226 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
LORD’S PARK, ELGIN, ILL, 
Lord’s Park, P 31 gin, 111 ., the gift of Mr. and Mrs. 
George P. Lord, to that city, is an example not 
only to those citizens of means seeking an avenue 
through which to benefit their fellowmen, but 
equally to municipal corporations not alive to the 
propriety, not to say necessity, of providing appro- 
priate places for recreation and out-door pleasures 
for the community. The site of this park, situated 
in the suburbs of the city, was always noted for its 
beauty and the fertility of its soil, judged by its nat- 
ural adornments, and might have been doomed to 
subdivision by the enterprising real estate man, 
but for the phiLinthropic leanings of Mr. Lord, 
mingle their dainty blossoms with the early blacks 
of grass, myriads of ox-eyed daisies glorify the 
summer; and within a short distance of where the 
cannas rear their lofty tips in well trimmed beds, 
wild asters and golden rod send foith their slender 
stems to add to the mellow beauty of harvest time. ” 
The park is situated at the eastern edge of the 
city only a trifle over a mile from Fountain Square, 
the principal entrance being directly opposite the 
terminus of the Chicago Street and Forest Avenue 
Car L'ne. It is in Cook County and was originally 
under the jurisdiction of the Cook County officials, 
but by special legislati e enac'ment became a part 
of the City of E'gin. It covers an area of about 
[Photo by D. J. Chamborhi in. I 
A SUMMER SCENIC. — \-[EW IN I.ORD'S I'.CRK I'ROM ABOVE THE UPPER I.AKE. 
who quktly and unostentatiously secured the prop- 
erty, and tendered it to the city as a free gift, un- 
der proper conditions, which was accepted on- 
March 6, 1 893. 
a writer described it: “Nature endowed it 
with a wealth of oak, hickory and other deciduous 
trees; a rolling surface which sometimes deepens 
into valleys and again rises into considerable bluffs; 
a beautiful brook meandering through its entire 
length, and a fertile soil which carpeted itself with 
wild flowers in great variety and profusion.’’ 
Nor have the improvements altogether deprived 
it of its original natural beauties for: “There are 
still quiet, shady nooks, the violets still bloom on 
the sunny slopes, anemones and shooting stars 
70 acres, of which 02 w ere described in the oiigimd 
deeds from Mr. and Mrs. Loid, aid som.ething over 
7 have since been acquired by purchase. 
It is to the credit of Mr. Lord and his business 
sagacity that he did not lose interest in his gift, but 
has constantly kept in touch with the improvements 
carried out by the city, adding thereto by many 
subsequent generous donations, his latest being that 
of a shelter house. , 
The park has been improved by the landscape 
gardener, and two spacious lakes have been created 
by the construction of dams. 1 he di iveways are 
covered with crushed stone, and the walks are of 
gravel or asphalt. A zoological collectien is grad- 
ually being collected, and the birds and animals 
