Adams County, Nebraska - Chapter 17: Public Utilities and Institutions, 1916

Chapter 17: Public Utilities and Institutions

The first action taken by the Hastings City Council looking toward the establishment of tlie present municipal waterworks was on ]\Iarch 8, 1886, when it was decided to submit to the voters on April loth the jjroposition of issuing $8.5,000 in bonds for the construction of the plant. Previous to this time the council had investigated various waterworks systems and there was considerable difference of opinion. M. K. Lewis favored the installation of a hydraulic well, which J. E. Coates, representing a Kalamazoo, ]Mich., company, proposed to con- .struct ff)r $1.),000. This well was to be 25 feet in diameter. On several occasions the general public met Avith the covmcil for consultation. Through the Avinter of 188.J-G the new project was the subject of much discussion.

At the special election of April 15, 1886, 629 votes were cast, the waterworks bonds carrying by a majority of 301. On JNIay 18, 1886, the contract for the construction of the waterworks was let to A. L. Strang & Co. of Omaha, for $75,775. Tlie plans and specifications for the plant were formulated by the city engineer, T. E. Farrell, and the assistant engineer, A. A. Richardson. The original plant was designated as the "Cook System." It comprised a group of eight deep wells with a combined capacity of 60,000 gallons per hour. In 1888 an "air-lift" well was installed. Three other air-lift wells were installed from time to time; one in 1896, anotlier in 1906 and the last in 1910. In July, 1916, the plant was equipped with an electrically driven deep well with a capacity of 1,000 gallons per minute. This well, together with the four air-lifts, compose tlie pumping equipment at present, which has a cai^acity of 160,000 gallons per hour. The average amount of water pumped is 1,000,000 gallons per day. One of the air-lifts is 300 feet deep and three have a depth of 360 feet. The electric well is equipped witli a centrifugal pump located in the water strata, 158 feet deep.

in the issue of jMay 21, 1894. Tlie rejiort of Water Commissioner W. S. Watson sliowed that on JNIarch 31, 1916, the plant had 2.494 customers and that the average cost to the consumers the year ending with that date Avas 17.61 cents per 1,000 gallons. The amount registered hy the customers' meters for the same jieriod was 132,686,250 gallons.

At the time of the installation of the waterworks there AVere members of the council who favored locating the plant downtown. Particularly strong in this advocacv was Councilman E. C. Webster. In 1873, however, the city had contracted with the Union Pacific Railroad Companj^ to purchase forty acres described as the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 1, township 7, range 10, and in 1883 had received a deed for that forty acres. The sentiment prevailed that the waterworks should be located upon the property already bought by the city. The forty acres were bought for $.520. The committee that located the exact spot where the waterworks stand was: T. E. Farrell, W. H. Stock and C. C. Rittenhouse. T. M. Clark was the first engineer at the waterworks. For twenty years Henry Gauvreau has been connected with the plant, beginning as fireman and serving as assistant engineer and chief engineer at the plant.

The Sewer System

The next imjiortant public improvement in Hastings following the erection of the waterworks Avas the installation of a sewerage system, in 1890. At a special election held July 16, 1889, a proposition to issue bonds in the sum of $75,000 for the construction of sewerage was lost. There Avere 46.5 votes for the bonds at this election and 494 against. The proposition to construct a sewer system had been received from Andrew RoscAvater of Omaha, and on .Time 10th the council ordered a A'ote upon the subject July 16th.

The seAverage bonds had lost in the election of 1889 by only tAventy-nine votes. Accordingly, the promoters of this improvement hastened to have the question of bonds submitted a second time. The council set the date of tlie second special election April 30, 1890. The voting public manifested less interest than they had in the first campaign. The amount asked for in the second election Avas $60,000. Of the 78.5 votes cast. 631 Avere for the bonds and 1.54 against. The plans for the seAver Avere made by T. E. Farrell, aaIio also Avas aAvarded

In July, 1890, the City of Hastings purchased seventy acres of land northeast of town for the recejjtion of sewage. The "sewer farm" comprises thirty acres, purchased from Louis Hadden July 21st, for $1,500, and forty acres bought from Mary A. INIcSparen and Frank ]McSparen July 10th, for $1,600.

Electric Light Plant

Hastings has had electric light and power since 1885. A franchise for operating the plant was granted by the council September 22, 1884, to a man named Reynolds. At that time the city entered into a contract agreeing to take forty-five lights for street illumination at a rate not to exceed $15 per month per light. A small plant was erected at 215 South Denver Avenue. The plant was not conspicuously successful, either in service or financially. The collaj^se of the l)oom in 1887 was discouraging and the original owners decided to sell the plant, and in that year it was bought by George B. Johnson of Hastings. Financially interested with INIr. Johnson was Adam Cook of New York.

The new owners greatly enlarged the plant and it was installed the same year in a new brick building erected cm the southeast corner of St. Joseph Avenue and First Street, a location now forming the west end of the park west of the Burlington Station. The business was pushed with considerable vigor and grew satisfactorily. It was not destined, however, to be financially successful i^ermanently.

JMarch 4, 1891, the Hastings Electric Light & Power Company filed articles of incorporation, which show the following members: Adam Cook, Adam Cook, Jr., George B. Johnson and M. A. Hartigan. About two years afterwards Charles G. Lane came into possession of the enterprise through the foreclosure of mortgages on the machinery and tax mortgages. jNIr. Lane overhauled the plant, made improvements and bought some new equipment and was manager of the business. Scarcely had Mr. Lane finished making tlie improvements when the plant was badly damaged by fire. The owner then reequipped, purchasing new machinery, and the enterprise continued on its career.

]Mr. Lane was on the point of selling the business early in 1898; the negotiations were practically completed, when the jiurchaser met with discouragement from the city council. It was in JNIayor Fislier's administration and the purchaser thought there were signs of an awakening desire for municipal o\\iiership and decided to delay the jHu-chase of the plant. JNIr. Lane, not satisfied with the conditions surrounding the business, gave notice in the press that on August 1st the service would be discontinued. When the first of Augtist came, JNIr. Lane shut down the plant and the privately owned light and jiower enterprise passed into history. A part of the machinery was bought by the York plant.

June 26, 1899, the council ordered a special election upon the l)roposition to issue $20,000 in bonds for the installation of an electric light and power plant in conjunction with the municipal waterworks. The bonds carried by a vote of 377 for and 194 against. Upon its being found that the election had been held without sufficient notice as required by law, another election was ordered to be held November 6, 1899. At the second election the bonds carried by a vote of 525 for and 194 against. The lights were turned on under the auspices of the city in February, 1901.

The growth and operation of the municipal lighting and jjower systems is one of the most interesting phases of the development of Hastings as a city. No bonds have been issued against the municipal plant since the original $20,000 was voted in 1899. The record in the office of the city clerk shows that when the city began the operation of the plant the investment was $24,678.41. On March 31, 1913, the plant had grown until it represented an investment of $159,991.11. The additional investment was made wholly from the earnings of the plant, and includes the distribution and street lighting systems. In the administration of JNlayor Charles Ingraham, who assumed the office in April, 1913, a levy of two mills was made for street lighting and the levy has been continued. In this administration, also, a reduction in rate Avas made of more than 33 1/3 per cent. The report of the water and light commissioner, W. S. Watson, shows that the plant, lighting and distribution systems on March 31, 1916, represented an investment of $189,442.23. The increase since 1901, amounting to $164,763.92, has come out of the earnings, with the exception of the amount produced by the levy of 2 mills made in 1913.

The total revenue from current sold during eleven months in 1901 was $4,851.17. The revenue from current during the month of December, 1912, was $6,328, or $1,476.83 more than the receipts for the first eleven months that the plant was ojierated. The total receipts for 1912. the last year imder the old rates, were $60,315.90, or almost three times the amount of the original investment. The total re\enue from cm-rent sold during the year ending ^Nlarch 31, 1916, was $61,489.79. On the same date there were in Hastings a

Previous to 188-1 Hastings had no street lighting system. During that year, when the first electric light and gas plants were established, contracts were made with both the gas company and the electric light l)lant for street lighting and the two systems were in use most of the time until the discontinuance of the electric light plant by JNIr. Lane. Gas lighting for streets was discontinued with the opening of the nuHiicipal electric light plant Febiaiary 1, 1901.

Arc hghts were used for street lighting mitil 1912, when the electrolier sj'stem, with underground conduits, was installed in the business district. The electrolier sj'stem has been extended continuously. Tliere are now in service 186 five-light, 200-candlepower electroliers; 228 bracket-system, 60-candlepower lights. The plant is at present equipped with two Westinghouse generators and one Corliss-enginedriven generator. The plant cajiacity is 1,.500 kilowatt hours daily, and the output, based upon the current used during the first four months in 1916, is 1,769,720 kilowatt hours per year.

The City of Hastings has, finished and under contract, about seventeen miles of paved streets. The first paving movement was in 1891. On November 2d of that year intersection paving bonds were voted in the sum of $5,000. The bonds that year carried by a majority of 365 ; 647 votes were cast. On July 5th of the following year, additional intersection bonds of .$25,000 were voted by a majority of 288 out of 334 votes cast. Not until 1910 was there another pavingmovement. On JNIarch 8th of that year $50,000 in bonds were voted. The majority was 511 out of 1,027 votes cast. On Jime 29, 1915, by a vote of 932 for and 278 against, $50,000 bonds were voted, and a like sum was voted August 22, 1916, the vote being 690 for and 242 against. The total intersection bonds voted in twenty-five years amount to $185,000 and the interest. The first paving district was created by the city council September 28, 1891, and comprised Second Street from the east line of Burling-ton Avemie to the east line of St. Joseph Avenue. At about this period First Street was paved from the west side of Denver Avenue to the west side of Belleviie Avenue, and Bellevue Avenue from the south side of First Street to the Burlington right of way. Lincoln, Hastings and Denver ave- nues also were paved from the south side of Third Street to the Burlington right of way. All the paving of this period was of common hrick, of Hastings manufacture, laid edgewise.

In the paving jjeriod of 1910, districts 8 to 21, inclusive, were paved. District 8, which is Lincoln Avenue from Third Street to Twelfth Street, was the first street to be paved with asphalt, and this was in 1910. The second paving period, inaugurated in 1910, brought the paving of the city to a little more than six miles and included such important residence avenues as Lincoln, Hastings, St. Joseph and Denver to the south side of Twelfth Street, and Seventh Street from Lincoln to Wabash avenues. Second Street paving was also extended west to Briggs and east to Wabash.

Tlie third paving period was in 1916. In ]\Iarch of that year a conti-act was let by the city council for a little more than ten miles of asphalt paving, aggregating in cost approximately $300,000. This contract was let to Watts & Ammerman of Concordia, Kan. The plans and specifications for the 1916 paving were made by City Engineer W. H. Fuller of Hastings, who died in the spring of 1916. W. L. Collier was then appointed engineer. Mr. Collier completed the plans and sujjcrintended the work. Among the streets paved in the 1916 contract were South Hastings and South Lincoln avenues. These were the first streets to be paved on the south side. Other districts have been formed since the letting of the contract, and city officials estimate that the total paving by the close of 1917 will be twenty-five miles.

Gas Works

The gas business in Hastings has always been a privately owned enterprise. The first franchise was granted by the city council to C. R. JMiller, June 22, 1885. November 10, 188.5. the Hastings Gas Light Company was organized and built the j^lant which was operated under the franchise. The incorporators were: President, L. Patterson, Mankato, JNIinn. ; vice president, John Van Liew, Van Wert, Ohio; treasurer, Sidney Patterson, Hartford City, Ind.; secretary, H. B. Knowlton, Hastings. Mr. Knowlton is now a resident of Chicago.

By the latter part of 1886 the gas plant had about five miles of street mains. For some years the gas business proved hazardous, and in 1890 tlic business was assigned to its creditors, who were composed largely of the present corporation. The Hastings Gas Company is now formed as follows: James C. Fox, Portland, INIe., president;

Echvaid Woodman, Portland, JNIe., secretary and treasiu-er; A. W. Borden, Hastings, vice president. Carson J. Haniot of Hastings and ^Nliss Botter of ]Maine are members of the board of directors. Mr. Woodman is the principal owner.

The twenty-five year franchise of the gas company expired in 191.5 and at the time of renewal there was agitation for mmiicipal ownershij). At an election held in 1913 the projjosition to grant a franchise was lost. In 1915 the comjiany was granted a virtual twenty-five year franchise, although it was provided that the city might i^urchase the franchise at any time after the expiration of ten years. In the new franchise the city fixed a maximum rate for gas of $1..50 per thousand cubic feet, Avhich was a reduction of 50 cents per thousand from the maximum in vogue previously.

The plant now operates twenty-five miles of street mains, and the annual sale of gas totals about 30,000,000 cubic feet. Since 1908 gas has been manufactured from oil instead of coal. The change ^^'as made partly because of the uncertainty of the coal supply in the winter and partly because the labor cost of tlie oil product is less. Between 1908 and 1912 the plant was modernized and largely reconstructed. The manufacture of gas has always been at the present location on North ^Minnesota Avenue.

The Hastings Postoffice

Tlie Hastings postofiice was established October 8, 1872, and was first located in the store of Alexander & Wheeler at the corner of Hastings Avenue and Second Street, opposite the present First National Bank Building. JMr. Alexander's salary was fixed at first at $1 ])er month. He continued to be the postmaster for ten years.

Charles H. Paul was the second postmaster, receiving the appointment in 1881. G. J. Evans was appointed in 1886; James B. Pleart- M-ell in 1889; R. B. Wahlquist in 1894; Leopald Hahn in 1897; Jacob Fisher. June 24. 1901; and tlie present postmaster, R. B. Wahlquist, in 1913.

For several months in the early part of 1881 the postoffice was located between Hastings and Denver avenues, on the north side of Second Street, and was bvu'ned in the fire of July 2, 1881. It was tlien removed to the corner of Hastings Avenue and First Street, the ]M-esent location of the Arvanette candy store. Here again it was burned late in 1886, the fire happening on the night before the water was available from the new waterworks. It was then removed to a store room in the Stone Block, afterwai'ds to the G. A. R. Build- ing. About 1897 it was removed to the corner of St. Joseph Avenue and Second Street, where it occui^ied the "Dietricli Building," subsequently destroyed by fire. In November, 1905, the postoffice became quartered in its jjermanent home in the Federal Building.

Daily delivery ol' mail was inaugurated September 1, 1887. Four routes were established and the first carriers were James D. Campbell, Isaac A. Hall, George Van Houten and AVilliam Jaynes. Of these, James D. Campbell only remains a city carrier. There are now nine carriers: James D. Campbell, Eugene Hammonds, Carl F. Haubrock, Henry H. Heiler, George ]McAtee, Jacob Roelse, Ira Scott, D. W. P. Sinclair and Henry H. Holt. The corporation of Hastings comprises 6l/> square miles. It is esthnated that 1.5,500 persons, occupying 3'>4 square miles, are served by the office.

Rural service was inaugurated October 1, 1900, when Route 1 was established, with Jess Stevens as carrier. Routes 2 and 3 were commissioned April 1, 1902, with Frank W. Wheeler carrier on Route 2 and B. Frank Hill on Route 3. Routes 4 and 5 were commissioned INIay 16, 1904, with J. C. jMiller carrier on Route 4 and J. C. Fergiis on Route 5. Since 1901 N. W. Coleman has been the carrier on Route 1. Frank Wheeler and J. C. Fergus are still the carriers on their respective routes.

At present II. W. Snyder is assistant postmaster; Elizabeth Alford, stamp clerk; C. W. Heartwell, G. P. O'lNIera and A. L. Rickel, mailing clerks; Charles A. Nelson and R. H. Rickel. city distributors, and Joseph Spriggle, money order clerk. The Hastings postoffice was declared an office of the first class July 1, 1914. The postmaster's salary, which began at $12 per year with JMr. Alex-. ander's jjostmastership, had advanced to $2,400 before 1896 and at present is $3,100.

The Hastings postofRce is the depository for eighty-two postotHces. The remittances in 1902 were $395,163 and for the year endijig June 30, 1916, they were $372,952. In the number of registrys made Hastings takes rank as the third city in Nebraska and also as the sender of insured parcels. In tol)acco shipments the Hastings postoffice ranks second in Nebraska. In 1901 the total registries were 2,007. During the year ending June 30, 1916, they were 5,533; insured parcels, 5.012, with a value of $49,923.35; c. o. d. parcels, 3.084. with a value of $9,588.79.

This was a country postoffice, located about eleven miles northeast of Hastings. The office was established in January, 1880, with G. Ij. Huff as postmaster. The mail Avas taken from the Hastings office to Ludlow twice a week until the Aurora branch of the Burlington was completed in 1886, when the office was abandoned.

Hazel Dell - Postoffice situated eight miles south of Juniata. IMostly German settlers. Postoffice was established on April 7, 1879, and F. M. Thompson was appointed postmaster. A congregation was organized bj^ the Congregationalists, in 1879, at Hazel Dell Schoolhouse, but owing to a lack of means to carry forward the work, the attempt soon proved a failure. Rev. M. F. Piatt was the chief interest in its establishment.

Kingston - Postoffice was located about five miles east of Ayr, and liittle Elue, also a post station, lays about the same distance south of Ayr, while to the west of Little Blue, a distance of about three miles, was Silver Lake, also a country postoffice.

Mayflower - Post station in the western part of the county and about seven miles south of Kenesaw. It was christened in honor of the historic vessel, the Mayflower.

iNIorseville and Rosedale - These were postoffices situated in the soutliwest corner of the county, and about four miles distant from each other.

These early postoffices Avere served by carrier from Hastings, usually tM'ice a week. They disa^ipeared with the coming of the railroads througii the southern section of tlie county.

Eakly Libraries

At an early date movements looking toward the establishment of a circulating library were on foot in Hastings. One of the early organizations, The Red Ribbon Club, ojjened a reading-room on the second floor of the Forgy Building, corner of Denver Avenue and Second Street, JNIay 14, 1878. The club met weekly and programs of readings, music and book reviews were rendered. Among the members A\'ere A. L. Clarke. J. J. Wemple, the Renfrews, the Staleys, .J. Y. Acheson, James Cline, ]Mrs. Curtis and Miss Gertie Ingalls, afterward Mrs. A. L. Clarke. In the programs printed in the Hastings Journal, in 1878, appear the names of A. L. Clarke and Harry S. Dungan. the former scheduled to sing solos and the latter for recitations. In that year the club discussed the feasibility of instituting a circulating library.

In the following year, 1879, the Adams County Teachers' Library Association was formed to provide a circulating library among the teacliers. B)^ the articles adopted the county superintendent was to act as president of the association and librarian. Uiion the payment of $.5.00 a teacher obtained a life membership, but could become a member upon the payment of $1, and 2,5 cents quarterly dues. This organization was formed in the superintendency of L. Darling. This library movement did not accomijlish much and was short lived.

In 1887, however, a movement was started which resulted in the estal)lisliing of a permanent library in Hastings. ^Ir. William H. I^anning called a meeting in that year and an organization was formed with Mr. Lanning as jn-esident and W. H. Lichty secretary and treasurer. Tlie following library board was elected: JNIesdames H. M. Oliver, J. M. Ragan, George Tibbets, C. F. IMorey, Robert Oliver and Oswald Oliver. INIr. Lanning donated two cases of books, standard works of fiction and some reference books. Books were added from time to time by gifts and purchased with money raised by giving entertainments. The library room was located in the Oliver

Block oil West Second Street, on the second floor. No reading-room was maintained. JNIrs. Robert Oliver was the first librarian. A niember.'^hip fee of $1.00 per year was charged. ]\Ir. Lanning continued his interest in the library mitil it was taken over by the city in 1903, although for the last few years previous to that date INIrs. J. N. Clarke was the president of the organization. During the presidency of ]Mrs. Clarke, while the project was wholly in the hands of the women, the library was moved to the ground floor in the Lincoln Avenue Flats, where it remained until September, 1903, when it was removed to the oflice of the water commissioner, 509 West Second Street, where it remained until its removal into the Carnegie Librarj^ Building, it.« present home. oVIiss Schaffer followed ]\Irs. Oliver as librarian and then the following served in succession, JNIiss Katherine Bierce, now Mrs. L. A. Bratton, ]\[iss Grace Dillon, now Mrs. A. E. Stitt.

Carnegie Library

On New Year's Day, 1903, IMayor C. J. Miles, of Hastings, received an offer from Andrew Carnegie to donate $1.5,000 for a library Iniilding on the condition that a site should be provided and that an annual tax of not less than $1,500 be levied for the support of tile institution. The proposition provoked much discussion, many objected to receiving the donation, and many were favorable. January 20, 1903, a mass meeting to discuss the subject was held at the coiu'thouse, ^Nlayor INIiles presiding. Speakers favoring the acceptance were Dr. J. N. Lyman, A. L. Clarke, J. B. Cessna, Claus Frahm, Judge H. S. Dungan, L. J. Capps, Jacob Wooster, 'William INIadgett, Dr. A. R. Van Sickle, M. J. Tennant, Prof. W. A. Julian and Rev. Cloyd, pastor of the Baptist Church. C. R. Barnes gave tlie mayor a long petition praying for acceptance.

]March 16, 1903, the city council passed an ordinance establishing the Carnegie Library upon the condition imposed by the donor. At tlie same meeting the council accepted the site upon which the library stands, three lots at the corner of Fourth Street and Denver Avenue. The corner lot was presented by Dr. J. N. Lyman and tlie other two, a ]iortion of the Beitel estate, were purchased and donated to the city by John Slaker. Jacob Bernliardt, Dr. George Douglas, ^V. H. Dillon and Senator Charles H. Dietrich. William Kerr liad offered to donate a site at the corner of Fourth Street and Ijincoln Avenue and considerable feeling was manifested between the partisans of the com])eting sites.

fications by Latenser, of Omaha, was let to C. D. Riche}% of Hastings, upon his bid of $11,-189 and $390 for extra bricks for the rear of the building', which he agreed to complete by February 1, 1904. D. H. of Hastings, was the superintendent of construction. The total cost of the building was $1.5,6.58.63. The furniture cost $900. The site was dedicated and the first spadeful of dirt turned by President Theodore Roosevelt, April 27, 1903. The spade used by the President, suitably inscribed, is preserved as a relic.

The first board of directors elected by the citj^ council were the following: Lucy ]M. Nellis (JNIrs. W. F. Button), Agnes Ferguson, Mary C. Tibbets, V. B. Trimble, L. A. Kinney, Dr. J. N. Lyman, Jacob Wooster, L. J. Capps and Captain Saxton. The directors met on April 11, 1903, and organized with V. B. Trimble, president; J. N. Lyman, vice president; Lucy M. Nellis, secretary. April 14, 1903, Miss Grace Dillon was elected librarian. All librarians have served until their resignations, and have been elected at the follo^\^ng dates: Miss Vida Ferguson, January 19. 1907; INIiss ^Nlabel Stone, February 2,5. 1904: JNIiss Emma Nowlan. September 2, 1907; Mrs. Ida E. Capps, March 7, 1910.

Tlie librai-y was opened to the public December 7, 1904, and was a free library from the first. At the time of opening, it contained about 2, .500 volumes, exclusive of government publications. With the same exclusion there are now about 6,.533 vohmies. The average circulation of books per month is 2,747 and the average visitors to the reading-rooms, actual readers, number 1,2.50.

The fourteenth annual meeting of the Nebraska State Library Association was held in Hastings, October 21, 1908, and 3Iiss Emma Nowlan was elected vice president of the association. Representatives of twent_y-five Nebraska libraries were present.

Parkvieav Cemetery

Parkview Cemetery is one of tlie most beautiful burying grovmds in Nebraska. Its name was suggested by the commanding view its site affords of the parks in College and Parkgrove additions and the more distant City Park; in fact this excellent view determined the selection of this location for a cemetery.

The cliief mover in the establishing of tliis cemetery was Davis I^owman, the father of William M. Lowman and, curiously enough, the burial of INIr. Lowman was the first to be made in the new cemeterv; this was on October 20, 1880.

Past And Present Of Adams Couxty 285

On April 27, 188.5, 200 citizens petitioned the city council to purchase suitable grounds for a new cemetery and to discontinue the sale of lots in the old cemetery. December 26, 1885, the council passed an ordinance forbidding the further sale of lots in the old cemeterj*. The city government declined to assume financial responsibility in the conteniijlated cemetery, and as a result a corporation of citizens was formed. January 19, 1886, a meeting was held in the office of James B. Heartwell for the purpose of forming a cemetery association. There were present James B. Heartwell, A. L. Clarke, Samuel Alexander, O. B. Hewett, ^Villiam T. Putt, Oswald Oliver, F. H. Firmin, Davis Lowman, William Lowman, Jacob Fisher, T. E. Farrell, Harrison Bostwick and D. jNI. JNIcElHinney. IMr. Hewett was chosen cliairman and Samuel Alexander clerk. It was voted to form a cemetery association and nine trustees were elected, as follows: O. B. Hewett, A. L. Clarke, Samuel Alexander, Davis Lowman, F. H. Firmin, T. E. Farrell, Jacob Fisher, D. M. McElHinney and James B. Heartwell. On the same day the Hastings Cemetery Association was incorporated. Eighty acres of ground, which is described as the south one-half of the southwest one-quarter of section 5, town 7, range 9, were jjurchased for $6,000; the plan of the association was to pay for the cemetery from the sale of lots.

The cemetery was laid out and i^latted by A. X. Carpenter, a landscape architect of (xalesburg, Illinois. The ground as platted contains 1,952 lots; about 30,000 burials may be made in the cemetery. There are four acres of ornamental grove and lawns, besides the avenues and small lakes. One block has been set ajDart as a potter's field and a tract containing 157 lots was sold to the INlount Sinai Cemetery Association, to be used as a Jewish cemetery. This sale was made for $480, the actual cost of the tract.

Highland Cemetery

In the city records the "Old Cemetery" is called Highland Cemetery, as the park in which it is located is called Highland Park in the records.^ The entire tract was acquired by contract with the Union Pacific Railroad at an early date, probably 1873, although the city did not receive a deed until 1883.

George F. Work was the chairman of the committee named by tlie City Council to plat the cemetery and most of the work ^\-as done by the chairman. The cemetery contains ten acres.

old settlers believe that iMrs. Thomas R. Boyce was the fii-st to tind a resting- place here, early in 1873. Others say that a Colonel Burke who claimed to have been a soldier in the Confederate army was the first to be buried in the "Old Cemetery." A fe\Y say that the first l)urials were made at some point just south of Hastings and that after the cemetery was laid out they were removed.

The original potter's field was located in the northeast corner of the forty acre tract owned by the city and several burials were made at this point. The greater number of the bodies were removed, but a few graves remain as evidence of the first potter's field. Among the very early undertakers were Andrew Vieth and William H. Stock. "

Hastixgs Parks

Hastings has three beautiful parks within easy walking distance of the business section of the city and reached by good streets and sidewalks.

Highland Park, commonly called the City Park, and sometimes the AVaterworks Park, is the oldest park with respect to ownership by the city. It is a part of the forty acre tract purchased from the L^nion Pacific Railroad by contract some time prior to 1876 and for which the city received a deed May 11, 1883. Upon the same tract the water works were located, and Highland Cemetery, conunonly called the "Old Cemetery," was platted.

No move was made by the city to develop Highland Park as a park until 1886. During the administration of JSIayor Yocum the council ordered that trees be purchased and planted. It is probable that Councilman C. C. Rittenhouse was the first to urge the council to develop the park, and Mr. Rittenhouse was made chairman of the committee to pui-chase and sujjcrintend the planting of the trees. Highland Park lies immediately north of the postofRce and the tract of which it is a part lies between Burlington and St. Joseph avenues and Twelfth and Fourteenth streets.

During the year that Highland Park was laid out, 1886. Hastings received Prospect Park, commonly called Chautauqua Park, as a Christmas gift from Dewitt C. Palmer and Daniel C. Crane. This park was transferred to the city by deed December 24, 1886. It comprises twenty-four acres of which ]Mr. Palmer donated eighteen acres and INIr. Crane six. It was at this time that INIr. Palmer, who had come to Hastings from the State of New York, was platting Palmer's Prospect Park Addition.

The terms iijjon which the jjark was donated jirovide that it shall lie used for park pin-poses forever and that intoxicating liquors shall not be sold Avithin its limits. It was also specified that the park should be immediately fenced and that trees should be planted in 1887 and that the jjark should be kept in good condition. The conditions have been well complied with by the city, except the one specifying that a lake should be formed within the park. There is a fine growth of trees, and the comfort with which the many thousands have enjoj^ed the Chautauqua and other entertainments well fulfills any anticipations that the donors may have had. JNIr. Palmer returned to New York many years ago, but he has visited Hastings while Chautauquas have been in j)rogTess and has been well pleased with the use that the city is making- of his gift.

Heartwell Park lies in the northeastern part of the city and comprises blocks 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Heartwell Park Addition. It is an irregular strijj lying between ^^'^abash and Elm avenues and Forest Street and Park Avenue. A dam across the ravine at California Avenue forms a lake by storing the water from the city drainage sewers. During the winter months Heartwell Lake affords good skating for hundreds of children and in summer there is some boating. Heartwell Park is well supplied with grass and trees and is a favorite resort for jJicnics, band concerts and similar recreations. In the summer of 1916, and once before, the state convention of the Seventh Day Adventists was held in Heartwell Park, the white tents with the great canvas pavilion completely filling the park. This park was acquired by the city during JNIayor Jacob Fisher's administration, or between April .5, 1898, and July 1.5, 1901.