Jerry Summers
The recent announcement with the usual colorful architectural charts and the proud prediction that the future for the 45-49 acres on East 23rd street and Polk Street is bright (not glowing and burning as in the past) is encouraging to those with knowledge of the history of the area.
With an enthusiastic endorsement by one of the descendants of the original donors (CM) it is hoped that the following toxic history of the now booming recreational facility will be obliterated, but that continued monitoring for any existing chemicals be maintained.
(The new danger of PFAs should also be included in regular inspections.)
The death of T.G. Montague in 1910 was followed by a gift from his widow, Mary T., of 45-49 acres to build a park in his memory, with plans being drawn in 1913.
For whatever reason, the low lying and swampy land was never developed or used for a public park until around 1948 during the administration of future mayor PR (Rudy) Oligati, when the site was chosen to be a refuse landfill, and disposal garbage dump, with the idea that the area would be capped and ultimately be used for future recreational purposes
After the landfill was filled to capacity, the brilliant idea that came from some source was to cover the acreage with dirt and turn it into a multi use facility containing a wide variety of activities, but only baseball, softball fields and parking lots were ever completed.
Over the years, the horror stories of the leaking of methane gas to self start fires and the release of toxic fumes into the atmosphere prior to the creation of OSHA and other federal state regulatory health agencies occurred, stimulating interest in the 1913 donation.
Numerous attempts have been made to correct periodic leakage of a variety of chemicals such as barium, lead, etc.
Whether the prior capping efforts have been successful or any inhalation of fumes by participants over the years may have caused or contributed to the death or health problem of any frequent visitors to the park since 1913 is unknown and speculative.
Thirty three acres of the park were leased in 2013 to John Henry, a renowned metal sculptor who worked at this site and lived adjacent to the park for 20 years.
His death from cancer may or may not have been connected to the complicated chemical history of Montague Park.
In 2019 the rest of the acreage was leased to the Chattanooga Football Club for their community soccer events.
The purpose of this article is not to stop the latest intended development of the charitable gift in 1910 by the Montague family to provide a significant contribution to the Chattanooga community.
However, the recorded history of the mistakes and multiple errors of the past that may affect the health and safety of the public and the future should not be minimized.
(Continued regular and independent monitoring should be a mandatory requirement for the project!)
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If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)