On Feb. 9, 1972, the City of Huron officially accepted a gift of land from the Crown Family that would become the city's smallest park, Crown Park, at 1.5 acres.
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| Photo courtesy of Google Earth |
Despite the small size, Crown Park is a scenic, peaceful piece of land at the east end of Fifth Street N.E., adjoining the north part of Ravine Lake. It has a playground, picnic shelter, restrooms, benches, and a dock.
The restrooms were donated by the Huron High School Class of 1960 (and friends), the Crown family, and L. D. and Mary Beadles, dedicated to the memory of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Crown, their son Chuck Crown, and Fred and Dorothy Beadles.
The swing set was donated by the Pheasant Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
Memorial benches also offer a peaceful place to sit, and are dedicated to the memories of Shirley Reineke, Lurean "Hap" Lynde, Heath Styer, Carolyn Styer, Charles E. Crown, and Chip and Doris Mahoney,
The owners of the land, Albert and Minnie (Stenvik) Crown, lived at 529 5th St. N.E. and the land that would become Crown Park is just down the road at 557 5th St. N. E. The Crowns were both natives of Minnesota, having married there in 1926. Mrs. Crown had been a nurse, and her husband worked with his brother doing road construction. They moved to Huron in 1928 and spent the remainder of their lives there. Mr. Crown worked as a butter maker at Swift's Creamery, and then as a custodian at American Lutheran Church after his retirement.
Mrs. Crown passed away on Dec. 31, 1970, and her husband died about 3 weeks later. The Huron City Commissioners discussed that their heirs had approached the city expressing an interest in dedicating a piece of land to the city to be designated as Crown Park. The gift was officially accepted at their meeting two weeks later.
Two years later, the Huron Daily Plainsman discussed the progress made on the "new" Crown Park. A picnic shelter and picnic tables, two grills, and a water fountain were to be included, and at that point in time the shelter and some of the landscaping were already done.
The Crown family has left a beautiful haven for the citizens of Huron to enjoy, and it is a lasting legacy to their family and generosity.
Sources:
Photos courtesy of Stan Phillippi
Huron Daily Plainsman, Jan. 01, 1971
Huron Daily Plainsman, Jan. 20, 1971
Huron Daily Plainsman, Jan. 26, 1971
Huron Daily Plainsman, Feb. 09, 1972
Huron Daily Plainsman, Feb. 24, 1974
Huron Daily Plainsman, July 29, 1979
1940 Federal Census, Huron, Beadle co., South Dakota
1950 Federal Census, Huron, Beadle co., South Dakota
Huron Recreation and Entertainment webpage at https://www.huronsd.com/visiting-huron/recreation-entertainment/parks-trails
Google Earth
