Watery Wednesday At The City Park

In 1897 at a cost of $52,ooo the city of Parkersburg, West Virginia purchased 42 acres of land for use as a city park. Other land was added later. Citizens of the era didn't like the name chosen for the park. Since 1911 the park has officially been known as and named The City Park. In 1902 a prominent member of the Jackson family bequethed $5,000 for the purchase for the erection of a fountain at the park's main gates. The ornamental water fountain was purchased in New York City by the executor of the Jackson estate while he was on his honeymoon. Except for the lions it is made of case iron metal and represents the Victorian Period of Garden and Design. At one time it was three tiered and stood 30 feet tall. With the top tier removed it presently still stands at an impressive 20 feet.
The fountain stands at the entrance to the park which is across the street from the house in my previous post. I'll just let the rest of the photos speak for themselves.

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S is for Steam Engine

This is an old steam engine tractor that sits in an elegant flowerbed at the nearby city park. In North America the term steam tractor usually refers to a type of agricultural tractor powered by a steam engine, used extensively in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Glancing through the Community Section of Sunday's newspaper I discovered there will be at least three antique tractor and engine shows or festivals during the next three weekends in my area.

I remember growing up and going with my Dad to a local Arts and Crafts Fair every July 4th. While there we almost always bought homemade applebutter and maybe ate grilled corn on the cob or funnel cakes. We always knew we could find Dad by the old engines watching the men make them run and having to yell over the noise they made in order to talk. I guess he instilled in me the appreciation I have for the machines and an era long gone.

I guess Kenny Chesney might have it right - maybe us country girls do think tractors are sexy!

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