Schuetzen Park (Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Schuetzen Park is a privately owned 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) park
located in the west end of Davenport, Iowa
, United States
. It was developed by the Davenport Schuetzengesellschaft as a location for the practice of target shooting in the traditional German style called "Schuetzen". The park is now owned and operated by the non-profit Schuetzenpark Gilde.
, shooting range
, refreshment stands, roller coaster
, bowling alleys and a zoo
. Many organizations are associated with Schuetzen Park, however, the best known of these is the Davenport Turngemeinde. Many Turngemeinde members were also members of the Schuetzengesellschaft and the Turners also had an athletic field at the park for their outdoor track events. A monument in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Davenport Turngemeinde (2002) can be seen in the park.
The park flourished until the outbreak of World War I
, when anti-German sentiment rose in Davenport and across the country. The German language
was outlawed, German books were removed from the library, citizens of German birth were interrogated about their loyalty to the United States, many German businesses changed their names, the Schuetzenverein was renamed the Davenport Shooting Club and Schuetzenpark was renamed Forest Park.
In 1923 the park was sold to the Chiropractic Psychopathic Sanitarium for $3,500. There was an understanding that the sanitarium would allow the public to use the park, and the shooting club would be allowed to use the shooting range until the real estate contract was completed. After the final payment was made in 1939 the shooting club created another shooting range on Utica Ridge Road in Davenport and eventually moved to a site near Princeton
. The sanitarium remained on the property for forty years. The grounds and the buildings from the park were either renovated or replaced to fit the hospital's needs. In 1960 the sanitarium complex was sold to the Good Samaritan Society
for use as a nursing home and assisted living center. The nursing home still remains in operation on a small portion of the site.
In 1995 restoration efforts began of the grounds and once again cultural events and other activities take place there. In 2005 a new picnic pavilion
was erected and in 2008 a new bandstand
was constructed. As in years past, a summer concert
series is traditionally held in the park and a wide range of musical styles are presented.
Schuetzen Park's streetcar railway station, built in 1911, is the only original structure that remains from the park. The station was designed in the Egyptian Revival
style and constructed of poured concrete. It measures 21 by 15 feet in size and served as a waiting station for park patrons who rode the trolley car to and from the park. A $1,000 bequest from Davenport brewer Henry Koehler, who had owned the Independent Malting Company
, paid for its construction. Renovation of the structure began in late 2011. It was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties on August 5, 1998. The park has acres of nature trails, a deer pond, Bavarian Wayside Shrine and the granite remains of the German Savings Bank.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
located in the west end of Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was developed by the Davenport Schuetzengesellschaft as a location for the practice of target shooting in the traditional German style called "Schuetzen". The park is now owned and operated by the non-profit Schuetzenpark Gilde.
History
The park opened on June 12, 1870. At its zenith, the park consisted of an Inn, music pavilion, dance hallDance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
, shooting range
Shooting range
A shooting range or firing range is a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. Each facility is typically overseen by one or more supervisory personnel, called variously a range master or "RSO – Range Safety Officer" in the United States or a range conducting officer or "RCO" in the UK...
, refreshment stands, roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
, bowling alleys and a zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
. Many organizations are associated with Schuetzen Park, however, the best known of these is the Davenport Turngemeinde. Many Turngemeinde members were also members of the Schuetzengesellschaft and the Turners also had an athletic field at the park for their outdoor track events. A monument in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Davenport Turngemeinde (2002) can be seen in the park.
The park flourished until the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when anti-German sentiment rose in Davenport and across the country. The German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
was outlawed, German books were removed from the library, citizens of German birth were interrogated about their loyalty to the United States, many German businesses changed their names, the Schuetzenverein was renamed the Davenport Shooting Club and Schuetzenpark was renamed Forest Park.
In 1923 the park was sold to the Chiropractic Psychopathic Sanitarium for $3,500. There was an understanding that the sanitarium would allow the public to use the park, and the shooting club would be allowed to use the shooting range until the real estate contract was completed. After the final payment was made in 1939 the shooting club created another shooting range on Utica Ridge Road in Davenport and eventually moved to a site near Princeton
Princeton, Iowa
Princeton is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. The population was 946 at the 2000 census.-History:The first known settlers in Princeton Township were Giles M. and Haswell H. Pineo and Daniel Hire, about two years later...
. The sanitarium remained on the property for forty years. The grounds and the buildings from the park were either renovated or replaced to fit the hospital's needs. In 1960 the sanitarium complex was sold to the Good Samaritan Society
Good Samaritan Society
The Good Samaritan SocietyThe Good Samaritan Society has 60 years of experience in providing complex/continuing care, assisted living and other specialized health and community care services in innovative and caring environments...
for use as a nursing home and assisted living center. The nursing home still remains in operation on a small portion of the site.
In 1995 restoration efforts began of the grounds and once again cultural events and other activities take place there. In 2005 a new picnic pavilion
Pavilion
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
was erected and in 2008 a new bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
was constructed. As in years past, a summer concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
series is traditionally held in the park and a wide range of musical styles are presented.
Schuetzen Park's streetcar railway station, built in 1911, is the only original structure that remains from the park. The station was designed in the Egyptian Revival
Egyptian Revival architecture
Egyptian Revival is an architectural style that uses the motifs and imagery of ancient Egypt. It is attributed generally to the public awareness of ancient Egyptian monuments generated by Napoleon's conquest of Egypt and Admiral Nelson's defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of the Nile during 1798....
style and constructed of poured concrete. It measures 21 by 15 feet in size and served as a waiting station for park patrons who rode the trolley car to and from the park. A $1,000 bequest from Davenport brewer Henry Koehler, who had owned the Independent Malting Company
Zoller Bros-Independent Malting Co.
The Zoller Bros-Independent Malting Co. building is located on the edge of an industrial area in the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983.-History:...
, paid for its construction. Renovation of the structure began in late 2011. It was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties on August 5, 1998. The park has acres of nature trails, a deer pond, Bavarian Wayside Shrine and the granite remains of the German Savings Bank.