches, a fine college, a
residential center for the elderly, and other monumental
establishments are reminders of the Scandinavian existence
in the Union Park area. Grandview University, known in the
early days as a Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church School,
opened on September 27, 1896.
The neighborhood then was the childhood
place for many state and city officials, doctors, lawyers,
scientists, teachers and successful business leaders.. In
the 1920's, George Witmer, a former Des Moines mayor,
claimed that Union Park was one of the most important
political precincts in the city." ~ (Action
Plan for the Union Park Neighborhood, 1993)
Real to the Ideal; Images of Des Moines in the Progressive Era,
by John Zeller, concisely explains the foundations for progress
that led to the creation of the Union Park neighborhood.
Milestones before and after the progressive era include:
The twentieth century development of the Union Park neighborhood is deeply intertwined with that of the
adjoining neighborhood, Highland Park. As such, many of the pictures in
our UPNA media gallery and annual UPNA calendars pertain to
amusements and pastoral scenes from Riverview Park.
Riverview Park was not the first entertainment park in Des
Moines. The first “roller coaster” was at 21st and Cottage
Grove. Riverview Park endured both flood and fire during
its 63 year span of operation (1915 to 1978).
It was eventually acquired by
Adventureland Park that opened in 1974 in nearby Altoona,
Iowa. A nostalgic tribute to
Riverview Park is not to be missed!
The Des Moines River has been a source for Des Moines
business and entertainment. In addition to boating opportunities
provided by the
Birdland Recreation Complex, the Des Moines Rowing Club has
27+ year
history of hosting the annual Head of the Des Moines
Regatta.
Please see our media library
images of historic sites, buildings, and monuments.
To be continued...
Can you contribute to the ongoing history of the Union Park
neighborhood? Your contributions will be greatly appreciated.
|
|
