Todd Park Picnic Tables Popular in 1959

This fall will mark the 85th anniversary of Todd Park. Over the years, it has evolved and changed with the times.

In 1927, a group of citizens approached the Water and Light Board, suggesting that the former Herzog farm, purchased by the city to use its springs as a water source, be named in honor of the municipal plant superintendent William Todd.

The community wished to honor Todd for his long service to Austin. Todd started as city engineer in 1881. He built the city's first municipal electric light plant in 1899 and pushed for investment in springs rather than wells for water. Todd was also known for improving and maintaining a park, officially named Central Park, located on the grounds of the municipal plant.

[An interesting side note, the first caretaker of Central Park was Anton Friedrich, the man who can be credited with ensuring that George Hormel founded his business in Austin. Friedrich owned a father-and-son butcher shop that burned down in the fire that swept Main Street in 1887. He suggested that Hormel, then a traveling salesman, settle in Austin and go into business with his son Albrecht Friedrich. Friedrich & Hormel, Butchers and Packers, opened in October 1887. The short-lived business was dissolved in 1891 when Friedrich took over the retail side and Hormel focused on meat packing, founding Geo. A. Hormel & Co, now Fortune 500's Hormel Foods.]

In the 1927 Austin Daily Herald article on the park, it is simply described as 100 acres. Another article by Dick Joyce from 1959 describes its features:
"It has 300 picnic tables and five pavilions, 33 stoves and 72 swings, 12 teeter totters and eight sets of horse swings, merry-go-rounds, 10 water fountains and four baseball diamonds--a reserve supply of firewood, a meandering creek and grassy knolls...Picnickers go to the park at night and sleep on a pavilion table to hold it for the next day. Or they come at daybreak to set the table and establish prior claim."

William Todd died in 1931 of heart failure. Friends say that the 1928 tornado, which destroyed the utility plant, depleted his spirits and lead to his decline. He was survived by two brothers, three daughters and three grandchildren. More on his eldest daughter next time.

Image is vintage postcard showing Todd Park, circa 1935.

Austin's Water Utility Developed by Superintendent Todd

One of the key names in the history of Austin is William Todd. He was instrumental in developing Austin’s utilities, an enterprise fraught with controversy. First, the story of Austin’s water system, from the October 13, 1931 Austin Daily Herald.
“Austin then (1881) had water works consisting of a pumping station and taking its water from deep wells in the park near the present plant, and occasionally pumping river water into the mains, when the wells failed to supply enough water. Mr. Todd was in the meantime improving himself in engineering and in 1891, the city council elected him to the position of chief engineer of the plant. He worked on several plans but he argued that Austin would never have a sufficient supply until it used the waters from the Sargent, now City Springs and the Herzog and Sachse Springs. Up to that time the job of superintendent of water works and that of city attorney was held by Attorney John M. Greenman.
Engineer Todd and the city attorney did not agree on many points and at a council meeting of March 15, 1898, Mr. Todd was elected superintendent, a position he held up to the time of his death (in 1931). He measured the flow of waters of the springs and reported his findings. Those were days of hot argument, part of the people favoring more wells and part favoring the purchase of springs that could have been purchased for a song compared with the price paid in later years for the springs and the Herzog farms to control the springs, all of which is part of the history of Austin, to be found in the doings of our city council.
Todd was on the side that wanted the springs. The other side laughed at the idea that Austin would ever be large enough to use the water of any one of the famous springs. Then it was that Todd made a statement that will live long as a policy for any and every city: ‘Every city should see that its water supply is taken care of twenty years ahead.’
But it was some years before the city would give up its idea of getting water from wells, but Todd never quit his agitation for the purchase of the springs.
Before we got the springs the city had taken on another piece of work, the municipal control of lighting and power by the electric current.”
Photo shows Austin's Electric Light and Pumping Station in 1908.

Early Life of William Todd, Austin City Engineer in the early 1900s

Austin’s Todd Park was named after William Todd, a native of Scotland and Austin’s first full-time City Engineer. His work in the city is closely linked with the utilities including water and electricity. His personal story is outlined in the October 13, 1931 Austin Daily Herald article published on the date of his death. (Mr. Todd died about two weeks after the plane crash involving Arthur Wright. I was researching the crash when I found this article.)
“William Todd, seventy-four years of age, half century resident of this city, connected with the water and light system for thirty-one years, and creator and superintendent of the most successful municipal plant in the Northwest, died at his home, 419 East Mill Street [Ed: now 1st St NE], this morning at 1:40. Funeral services will be at the First Presbyterian Church at 2:30 Thursday afternoon followed by Masonic services at Oakwood cemetery.
Superintendent Todd was born near Glasgow, Scotland, September 1, 1857, and grew to be a young man of twenty-two before deciding to come to America. With his brother, John, he came to Cresco, Iowa, where the brothers resided for a year and coming to the little, but growing, village of Austin in 1880. Being a stationary engineer, Mr. Todd found work with the C. M. and St. P. railroad company. The next year he sent to Scotland for Miss Elizabeth Morrison to whom he was engaged before he left Scotland. They were married by Rev. C. E. Wright at the old Mansfield House, now called the Grand.
They made their home in a house on Mill Street in the same block which Mr. Todd has lived ever since and where he died this morning.”
The headline of this article tells where the tale will go next: “William Todd, Father of Municipal Plant, Dies After Years of Service to Austin: Directed Destiny of Water, Light and Power System Here.”

Dramatic Post Office Robbery in 1925

A few more colorful details about former Austin Post Master George E. Anderson, from the Austin Daily Herald on April 17, 1956:
"In 1903 Anderson married another Anderson, Miss Mollie Anderson. By not changing her name, Mollie carried on a family tradition- her mother's maiden name had also been Anderson.
Mollie Anderson was a Norwegian but Anderson said "I brought her up to our Swedish level."
...Anderson's own connection with the Postoffice extends 38 1/2 years. He entered the postal service in 1898 and retired in 1935. He served as clerk, city carrier, assistant post master and as post master from 1924 to 1935.
Three robbery attempts occurred during Anderson's term, but most dramatic was the third one in 1925, when Anderson and his wife were held captive in their home while three robbers tried to get the combination to the Post Office safe from Anderson.

Although he knew the combination Anderson chose to "forget" it. In the meantime in an unguarded moment his son, Erwin, called the operator for help. Anderson still has the wire with which the family was tied and the handkerchief used to gag Mrs. Anderson."

 

George Anderson, Jovial Post Master

One of Austin’s former Post Masters was known for his sense of humor. From the April 17, 1956 Austin Daily Herald:

"Born ‘spitting distance’ from Austin 80 years ago, George E. Anderson, former Austin postmaster, has lived here for 74 years.

‘Spitting distance’ in those days was a farm near Rose Creek. Anderson’s family decided to move to Austin for the better educational facilities. Anderson graduated from Austin High School in 1893 and attended the University of Minnesota for two years.

From his parents he inherited a flare for telling a joke. At post-office dinners he often combines the truth with fantasy to bring down the house.

“My mother was a scream,” Anderson said. “She always knew a joke and we never knew what was coming next. And my father was just like her. He even disowned me once.”

Anderson, who has been active in many Masonic bodies, explained that with separate Masonic groups he and his father once attended a meeting in Owatonna. 

George E. Anderson had some trouble getting into one of the session and said, “My father will vouch for me.” 

When questioned Anderson’s father said, “Him? I never saw him before in my life.””

More next week about this colorful Post Master. Photo shows Austin Post Office circa 1920s.