The History of Colvill Park

On July 21, 1908, a group of women gathered to found the Colvill Park Association. By the end of the month, the women, who elected Mrs. Alice Neill as the first president, bought the land for the park for a purchase price of $1500.00. Why did a ladies' group step in--surely this was a city matter if it was to be a city park?

In its earlier history, this land was leased for the Guptill slaughterhouse and for livestock pasture. The slaughterhouse employees used to keep children away from the swimming hole, thereby preventing recreational use of the land. Upset by the smells of the animal processing plant and feeling that the land could be put to public recreational use, Gust E. Freeman, nearby resident of today's park, in 1896 circulated a petition among the citizens of Red Wing to close the Guptill plant. After presenting the petition to the City Council, the Council decided to adopt a resolution for abatement of the property. Gust Freeman then bought the property and allowed public picnicking and recreation on the premises.

The time came when improvements to the property needed to be made. Working with Nels Tufvesson of Public Works, Freeman approached the City about the possibility of a city park. The Council, by one vote, denied the amount, claiming that they did not have the "authority to appropriate money for such purposes."

Finally, the ladies that made up the Colvill Park Association stepped forward. The Association held the land in trust for the City of Red Wing until the time came that it could be transferred to the City. The deed for the property specified that the land should "forever be maintained as a public park, bathing place and playground for children, and be known as Colvill Park."

Download the original unabridged document with old photos written by Char Henn, Goodhue County Historical Society.