Postcards from Home

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Garnsey Square
Rock Island

by Diane Oestreich

Garnsey Square started life as Franklin Square, which is shown on maps as early as 1855. However although dedicated as a public space, Franklin Square wasn't really a park. Instead, it was unimproved land that was used as a source of gravel, providing material for public improvements. Rather than a deep excavated gravel pit, the gravel was probably on the surface, deposited during high water times.

In 1890, a group of citizens formed the West End Improvement Association, with the intent of improving Franklin Square into a landscaped public space. First they renamed the land as Garnsey Square, in honor of Daniel G. Garnsey (sometimes called Gurnsey). Garnsey was a son of pioneer settlers here who, many years earlier, had laid out the addition where the square was located. Moreover he had donated his interest in the square to the city.

The Improvement Association quickly raised enough money to remove a "heavy" grove of locust trees, excavate several feet of gravel deposit, and refill the area with soil. Then they proceeded to make other improvements to the park, many of which were donated. By 1892, it was reported that Contractor Nelson was laying tile crosswalks in Garnsey Park. These sidewalks went diagonally from each corner to the center, where contractor Charles Larkin was donating his labor to build a large round basin for the fountain, which would be installed later. The basin, surrounded by an ornate iron fence, was similar to that already built in Spencer Square, but the fountain was different. The Garnsey Square fountain, shown in the center of our postcard, was a tall and elegant structure with four tiers of cascading water. What a sound the falling water must have produced as if flowed from one level to another!

The diagonal sidewalks within the square created four distinct triangular zones. In the west triangle was the bandstand, visible at the left on our postcard. This also indicates the postcard view of the square is looking to the northeast. The east triangle held a drinking fountain, and the north and south triangles had vases and ornaments. This elegant square was truly an oasis in the urban landscape.

Although Rock Island did have a park department at the turn of the century, the concept of publicly maintained places was rather new to this area. It didn't take long to catch on, though, and by 1925, it was reported that Rock Island had two large parks - Longview and Lincoln - as well as several smaller ones - Spencer, Garnsey, Douglas, Denkmann, Reservoir - and a municipal tourist camp as well, located west of 9th Street at 47th Avenue.

Garnsey Park graced the west end of Rock Island until 1960, when 143 parcels of land, most with buildings, were cleared in the name of urban renewal and to build a new expressway. Ironically, the project was called the Garnsey Square Urban Renewal Project. It was reported that Garnsey Square's four-tier fountain was removed to Longview Park. Alas, the water is turned off in all of our historic fountains - they are now dry as a bone!