1931 Shepard Memorial Park - Land Donated by Charles Shepard

The Early Days

The first mention of the land that later became Shepard Park was an account of the hanging of John W. Daniel in 1878 for the murder of Jesse Miller. According to a reporter for the State Journal (Jefferson City), "The scaffold[is] a rudely constructed frame structure, on the old plan, which stands about half a mile due north of Warrensburg in a ravine surrounded on every hand by the rising ground covered with stunted growth of blackjack bushes.

The gallows stands in a secluded spot so that one cannot see the horrid structure until he approaches within some fifty or a hundred yards of the scaffold of death. This was about half-past nine in the morning, yet the road leading to the scaffold, as well as the ground around the structure, was lined with curiosity seekers...

The street labeled "Miller" on the above map is known as College Avenue today. For the whole description of this fascinating event see A Hanging in Shepard Park Link

The Park
Time went by; the city grew, and people's taste in entertainment changed. By 1931, the city council decided Warrensburg needed a park. Charles A. Shepard, owner of Shepard's Dry Goods decided to donate the land. He explained, "When I heard of the council's efforts to buy the park, I began to think that it would make a fine gift to the city and a sort of memorial to my family. I will purchase the park and present it to the city of Warrensburg."

Charles A. Shepard, Warrensburg, MO

THE WADING POOL

Soon after they received the land, the city began to raise money for a wading pool. According to the Daily Star-Journal, "In 1932, the city of Warrensburg placed donation barrels in front of Marr Drug and Woolworth's to raise money for a wading pool in Shepard Park."

Brown Betty Lodge Just North of Shepard Park, Warrensburg, MO

The wading pool was dedicated on June 1934.  The committee in charge of the event was comprised of Edward Beatty and Mrs. W.C. Morris. The dedication was brief and impressive - dedicating the wading pool to "the youth of Warrensburg." Director Don Essig and his musicians furnished "an entertaining program of numbers." The dedication was led by J.C. Hollyman, pastor of the Presbyterian Church and Park Board member. He was quoted, "It is hard to visualize this spot as it was four years ago - a cesspool, and in reality a frog pool inhabited by real frogs.  It is a beautiful park we are enjoying at this time."  Eighty-six children played in the new pool between 3:30 and 6:00 pm.

 

If you peek through the trees, you can just make out College Street. Below is the same place today.

Looking towards College Street, you can see the Big Brothers/Sisters donation bins at the left. A small concrete drain is visible on the far right to keep the area from turning back into a frog pond. As Buddy Baker so poetically puts it, "The pool was right there - by the crappers." (crappers on left not pictured.)

The city council agreed on rules and regulations for the wading pool.
1. A qualified attendant shall be on duty at all times when the pool is open for use.
2. A person with skin disease, open sores, inflamed eyes, or any communicable disease shall not be allowed to enter this pool.
3. Any person with an unclean body or clothes shall not be allowed in the pool. No person over 12 years of age shall be allowed to use the pool and children under 6 years of age are not allowed in the pool unless they are accompanied by an adult."
4. The attire for all children shall be approved by the supervisor.
5. Dogs are not allowed in the pool.

But 1934 was one of the worst years of the Great Depression and the city soon decided that it couldn't afford to operate the pool. According to a Daily Star-Journal article dated June 19, 1934 (the same month it opened.) "The youngsters of Warrensburg were dealt the worst blow yet in the announcement that the wading pool will not be filled again this year, at least as far as the Park Board is concerned."
Wallace Crossley, State Relief director, was quoted as, "I am indeed sorry to learn that the wading pool in Shepard Memorial Park is not to be supplied with water. It was a desirable CWA project and after Warrensburg has received the benefits of thousands of dollars expended here by the government, it seems too bad that the city cannot maintain the pool, which means so much to the happiness of the children during such weather as this..."
An unnamed businessman called the Daily Star-Journal and offered to start a fund for the pool water. He offered to begin the fund with $3.00.
A DSJ article dated July 6, 1934 reported that, "...Arrangements were completed late Tuesday evening for continuing the pool and orders were issued for turning the water on. Mayor L.F. Hutchens donated one half the amount required for maintenance for August and September.

Buddy Baker remembers, "The pool was still there when I went into the Army (1943). It was gone when I came back in '45.

THE OLD STONES - From Frank Morches Brewery on West Pine Street that was reportedly burned to the ground by Carrie A. Nation

Leaves cover unused steps.

Retaining wall on the south side of the park

Notice that in spite of the city's attempts to pay for the park through donations, Wallace Crossley described the pool as a CWA project on which the government had spent thousands of dollars.
Buddy Baker has similar memories, "The whole park was a big project to keep the destitute busy. My dad was in the WPA. He helped build the retaining wall on the south side of the park.
"The steps behind the retaining wall never led to anywhere. It was just something to do so men could make a dollar a day and buy a little bread for their families. (editor note: the steps do actually go up to five lots known as Scarborough Hill. Five lots that face Holden street. The land behind the beautiful retaining wall is part of Shepard.
"They bought the stones from around here (local quarries), so that was more work for somebody."






Stone pillars at the entrance of the park were also made from local stone quarried in 1931.
According to a Daily Star-Journal article, there was once a retaining wall to keep College Avenue from collapsing onto the park. These stones were taken from an old brewery that closed in 1918.

Franz Morche's Brewery West Pine Street, Warrensburg, MO Reportedly burned to the ground by Carrie A. Nation.

That wall has been covered with dirt and turned into a gentle grassy slope, but the stones are still under there.

Here's some additional information from an interview with David Curtis (former Parks and Recreation director.)
The Barnett House.

The land for the Barnett House was purchased in the 1960s from some people named Barnett. The park board didn't have the money to buy it. Chester Cassingham was a park board member and he just bought it. The park board paid him back over 10 years without interest.
The 4th of July Massacre.
In the early 1980s, a micro-burst hit Shepard Park and took out a lot of really big trees. That whole area was really heavily shaded. The big sycamore is a survivor.