Bradley Park
Although Peorians believe Laura Bradley Park was merely founded as a playground, it has influenced Peoria’s history, recreation, beauty, and fine arts. It is essential to know who founded this influential landmark. The amazing woman who is behind the discovery of the park was Lydia Moss Bradley, born in Vevay, Indiana in 1816. Moss Bradley moved to Peoria in her later years and there married Tobias Smith Bradley. With Tobias Smith Bradley, she had six children. Each child died before reaching the age of twenty. Though she was saddened by the children’s deaths, she refused to dwell on them forever and remained happy by busying herself and providing for the city of Peoria. It was significant that Moss Bradley did not stay in the state she was born in because Indiana may have benefited from all of her contributions rather than Peoria. Years later, Tobias Smith Bradley passed away, and Moss Bradley once again went through a period of depression. In the end, she arrived at the same conclusion that she came to after her children’s deaths, that she should not waste time shedding tears. Instead, she busied herself by doing great deeds for Peoria, one of which would soon happen, the founding of Laura Bradley Park.
In 1894, the park was finally established. Furthermore, Lydia Moss Bradley founded the park for several reasons including her love for land, the effect her family’s deaths had on her, and because she was simply generous. The most urgent reason behind the discovery was her undying love for the land. She cared very much for the land in Peoria and did not wish for it to be polluted and harmed. Therefore, she founded a park where the land would be enjoyed and treated properly. Unlike some of the other places in Peoria, the grass and flowers in Laura Bradley Park is beautiful because they are well kept and cared for correctly. Another reason behind Laura Bradley Park’s discovery was her family members’ impact on her. Her husband helped her financially so she had enough money to buy the extra land. The final explanation for the existence of Laura Bradley Park is she was so generous and kind, she decided to found a park. Laura Bradley Park was officially founded in 1881.
The park was named in honor of Lydia Moss Bradley’s longest-living child, Laura Bradley, who lived to the mere age of nineteen. She offered the Park District several acres for use as a park; nonetheless, the land remained untouched for thirteen entire years. Each year, Lydia Moss Bradley increased her loan size a small amount and each year the number of acres of land she offered increased and this permanently changed the size of Bradley Park. Finally, in 1894, the park district accepted the offer and Laura Bradley Park was then available to the public. When the park was first unveiled, it contained seven entrances, allowing many people into the park more conveniently. In addition, inside Bradley Park, there was a zoo, a fun house, and a train. Certainly, Laura Bradley Park was one of the most entertaining spots in Peoria, filled with recreational activities and a plethora of fine arts including shows. The public was very pleased because Laura Bradley Park was one of the few public parks in Peoria. Moss Bradley also forbid drinking or smoking in the park in order to keep the land clean. Another person behind the establishment of the park was Oscar F. Dubuis. Dubuis designed this lovely park and the success of Bradley Park encouraged him to go on and design more parks for Peoria, such as Glen Oak Park and so forth. Dubuis has been a very influential man to Peoria. Year after year, buildings, monuments, and attractions were added to the park. Some of these additions had great impact on Peorians who commonly visited the park. In 1955, Cornstock Theater transferred to Bradley Park. It provides thousands of dollars for Bradley Park each year so more attractions can be added. In 1922, a Japanese garden and a Japanese bridge were installed. The Japanese bridge is considered a landmark and has attracted several tourists to Peoria, providing the city with hundreds of dollars. The Japanese garden has made Bradley Park one of the most gorgeous and beautiful locations in Peoria. Not only were there huge installments in the park, there were important events that occurred. The park was not officially completed until 1905. Ten years were spent renovating, constructing, and designing this park. During the 1960s, the Main Street entrance permanently closed and an entrance opened on Parkside Drive. The layout of the park was permanently changed. Soon enough, the park district gained complete possession of Bradley Park. This was a smart decision because the Peoria Park District has taken fantastic care of the park. Finally, inside the park there are several places and structures that make Laura Bradley Park and even Peoria unique.
Aforementioned, in the 1920s, the Japanese bridge was constructed along with the Japanese gardens. For certain, Bradley Park is the only park in Illinois that contains Japanese themes. Frederic J. Klein drew the plans for the bridge. Years ago, near the Japanese bridge and garden there was a wading pool adaptable to a skating rink. During the summer, the two-foot deep pool served as a wading pool for people to swim and splash in. In the winter, the water in the wading pool froze and it transformed into a skating rink. Hundreds of Peorians learned how to swim and skate in this pool and rink. Some of Peoria’s greatest swimmers may have learned how to swim there. The wading pool and the Japanese themes may show uniqueness; however, there are more activities in the park such as tennis courts, baseball fields, picnic areas, and the fact that it is next to Bradley University. Most visitors of Bradley Park come from the University across the street. Students take advantage of having a park across the street for exercising, jogging its trails, and sitting at a picnic table near the beautiful scenery while they study.
[From Illinois Alive, About Laura Bradley. <http://www.illinoisalive.info/lydia-page1.htm
>. (Sept. 10, 2006); “Building Bradley Park was Slow Work,” Peoria Journal Star, June 24, 1978; Historic Peoria, Bradley Park, <http://www.historicpeoria.com/entry.php?eid=181&catid=2...
>. (Sept. 3, 2006); “Bradley Park Entrance to Close,” Peoria Journal Star, Oct. 14, 1965; Frank Kenny, “It’ll be Logs, Roads for Bradley Park,” Peoria Journal Star, Dec. 6, 1964; Theo Jean Kenyon, “Bradley Park in Danger of Becoming Private?,” Peoria Journal Star, Mar. 27, 1980; Theo Jean Kenyon, “Ghosts of Glen Oak,” Peoria Journal Star, Sept. 4, 2006; Jerry Klein, Peoria; Theresa W. Lusch, “Bradley Park: Past and Present,” West Bluff Word, Apr. 1980; “New Highway to Cut Through About 13 Acres of Bradley Park,” Peoria Journal Star, May 19, 1957; Peoria Historical Society, Bradley Park; Peoria Journal Star, Peoria. . . Impressions of 150 Years; Steve Strahler, “Who let the Demon in?,” Peoria Journal Star, Mar. 7, 1976; Allen A. Upton, Forgotten Angel; and Monica Vest Wheeler and Steve Wilkinson, The Grandest Views.]
Historic Places In The Park
Christopher Columbus Statue (no longer in existence)
In 1901, the Briggs Real Estate Company of Toledo, Ohio, developed the Uplands adjacent to upper Bradley Park. The developer approached the Peoria Park District with a proposal to erect a fountain, monument or other suitable ornamental structure at an intersection on Chambers Avenue which led into Bradley Park.
The Biggs Company ultimately chose a statue of Christopher Columbus. The statue of Columbus was created by sculptor Alfons Pelzer, and was manufactured by the W. H. Mullins Company, Salem, Ohio in 1896. Chambers Avenue was renamed Columbia Terrace in conjunction with the Columbus dedication on Sunday, October 15, 1902.
A large number of people attended the initial dedication of the Columbus Statue. “…There were some thirty carriages in the procession, headed by a squad of police, bugle corps and militia. The Central Railway, despite its special service, failed to carry the crowds that wanted to attend and while some 25,000 to 30,000 people managed to get to the grounds, there were other thousands who missed the unveiling for lack of transportation.”
Throughout its 107 year history, the Christopher Columbus statue has been a victim of repeated vandalism, including bullet holes and an attempt to remove a leg. On March 22, 1983, the statue was taken down and stored on Park district property awaiting repairs.
The Italian-American Society, members of the Uplands Homeowners Association, and Peoria Park District raised $14,000 for the restoration project. Sunderland and Associates were hired to clean, repair and reinforce the interior of the statue for $7,300.00. On October 13, 1984, the Christopher Columbus Statue was rededicated in Laura Bradley Park where it still remains today.
In keeping with the intent of the Park District’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Christopher Columbus Statue qualified by listing under criteria A & D.
Iron Bridge
In 1897, engineer H. Fahenstock reported the expenditure of $10,000.00 during the season for general permanent park improvements in keeping with the plans adopted for the construction of Bradley Park. Projects contemplated included: the completion of the grading and graveling of all driveways (the Main Street entrance and Chambers Avenue), finish grading of the large lake basin and the construction of two iron bridges across the necks of the lake.
To construct the lakes in Bradley Park, approximately 22,000 cubic yards of material was excavated and used to develop the roadways. There were also 2,500 trees and stumps removed in conjunction with the project.
On February 16, 1898, a contract for the erection of two steel bridges across the lakes was let to Thatcher A. Parker, of Terre Haute, Indiana. The contract amount of $2,345.00 was for the construction of the superstructure of both bridges. Four concrete bridge piers were completed by Park Division personnel for a total cost of $484.37.
In conjunction with the steel bridges, a series of dams were built to regulate the flow of water and debris into the lake. The dams constructed were able to hold back water for several days but ultimately the water volume of Dry Run Creek washed them out.
Seeking a solution to the problem the Park Board hired engineer B. H. Colby, of St. Louis to make a recommendation. To construct a lake, Colby suggested coating the entire surface area with a four-inch clay liner, building a “large” dam, and engineering a solution to keep driftwood, sand and silt from entering the lake bed. Because of the extreme cost of the project, the lake feature was not adhered to. One of the two steel bridges erected in 1898 remains in Bradley Park today. The structure is used as a pedestrian thoroughfare.
As a 109-year old structure, the steel bridge is appropriate for designation under criteria B and E of the Preservation Ordinance.
Japanese Bridge
Japanses_bridgeThe Japanese Bridge in Bradley Park was designed by Frederick John Klein in 1920. Klein, a noted Peoria architect, was as widely known for his public buildings as he was for the many stately residences he designed throughout Illinois. He was self-taught, but because of his outstanding abilities, he earned his way into membership of the American Institute of Architects.
Other local Klein creations are schools, including Peoria High, Washington and Franklin. He also designed homes along Grand View Drive and the shelter in the lower Grand View Park.
By the end of 1920, many of the planned improvements had been completed in Bradley Park. The Japanese garden, artificial lake, and ball diamonds were in use by the public. Because of the high cost of material and the shortage of labor the Japanese Bridge connecting the Japanese Garden with the playgrounds was temporarily delayed.
On April 21, 1921, a contract was signed with the Standard Improvement Company for the construction of the Japanese Bridge across Dry Run Creek. The plans were drawn up by Frederick J. Klein and the cost of construction was $5,470.00. A beautiful design that, “…when completed will fill a long felt want, it will enable people to go from the playground to the Japanese Garden without going away around and across the traffic bridge.” After completion in 1922, the Japanese Bridge project was described as, “…one of the most attractive features of the park and is a work of art well worth the time of the many visitors who patronize this park.”
Currently, the Japanese Bridge is in use and an integral part of the Bradley Park landscape. The structure is in generally good repair and has had all wooden portions treated by an epoxy wood restoration system, caulked, primed and painted during the summer of 2007.
The Japanese Bridge is suitable for landmarking under criteria A, B, and D of the District’s Preservation Ordinance.
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