BORDERING ON THE BANKS OF THE WINDING GUADALUPE RIVER...
In September 1939, I (W. R. McCright) was visiting in the office of my friend Mr. George H. French, owner and publisher of the Victoria Advocate Newspaper. He said, "Mac, Victoria needs a large municipal park. If you would agree to serve as chairman of a committee with the assistance and cooperation of this paper, I believe we could create one." At that time, I was District Manager of the Houston Natural Gas Corporation and I knew that it would require a lot of time, so I checked with my Houston office and was given permission to take whatever time was necessary.
The Chamber of Commerce then appointed a committee of three including Fred Schneider and Frank Guittard. Frank was given the responsibility of publicity and legal work.
We were familiar with some land owned by the Victoria Sand and Gravel Company as Fred had ridden over it many times on horseback. At one time, they had a gravel plant in the river where they removed sand and gravel out of the River in Grover's Bend. We thought it would be ideal for a park; so, Frank and I went to Houston to see the President of the company, Mr. W. E. Samson.
After a lot of discussion, he said it could be bought for a park but it would be necessary for him to have a meeting with the Board of Directors. We went back to Houston three weeks later and after quite a bit of discussion, we entered into an agreement with Mr. Samson to purchase 190 acres of land at $35 per acre. He asked his lawyer, Mr. Scott, to draw up the necessary contract; but, he apparently did not want the company to sell the land so he came up with every excuse imaginable to keep from doing this. Finally, Frank said, "Mr. Scott if you will furnish the secretary, I will draw up the contract myself." So, after quite a bit of delay, Frank and the secretary came up with a contract that was agreeable and Mr. Samson signed it. It was necessary to put up $500.00 earnest money so Frank and I returned to Victoria late that night and the next day an earnest money note was signed by Frank Guittard, Ed Dysart, M. O. Simon and Earl Fisher.
We wanted to be sure the land was desirable for park purposes so we contacted the State Park Board. The Secretary of the State Park Board and his engineer came to Victoria and we inspected the land on horseback. They said it was fantastic. They had never seen a better park site and hoped it could be developed.
In 1940, a public donation drive was kicked off and finished within 30 days. I have a list, which may be incomplete, of donors. We received donations as low as $.10; the highest donation was $1150.00. Approximately 625 people made these donations including large companies, businessmen, professional people and individuals. We raised approximately $10,500.00. In those day, that was a lot of money.
In order to make the boundary lines more desirable for park use, it was necessary to buy some land from different people. After the drive was complete and all necessary papers had been signed, Frank Guittard and I met with the City Council again as we had many times during all transactions. We spent may nights at City Hall attending Council Meetings. After all of this, the property was donated and deeded to the City with special instruction that it was only to be used for park purposes and water or oil wells.
Mr. Huvar, a member of the City Council, was nominated as Park Commissioner. He was very cooperative. I worked with him on a lot of different projects. Now, we were ready to start developing.
The City Council authorized Frank Guittard and I to go to San Antonio to make arrangements with Mr. R. H. H. Huggman, a landscape engineer, to prepare a prospectus for the improvements in the park. This was done at a cost of $500.00. The prospectus was absolutely fantastic and was very scientific. It was reviewed in the Chamber of Commerce office for quite some time with everyone admiring the work and the planned arrangement.
The City Council then authorized us to negotiate with Mr. John Bredamus, a golf course architect, to lay out a golf course. This was also done for $500.00(normally his fee would have been much more). I assisted him in every effort in this project. The improvements included some picnic tables/benches made of heavy lumber that was left at the old Victoria Sand and Gravel plant. They were placed throughout the park.
World War II came along and progress slowed. We secured some W. P. A. labor and cleared off part of the proposed golf course and other parts of the park. When W. P. A. labor was no longer available, work on the project slowed again.
About this time, we contacted a Mr. Wheeler to bud approximately 200 pecan trees in the river bottom. Now in pecan season when the wind blows strong at night, come daylight, hundreds of pecan pickers pickup large bags of paper shell pecans. We think this is wonderful. These are probably the only pecans that some children ever get.
Among the next improvements were scenic drives in various areas of the park. The City Council of Victoria honored me very highly in naming one of them McCright Drive (which I drive almost everyday).
Then came more BBQ and picnic units, a Jr. Chamber of Commerce building, Rosebud Baseball Park and the Horseman's Club Arena. A ladies civic organization helped beautify the Park by setting out Redbud, Oleander and various other trees and shrubs.
Others members, added to what we now call the Park Board to assist in all the beautification, was Mr. J. P. Poole, Jr., Mrs. Frank Crain, Earl Fisher and Mr. E. M. Van Zandt.
In 1952, we started all over in building the golf course. After the clearing by the W. P. A. in the early 40's, vegetation had grown up again so that a lot additional clearing was required. Large companies and local individuals furnished heavy equipment and labor "free gratis". We built a real fine 9-hole golf course and called it the "poor boy" golf course because all the labor and equipment was donated by various people. It is one of the finest courses in this part of the country and we had a lot of fun doing the work.
While it was grown up in vegetation, the City Council had leased a portion of it as cow pasture. One day, a bulldozer pushed a tree over and it fell one of the cows and killed her. She was actually worth $35.00 and that is what we paid for a dead cow.
Along with a lot of other donations, the County Commissioners gave us the water pipe that was reclaimed from the old Aloe Field. The pipe was dug up, cut, hauled and laid for a water pipe for the golf course. This was a lot of help because we really needed a water system. During this period of construction, we had bulldozers, maintainers, ditch digging machines and every other piece of equipment imaginable.
When we had the groundwork practically all laid out, it became necessary to have money to buy tractors, mowers, sprinklers and various equipment needed to maintain a golf course. So, 15 members of the Park Improvement Association signed a note at the Bank & Trust for $7,000.00 to buy all this equipment. This note was paid off in approximately two years.
The golf course is operated strictly by a Board of Directors elected by the members of the Victoria Park Improvement Association and the land is leased from the City of Victoria for $1.00 and other considerations. There are no politics involved. They do a marvelous job. When one person leaves, another one is elected.
Claude McCan and Zac Lentz bought 96 acres of land on the east side of the park site location and sold it to the City at no profit. This acreage was developed as an additional 9-holes. This is now the only 18-hole course other than in Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi.
A lot of picnic units were built and there is now a beautiful $30,000.00 ClubHouse. This loan, financed by Victoria Bank & Trust, is paid at $500.00 monthly ( and they've never missed a payment).
When people speak to me, they say "Hi Mac, how's your golf game?"
There have been other improvements. I have no dates of these, so I'll just list them:
1. The Lions Club and Trunkline Gas Company have provided BBQ and
picnic units to accommodate large gatherings.
2. The Kiwanis Club has developed a children's playground which had
slides, swings and various playground equipment. It's a really busy
spot.
3. The Optimist Club provided and maintains a fishing lake for children.
We also have a concrete boat ramp for launching boats for fishing and pleasure.
In 1958, a Mr. Yates donated to the City a lioness, "Old Chubby", which was the beginning of the Zoo. A lot of people have enjoyed the Zoo.
Also in 1958, Mr. Tom O'Connor, Jr. brought Texas League Baseball to Victoria. The Rosebud Park was used for games. The seating capacity and lighting system was improved and thousands of people enjoyed hours of watching Texas League Baseball. At that time, the County Commissioners opened and hard-surfaced Red River Street into the Park. We were having quite a traffic problem when the baseball games were over so the County Commissioners took care of the problem.
About 1951, we built a teenage ballpark next to Rosebud Park. The following year, we organized Little League Baseball adjacent to Jaycee Hall. In 1953, we built two more Little League parks in the same area. Officers at Foster Field and the City of Victoria furnished heavy equipment to level the ground.
Now, we have approximately 1000 boys playing Little League Baseball. Rosebud Park is now used for Teenage Ball, three High Schools and Semi-Pro Baseball. There are approximately 500 teenage boy playing which requires a lot of supervision from their fathers and others. This is a good program that uses up a lot of energy and is a pleasure for the kids.
Now there is a Nature Trail! This was Dan Clark's idea. You must walk it - no bicycles or other transportation is permitted. You can see nature, the trees and plants in a quiet way and really enjoy God's work.
The Park offers many hours of fresh air and various types of entertainment for young and old. It is an asset to the entire community of Victoria. I know of no city in the State comparable to size to Victoria that has anything to compare with it. There are much larger cities that have "nothing" to compare to it, either. It is marvelous that hundreds of civic-minded citizens have given up their time, talent and money to make this Park possible.
All the Parks in this area are supervised by a Parks Director and Park Commissioners. The members of the Park Commission at this time are E. J. Pribyl, Chairman; Robb Thomas, Secretary; Harold Cade, Richard L. Ortiz and myself. Dan Clark is City Parks and Recreation Director and John Lee is the City Manager. John is very cooperative and helpful with all the activities in the Park. Dan Clark has been with us for quite some time now and is doing real marvelous work. The Recreation Department provides many hours of entertainment for children. Dan really loves this type of work.
I've tried to start at the very beginning of the Park history up to the present time on the various and sundry improvements. I hope this information will be handed down so that other people will know what has been done for their pleasure.
With reference to the Victoria Advocate, had it not been for all the news items, we would never have able to raise the money to purchase the land, Frank Guittard and the editors of the Advocate bombarded the public with news items and reports of continuous operations. When we were about to finish the drive, we had a leading citizen call and ask how much money it would take to complete the amount we were trying to raise. At that time, people were leaving donations at the banks. We told him we would call him back in a few minutes. We called the banks for the balance and determined it would take approximately $1150.00 to complete the drive. We called him back and he said, "If you'll come out to my house, I'd like to discuss the matter with you." We went out to his house and he said, "I'm going to give you a check for $1150.00 with the understanding that in the future, when I pick up the Advocate, I'll be able to read news other than Park news". This donation completed the drive.
I want to thank the City Manager's secretary, Mrs. Owens. She has been real helpful in gathering data and all the information that has helped make this report possible.
*(Originally Written by W. R. McCright, January 25, 1972)
(Edited for content, 9/27/00)
An article in the Victoria Advocate date June 25, 1940 read:
"Active steps toward final plans for Victoria's municipal recreation park were taken Monday night by the Park Advisory Board and the Council when it was decided to employ a landscape engineer to draw up a complete perspective or plat of the proposed park. This action was taken upon recommendation of Frank Guittard and George H. French of the park board. It was recommended that the City employ R. H. Hugman, architect and civic planner of San Antonio."
EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! EASTER SUNDAY 1972
It has been estimated that approximately 12,000 to 14,000 people were in or drove through the Park. There was a steady stream of cars all day and at mid-afternoon they were bumper to bumper.
Being unlawful for anyone to spend a night in the Park without a permit from the Police Department, 173 permits were issued for people to spend the night in order to have a picnic. They had tents, bedding of all kinds, food and drinks to keep them comfortable. However, we do not have 173 picnic units; therefore, it created a problem. If someone were to leave his designated area, he would return to find it taken by another party.
The City officials are now purchasing more land adjacent to the Park as we are crowded for space. This is more proof as to how valuable the park is to the public!
In 1940, no one would have ever dreamed of this many people being in the Park in one day.
MORNING STUDY CLUB REPORT
BY MRS. McCRIGHT*
JANUARY 20, 1972
Madame President and members of the Morning Study club. As Minnie Pearl would say, "I'm glad to be here, but I'm scared to death". I am delighted to talk on the subject of Riverside Park this morning.
This Park is an alluring area where 413 acres curve gently around the northwest corners of Victoria. A vista of peaceful loveliness embroidered on three sides by the Guadalupe River and opening away before the eyes in an expanse of cool shade and delightful recreation. Whether you fish, golf, eat, or sleep, you'll find relaxation in Victoria's Municipal Park. There, winding among the ancient elms and pecans, the avenues lead you from noisy play to unbroken quiet. Exhibiting in route children screaming down the slides, the golfer sinking his putt, the family barbecuing dinner and the undisturbed individual resting on the grass. This place is healthy and handy opportunity lying as it does just at the edge of the City and offering it's variety of diversions.
But a day of pleasure in the Park has its' counterparts in the sweat and tears of its' organization. Every shout of laughter was paid for in the beginning by a bead of perspiration. The thousands who enjoy their putting now can thank the hundreds who worked for the Park in the beginning.
The beginning is set in 1937 when a Park Commission was appointed by the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. W. R. McCright was appointed Chairman; Fred Schneider, Chairman, and Frank Guittard, Publicity Chairman and Legal Advisor. The stage was then set for a Park.
About 1940, 190 acres was purchased with $10,000.00 contributed by private citizens. The property was deeded over to the City with the provision that it could be used for 3 purposes: water wells, oil wells, and park purposes. Prior to 1940, the Park was largely the property of Victoria Sand and Gravel Company - it was from the river that sand and gravel was taken until the mid-30's. Cessation of gravel operations saw the mushrooming of public thought on the Park possibilities.
W. R. McCright generally credits George H. French, former publisher of the Victoria Advocate, with the first move to channel public thought and action toward getting a Park. He saw that Victoria needed a Park and arranged with the Chamber of Commerce to appoint a committee and threw the Papers' facilities behind the project.
The first Committee was appointed in the late thirties. They dealt with W. E. Samson, President of the Texas Construction Material Company of Houston, which controlled Victoria Sand and Gravel Company. McCright, Guittard and Schneider arranged to purchased all but 20 acres of the Park in March 1940 for $7500.00 with $500.00 earnest money to effect the deal. Frank Guittard, Earl Fisher, M. O. Simon and E. J. Dysart personally signed the note to borrow the funds. That note is still in existence and retained by one of the signers as a souvenir.
A public donation drive was kicked off in April 1940 and was finished within a month. Donations from $.10 to $1150.00 were received. According to the City Secreatary, the Park was deeded to the City in August of 1940.
Following acquisition, the City appointed a Park Commission which included the three men on the former Chamber of Commerce Committee plus E. E. Van Zandt, Mrs. Frank Crain and Earl Fisher. Fred Huvar was the alderman named Park Commissioner.
From there, the story was one of the widening participation whereas Guittard, McCright and Schneider has done the initial work. After the City was deeded the land, the matter entered areas of local, state and national government. Volumes of correspondence, notes, legal documents and engineers' reports revealed the work extended into not only acquiring the land but in developing it. Much of what was first scheduled has developed, but the plans are far from complete. R. H. H. Huggman, Landscape Engineer of San Antonio, prepared sketches of the Park in 1941. Tennis courts, an outdoor theatre and a nursery are among the things which haven't been developed.
John Bredamus of San Antonio was hired as a golf course architect and engineer. A 9-hole golf course was completed after the Victoria Park Improvements Association formed in January 1952 to renew the project. This was in the original plans. Some of the work had been done when World War II came along.
Individual service groups and the City constantly are at work to achieve Park improvement. The Rotary Club donated money to buy redbud trees. A group of ladies including Mrs. J. P. Poole Jr. and the late Mrs. Sid Shaw are credited with having planted the trees as well as the colorful oleander bushes at vantage point in the Park. Facilities extended from one entrance to the other but there is room for plenty more. Individual sacrifice has marked may steps of the Parks' growth. Numberless citizens have given up their time, money and work to see the area develop. Their work hasn't been in vain, as a trip through the Park will show. The Park now has a playground built by the Kiwanis Club, the Boulevard Lions Club picnic area, the Horseman's Club Arena and a Nature Trail. If you haven't walked trail, I urge you to do so. It takes 30 to 40 minutes and you can commune with God and nature. This truly is God's wonderful world.
*The foregoing report was presented by Mrs. McCright and was voted second place in 1972 Outstanding Programs by the Morning Study Club.
(Edited for content 9/27/00)
