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mark. After the bridge company was formed, another company made up principally of members of the other concern, constructed a road and bridges on the Illinois side, as an approach to the high bridge. A fair rate of toll is charged and the enterprise has proven a success and a great convenience. relegated the ferry to oblivion.

Its advent

The following is a list of the officers of the corporation: H. W. Huttig, president; Henry Jayne, vice president; J. Scott Blackwell, secretary; Chester Lillibridge, superintendent, treasurer and financial secretary.

WEED PARK.

A tract of land of about sixty-three acres in the northeast section of the city, containing a number of mounds, believed to be the graves of Indians who lived on the beautiful bluff overlooking the Mississippi, comprises the limits of Weed Park. There are large trees of oak, hickory, elm, wild cherry, sycamore and pine, while in the spring the air is filled with the fragrance of the red haw and plum. In 1907 this land was donated to the city by Mr. and Mrs. James Weed, at which time an organization known as the Weed Park Association assumed the improvement of the grounds and shortly thereafter the association and city placed in charge a caretaker, who began at once the labor of beautifying the place. Later the Weed Park Club was organized, having for its main object the beautification of the park. An agreement was signed by this club under which each member pledged himself to pay a fee of ten cents per year. The first summer a great deal of work was accomplished by Mesdames Gurtner, Gillman, Longstreth, and others who carried water for the flowers, many of which had been purchased by the donation of pupils of the Lincoln school. July 7th of that year the club instituted plans for a suitable home to be erected on the grounds, and on the 27th of September the club house was dedicated. The building is a two-story frame with a brick foundation. The entrance doors are double and in the building are dining rooms, dancing rooms, reception rooms, etc. Since that time many improvements have been made on the grounds until today Weed Park is one of the beauty spots of Muscatine and is much sought in pleasant weather by its citizens.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE.

In the spring of 1900 the building of the Grand Opera House on the northeast corner of Second and Walnut streets was commenced and completed the following fall. The building is a handsome one, constructed of St. Louis buff brick and stone and cost $30,000. Its seating capacity is 1,100, but at least 1,500 can be accommodated. The ground dimensions of the structure are 60x140 feet and height of stage loft 60 feet. It is strictly modern and up-to-date. There are eight private boxes and plush opera chairs. The stage is spacious and has many modern conveniences. Underneath it are dressing rooms, etc.

THE FAMILY THEATER.

This is a fine building and was constructed in 1907, by W. S. Hill, at a cost of $15,000. It is built of brick, the front being of Milwaukee buff brick. There is a large stage, with commodious dressing rooms underneath. The scenery

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new and up-to-date and the house comfortably seats about 800 people. The foyer is large and roomy and the manager has a commodious private office. This house is given over to vaudeville and moving pictures at popular prices. There is a matinee each day and two performances in the evening.

THE A-MUSE-U.

The A-Muse-U is a theater given over exclusively to high-class motion pictures. The building, on Sycamore, between Second and Front streets, was opened in February, 1911. This place of amusement has scarcely a rival for beauty and convenience in the country. The front is pleasingly designed in stucco and the interior decorations and accessories are modern and entirely to the tastes and comforts of patrons. 600 people can be seated in the opera chairs and face a spacious stage.

There are three other motion picture places in the city and in that regard the people are liberally supplied.

BASE BALL CLUB.

Not to be outdone by her sister cities in the state and nation, Muscatine organized a salaried baseball club in 1910, several thousand dollars being subscribed by the promoters of the innovation, most of whom are members of the Commercial Club. In the year of its birth the Muscatine aggregation belonged to the Northern Association of Clubs, composed of Elgin, Joliet, Galesburg, Decatur, Kankakee and Freeport, all in Illinois, and Clinton, Iowa. That year Muscatine won the "pennant," having proven superior to all its competitors in the numerous battles on the diamond for the season. In 1911 the Muscatine. team became a member of the Central Association, which is made up by the combination of Ottumwa, Burlington, Keokuk and Muscatine, of Iowa; Galesburg, Monmouth and Kewanee of Illinois, and Hannibal, Missouri.

The club has a beautiful ball park in southwest Muscatine, where is an octagon grandstand with a capacity of 2,000, and bleachers holding 1,000. The team is under the management of Lewis Walters, and the club's president is Arthur Lawrence. The management has been successful in keeping up interest in the great American game and so far the average attendance on week days has been about 700. On Sunday about 1,200.

MUSCATINE CEMETERY.

The first burial ground was where the Third Ward school house now stands. Here fifty bodies taken from the waters of the Mississippi were interred. The remains were of victims of the steamboat Dubuque, which exploded its boilers and was destroyed a short distance below Muscatine in 1837. When excavations were making for the school building the bones of the dead were removed.

At a meeting prior to June 27, 1873, a committee was selected to draft articles of incorporation for a cemetery association and at the date last mentioned the committee made its report, which was accepted. On motion of J. A.

Bishop, a committee was then appointed to solicit subscriptions to stock, consisting of Mrs. J. S. Horton, Mrs. D. Washburn, Mrs. Thomas Hanna, R. M. Burnett, Henry Molis and G. B. Denison. Land contiguous to the old burial ground was purchased.

The first officials were: R. M. Burnett, president; G. B. Denison, vice presi dent; Henry Jayne, secretary; J. Carskaddan, treasurer.

In the course of years various additions have been made to the cemetery grounds. A vast space westward is being tenanted. In this newer part trees and shrubs have been planted and are growing to generous proportions, beautifying that section and adding color and harmony to many expensive monuments. Here are also mausoleums, which give additional picturesqueness to the general scene. This beautiful city of the dead is reached by the citizens of Muscatine and visitors on the excellent trolley line running to its gates.

GREENWOOD CHAPEL.

Sunday afternoon, May 12, 1901, a magnificent cemetery chapel was dedicated, the gift of Peter Musser, in memory of his wife, Tamson Musser, and given the name of Greenwood chapel. In size the structure is 65x35 feet. The material is red pressed brick with ornamental designs of stone at the corners, over the windows and entrance. At the east end is the audience room, designed to seat at least 100. The west part of the building is divided into apartments for sexton, office and tool room and a depository for bodies awaiting burial. Through the center is a broad driveway, arched over in a very artistic manner. The chapel stands just within the entrance, and through the archway many funeral corteges pass.

Later Mr. Musser presented to the cemetery a beautiful statue of Hope, classic in its lines and greatly admired by all who notice it. The white marble of the statue and the uplifted arm and upturned face of the figure on the pedestal, combine to make one conscious of the beauty of the elysian fields to which the statue seems beckoning. This handsome piece of sculpture is placed in a prominent position in front of Greenwood chapel.

ST. MARY'S CEMETERY.

On Logan street, north of Newell, is St. Mary's cemetery, a beautiful burial spot. The cemetery association was incorporated, September 1, 1876. The first officers were: John Knott, president; Frank Moran, secretary; Rev. P. Laurent,

treasurer.

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