PLEASURE PARK
An announcement was made that the City of Dixon is going to have
a race track and you will be able to wager on the horses! Probably
not possible in these days we live in, but a century ago, it became a
reality in this city.
E. C. Parsons owned land on the North side of town which was
bordered by the Rock River, Everett Street, the railroad tracks and
Peoria Avenue. (This is where Dixon High School, the athletic field,
Dixon Armory and a number of homes are located today.)
Mr. Parsons had an idea of operating a place where horse racing
could be enjoyed and as a business venture, turn a profit. With that,
he laid out a half-mile dirt race track in which there was to be a
series of horse races. He started a stock company in which the
sporting endeavor cost interested persons $100 a share. Shares were
rapidly sold under the name of the American Association. The public
had seemed ready and were willing to support the venture bringing
horse racing to the city.
A large force of men and teams of horses under the direction of
James Gaffney did the work of leveling and grading the area. When
completed the topography of the ground and the gradual rising of land
to the North of the track acted as a natural amphitheater. This would
allow the crowd of spectators a perfect view of the entire track. The
race track was soon finished along with the fencing and wooden seats
and other construction that was necessary to begin operations.
Originally called Riverside Park, it opened to the public in
September of 1893 to witness the first sporting event held at the
park facility. A series of horse races provided the entertainment and
the large crowd in attendance on that opening day proved to the
promoters that an interest existed in racing.
The following year the park's program was scheduled with a long
series of races. The park also took on the name of Pleasure Park. The
first racing event for the society on the Pleasure Park track was
held on July 4, 1894. A colt named "Delmont" had won the fast paced
race of a mile in 2:18 1/4. The same horse had set a track record for
the half- mile, running it in 1:07 1/2.
It would only be a short time before attendance began to drop off
as interest began to diminish. The local newspaper had stated, "While
the public patronized the meets well the people of the city objected
to the privileges which alone can make a racing park a financial
success."
Reports showed that the horse races themselves were enjoyed but
that the public frowned upon having to pay admittance fees to the
park. And although the fees were only 25 cents for adults and 15
cents for children, they were necessary in order for the park to be
profitable. Growing dissent was also rising to the fact that the
local citizens' objected to the public betting on the outcome of the
races.
The directors of the American Association decided that to offset
the financial losses they were meeting on horse races that other
events would have to be conducted. Some of those through the
remaining years of the parks existence were bicycle and foot races,
baseball and football games, high school events, clay pigeon shoots
and marching drill competitions.
A couple of noteworthy happenings, were the world's greatest
attractions of that time period which performed here. In 1895, Barnum
and Bailey's Greatest Show On Earth arrived to perform at Pleasure
Park. The following year, 1896, saw Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
come to town.
Both attractions were preceded with a large amount of publicity
to insure big crowds. The circus had come to Dixon on Sept. 19, 1895,
amid great fanfare and promises. In the early morning hours the
streets were filled with people of all ages anxiously awaiting the
unloading of the circus animals and the parade from the North side
railroad depot through town and back across the river to the park.
Circus officials reported that 13,400 tickets were sold for the
performances that day.
On Aug. 21, 1896, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show rolled into Dixon
with 39 railroad cars which hauled the equipment and animals for the
extravagant show which featured people from across the globe. A huge
parade followed their arrival to town. Cody at the time of coming to
Dixon was at the peak of his popularity.
The following evening ticket-takers had reported 11,000 onlookers
were in attendance. Among the featured performers of the evening were
Annie Oakley, John Baker and William Cody. After the show the trains
were loaded up and rolled away into the night to another engagement.
When that train departed it was Dixon's last glimpses of the pioneer
heritage, which only 60 years before was reality.
And so too, Pleasure Park would disappear. The Dixon Telegraph of
Jan. 11, 1905 announced the demise of Pleasure Park. It stated, "
After 12 years of activity the park is to be cut up into city lots
and to future generations will be known only as a near residence
district overlooking the river and the city beyond."
Mr. Parsons did just that - subdivided the lots and property,
thereby establishing Parson's Black Hawk Subdivision. With that, gone
forever in our city was the "Sport of Kings."
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