A Park For The East Lake Community

When Chattanoogans awoke on Wednesday, July 1, 1896, and grabbed their copy of the Chattanooga Daily Times, the readers noticed a headline announcing that city government had “accepted” the East Lake Park. It was an interesting story.

The three members of the Chattanooga City Council Finance Committee, Chairman T. T. Wilson with Aldermen Wilson and Wilcox, had earlier in the spring received a letter from C. E. James, president of the Mission Ridge Land Company. James explained that the land company was prepared to gift the East Lake Park to the city via a “deed in fee,” with a restriction that it “be maintained as a public park.” He further asked for an assurance from the city that “no disorderly people be allowed to use it for picnics, etc.” The letter mentioned that there was no contract in place to maintain the electric lights but that, other than that one issue, the park was in “good order” and should be “maintained by the commissioners. “

The commissioners asked W. E. Beck to address the meeting. He had earlier been asked to examine the East Lake home owners’ deeds to determine if any provision required the Mission Ridge Land Company to “maintain” the park for the exclusive use of the owners. He stated there were no restrictions and the city could accept the gift for public use. With that report, the committee recommended that the city council accept the park if local businessmen Campbell and Hutchenson who had been granted use of water from the lake would relinquish their rights. Both “generously agreed” and executed a necessary document so that “the way” was clear for the acceptance of the park.

So, what constituted East Lake Park in 1896? The property consisted of seven acres of “high ground” located on the western side of Mission Ridge with a lake of “running spring water.” Not only was the area sheltered by “elegant shade trees” with several active springs on the ground, the Mission Ridge Land Company had already added several buildings including a music stand with a covered platform and a separate refreshment pavilion. The entire acreage was fenced and secured.

The Chattanooga City Council formally accepted the park on July 3 and shared that planning for a celebratory Fourth of July parade and acceptance ceremony had begun quietly in June. The parade would begin at 3 p.m. the following day and the public was invited to bring their families and enjoy a free barbecue given by the “laboring men” and attend the ceremony in the city’s newest park.

Spence’s Military Band, a salute by the artillery company and a full-dress parade and drill provided by the Major Fyffe and the Second Battalion, Companies B, E, H and I, of the local militia would kick off the celebration. The “ladies of Chattanooga” would present a silk banner to the battalion in gratitude for their previous military service and their continued support of the republic. After the community barbeque, there would be duck races on the lake along with tub races, sack and running races, paper balloon-making contests and a special entertainment for the children - - donkey races.

An evening program was planned to help raise funds for further improvements; beds of fragrant flowers were to be the first additions under the supervision of George M. Bradt. A 25-cent admission entitled ticket holders to an open-air grand opera entitled ‘The Sorcerer,’ directed by Professor Williams and featuring a chorus of “sixty trained voices.” Spence’s military band would again perform a program of “rousing” patriotic songs and marches and the evening would conclude with a fireworks display on the lake and island.

Linda Moss Mines, Chattanooga and Hamilton County Historian, chairs the Chattanooga Parks and Outdoor Commission.