Historic Treasure of the Week - January 19, 1992
By Deborah Curtis Drummy
Vigo County Historical Society
Historic Treasure of the Week - January 19, 1992
By Deborah Curtis Drummy
Vigo County Historical Society
Local banker donated park land
In 1921, the Terre Haute Parks Board gave $100,000 to Rose Polytechnic Institute, and $55,000 to the expansion project to extend Ohio Boulevard from 25th Street to Fruitridge.
In exchange for these donations, Demas Deming, Terre Haute banker and community benefactor, gave the park board 155 acres of beautiful woods at the northeast corner of Poplar Street and Fruitridge Avenue. Today, 71 years later, Deming Park, as the tract was named, remains part of a city park system so well-maintained that it is one of the community’s greatest source of pride.
Those who are old enough may remember, however, that the parks have not always been so well kept. Over the years, Deming Park has faced problems with water pollution, litter and vandalism. Yet even during those times, attempts by government, business and civic groups to preserve and improve the quality of the park have been ongoing and generally successful.
This week’s historical treasure is a 1935 photograph of a concession stand donated to the park in 1934 by the Terre Haute Bottling Co. The building was a realistic scale model of Fort Harrison, which was north of what was to become Terre Haute on the Wabash River. The fort was the site of the historic battle of 1812 between Indian and white forces which cleared the way, with the whites’ victory, for the founding of Terre Haute in 1816. The concession stand therefore provided not only refreshments, but also a history lesson for the many thousands of visitors to Deming Park.
Over the front counter window of the replica fort was a sign advertising Coca-Cola, the chief product bottled by the Terre Haute Bottling Co. A small sign offered "Fast Freeze Ice Cream" for a mere 25 cents a quart.
Both the original fort and the replica are gone how, the latter replaced by a brick building. Many park features have come and gone over the years. For many years the park offered pony rides to children. It also featured a small zoo which caged bears, monkeys and alligators. Eventually the live animals were phased out because of inadequate facilities and inhumane treatment by park visitors.
In 1949, the Wabash Valley Tavern Keepers Association decided to buy and donate a small train to provide kiddie rides in the park. A year later the train arrived under the auspices of the "Spirit of Terre Haute Inc." and remains in operation today. The train itself has been replaced several times.
Other improvements to Deming Park include paved streets and lighting, a large public swimming pool, a playground and an exercise trail to name just a few.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.