From pond to park --- the first steps

Perkins

The question of who designed Chariton's Yocom Park came up after Tuesday evening's sidewalks meeting at the Freight House and, as usual, the best answer I could give was, "We're sure it was William Lee Perkins, but can't prove it." No plans for the park have survived. We also know that Ray F. Wyrick, the Des Moines-based landscape architect responsible for design work at the Chariton Cemetery after its 1929 purchase by the city, developed a planting scheme for the park --- but again, no plans have survived.

Architect Perkins, in 1922 when plans for a park were launched for the old Lake Como site along what now is Highway 14 (7th Street) in east Chariton, had been working in Chariton for five years and also was city engineer. He would go on to design the Hotel Charitone, Legion Hall, City Hall, Masonic Temple and many other public and commercial buildings and homes.

The City Council approved initial plans for the park during its meeting on April 5, 1922, as reported (in part) in The Chariton Leader of April 6:

OLD POND SITE TO BE MADE A PARK

City Council Acts Favorably on Suggestion of Citizens Who Would Beautify Unsightly Plot

"Acting on the request of the committees from the civics department of the Womans club and the Commercial club and other interested citizens, the city council Monday night granted the request to permit the old city pond site being set aside for park purposes. This ground is located at the east end of Braden Ave., and has presented an unsightly appearance for several years. After it was abandoned as a pond, the place was used as a dumping ground, and its appearance has not been improved in this later use.

"A few weeks ago interested citizens, seeing the possibilities of converting the plot into a city park and playground, had plans drawn by Architect Perkins to give some idea what might be expected in the way of improvement."

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The Council had considered Perkins' plans initially a couple of weeks earlier, as reported in The Herald-Patriot of March 23:

"The council chamber was crowded on Monday evening with men and women urging the city council to cooperate with them in cleaning up the unsightly dump near the electric light plant and transforming it into a beauty spot which all could enjoy.

"Mr. J.C. Flatt presented the proposition, showing drawings of the proposed work. These plans were drawn by City Engineer Perkins, who has offered to contribute his services to carry through the improvement...."

"The plans provide for a series of sodded terraces, with walks and driveways, to descend gradually to the center of the natural amphitheater where a band stand or recreational grounds would be located. Provision is made for tennis courts, horseshoe grounds and children's playgrounds. Hedges, trees and shrubbery with rustic seats about the park would complete the picture, making this a beauty spot and a pleasure ground for all."

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Perkins most likely developed these plans in his own office and, if copies were retained, kept them himself. 

At the time plans for the park were developed, Chariton's original city hall had been abandoned by the City Council, city clerk and others and was used exclusively by the Chariton Volunteer Fire Department. The clerk's office and council chambers were located in rented spaces on the square.

That situation was not resolved until 1932, after the old City Hall/Fire Station had been demolished and the current City Hall built on its site --- a structure that included a vault where records, plans and other paperwork could be archived.