[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 131 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF HENES PARK

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2007

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100-year 
anniversary of the dedication of an important landmark in my hometown 
of Menominee, Michigan. Henes Park serves today as an important place 
of respite for the citizens of Menominee and an anchor of the community 
where local residents can enjoy the outdoors.
  In 1906, local Menominee businessman John Henes paid $1,000 for a 43-
acre wooded peninsula called Poplar Point at the north end of the 
city's bay shore. Mr. Henes, a German immigrant and local entrepreneur, 
kept his plans for a public park secret for another year until he 
officially offered the area to the city council for use as a park and 
beach.
  During the early 20th century, most of Menominee's shoreline was 
occupied by docks, lumber piles, warehouses and homes. As such, local 
Menominee officials were enthused by the idea of a park along the 
shore.
  Landscape architect Ossian Cole Simonds of Chicago was hired by the 
newly appointed park commission to design the park. At the time, 
Simonds was considered a pioneer of ``natural landscaping'' and his 
design of the park employed viewpoints, paths, and buildings to frame 
and highlight the natural environment. There are many walkways 
throughout the park, some still in use and others now overgrown. The 
original park design placed great emphasis on providing nature trails. 
Simonds' design laid out eight nature trails that were named after 
great names from literature like Longfellow, Byron, Shakespeare and 
Homer. Those eight trails still exist today.
  During the summer of 1907, construction on the park began as workers 
started building roads and cleared rocks from the beach to provide a 
picnic site. One of the unique elements of the park's original design 
was a ``bog park,'' a piece of low ground that was selected to hold a 
variety of water flowers.
  After a busy summer of work on the park, formal dedication ceremonies 
were conducted in October of 2007. The Mayor of Menominee, Charles 
Spies, in accepting the park for the community, commented on how local 
entrepreneurs contributed to the park's construction, saying, ``It is 
very gratifying to have among us men, who by beneficent and material 
acts, show that the welfare, a prosperity and beautifying of our city 
is one of their chief desires and in which they find their great 
pleasure and satisfaction.''
  U.S. Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan was the featured speaker 
at the event. He described the space as, ``A park that will forever be 
the property of every man, every woman and principally every child in 
this city and one where beauty, recreation and rest will be synonymous. 
. . ``
  The Menominee community immediately embraced Henes Park, extending 
the city's local street car line to the park. Family outings at Henes 
Park became commonplace among residents of Menominee. Local 
organizations used the park to hold various special events. Residents 
of Marinette, Wisconsin, Menominee's sister-city just across the river, 
also took advantage of Henes Park.
  The community's appreciation and love of Henes Park only grew 
stronger through the years. In 1932, 9 years after Mr. Henes' passing, 
a monument was dedicated at the park commemorating the 25th anniversary 
of Mr. Henes donating the park to the city.
  Today's Henes Park offers a swimming beach with lifeguards, a 
playground, picnic spots, and fine views across the bay to Door County. 
Behind one of the park's pavilions is a pond with lily pads, fish, and 
frogs. While the park has evolved since its design 100 years ago, the 
overall aesthetics of the original plan remain, allowing citizens to 
enjoy the outdoors and local environment without disturbing the natural 
layout of the area.
  Madam Speaker, as a resident of Menominee, I am personally very fond 
of Henes Park. My wife, Laurie, and I regularly take long walks there 
and the park is home to some of our fondest memories.
  Henes Park provides an anchor for the local community, a place for 
children and young people to play and an opportunity for local citizens 
of all ages to convene with nature. Perhaps most importantly, 100 years 
since its founding, the park remains as Senator Smith described it, the 
property of every man, woman and child of Menominee and a place where 
beauty, rest and recreation meet.
  On Sunday, September 9, 2007, the citizens of Menominee will come 
together to show their appreciation for Henes Park and to pay tribute 
to John Henes for his contribution 100 years ago. On this tremendous 
occasion, I would ask that you, Madam Speaker, and the entire U.S. 
House of Representatives join me in honoring this park and all those 
who helped to design it, build it and maintain it for future 
generations.

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