Happy Face LbNA #15674 (ARCHIVED)

HISTORY

This box was in Stewart Park (in Ithaca NY) for the Fingerlakes' events.
Because of the distance and travel for me to keep an "eye" on it, I have moved it closer to home. I am keeping the Stewart Park history stuff, because that was one of the reasons it was made. There is a NEW logbook (The old one became SOAKED), and directions. I hope you understand, and enjoy.

In Mayor Edwin C. Stewart's' inauguration speech in January of 1920, he declared that " it is a disgrace to our city that there is not a place where Ithacans and their guests may go to enjoy our lake without trespassing on private property". He acted quickly on his commitment to provide access to the lake, and by 1921 the land had been purchased, the grounds spruced up, debris from the waterfront cleared and the park made ready for public enjoyment. The intended opening had to be postponed due to flooding, and, unfortunately, Mayor Stewart died in the interim before the official opening of the park on the fourth of July. His vision held true, and many Ithacans and visitors enjoyed the park as they continue to do today. In his will Mayor Stewart left $150,000 to the city for the improvement and maintenance of the park, and it was renamed Stewart Park in his honor. In 1923 the City acquired the Cascadilla School property which was added to the park. The park shoreline was expanded offering more bathing fishing and boating opportunities. Yet the lands were still flood prone - Jane Dieckmann recounted that ballplayers would have to retrieve balls hit too far into the swampy end. A comprehensive plan was put together for Stewart Park in 1934, at which time the level of the park was raised by two to three feet by dredging and infill operations.

The land directly to the south of Stewart Park became a bird refuge when the descendants of Renwick deeded their remaining property to the City in 1913. The Cayuga Bird Club maintained the bird refuge, renaming it the Louis Agassiz Fuertes Bird Sanctuary after their's presidents death in 1927. It was to be left entirely undisturbed except for paths. Now under the auspices of the City, it has remained largely untouched, providing shelter for many species of birds and animals, and providing the community with a wonderful natural resource, Ithaca's only example of an old growth floodplain forest.

CLUES

Not sure WHAT I want to do with this.......New Location in OSWEGO AREA SOON!!!