Pictured above is Ces Melson Brunow and her brother Stephen Melson. Their Grandfather “Pappy” was instrumental in the establishment of Squirrel Hollow. They are admiring the new marker in front of the shelter house.
The Rippey Boy Scouts collected over $100.00 to support this project, and I.J. Burk solicited gifts of materials to build picnic tables from different lumber yards in the County.
The new informational marker directly east of the Squirrel Hollow shelter house is pictured with Ces Melson Brunow, and Stephen, “Steve” Melson. Their grandfather S. J. Melson, Greene County Engineer from 1910-1935, was instrumental in obtaining the property and developing the plan for the Squirrel Hollow. The cement holder and plaque are similar to the original 12 markers established by James H. Andrew in 1976, as the United States celebrated its bicentennial. Through a grant from the Greene County Community Foundation, a donation of the cement from Hamilton Redi-Mix, and labor provided by the Greene County Road crew, this marker sponsored by the Greene County Historical Society provides the history of the shelter house as well as information about the development of the park.
In a document prepared by James H. Andrew in 2006, we learn several events serendipitously occurred; A 1915 flood, The Great Depression influence, left over funds, and the discovery of coal.
The Stagecoach Road from Fort Des Moines to Sioux City had been established on the east side of the Raccoon River, but in 1915 a flood washed away a long stretch of the road, and for nearly 20 years travelers were forced to detour. The discovery of coal a mile south of the present-day shelter house created a desperate need for a road, as 100 trucks with about 4 tons of coal on each one, headed north from the coal mine and an adequate road was sorely needed.
In 1931 the Chautauqua disbanded, but $3000 remained. The funds were used to purchase land and develop the park. The Great Depression had been underway for several years, and a government program CWA, Civil Works Administration, had been created to employ those without work to build roads, sewers, parks, and other facilities to benefit the public.
Under the steady hand of Engineer Melson, along with other community leaders, 60 acres of land was purchased. This was an average cost of $15.00 per acre.
In 1933, approximately 150 men from around Greene County worked on the project under the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and WPA, (Works Progress Administration). Hundreds of truckloads of rocks from nearby farmer’s rock piles were dumped at the washout created by the flooding of the river. In a description written, it was noted “the first 8-10 loads just disappeared into the mud and water, but slowly a rock shoulder 200 yards long formed a new road higher than any probable future flood”.
Steve Melson recalls his Pappy saying the Board of Supervisors wanted to build cabins and the shelter house along the river edge, but because of the previous flood, Engineer Melson recommended establishing the site at the top of the bluff.
Documentation sources vary, one stating Iowa State College, now Iowa State University designed the shelter house, two latrines, the stone entrances, and 5 fireplaces. Other documents indicate the stone masonry on the shelter house was credited to William Bodenstein, a veteran stonemason, and Con McNaught.
When the shelter house was nearing completion S.J. Melson arranged for one of the original millstones from the Coon Valley Mill originally located about one half mile south of the park, to be brought and installed into the concrete floor. These millstones remain visible today and it creates a heady feeling to know they were brought by an ox team from Pennsylvania by Josh Locke in 1858 so Greene County’s early pioneers could have corn and flour ground.
Work on the road and park began in 1933 and the dedication was held on May 12, 1935, but …… “Inclement weather held the crowd to 500 persons”. Newspaper editor of the Jefferson Bee, Victor Lovejoy reported “the massive rock wall along the river, the excellent highway at the foot of the bluff, the drive to the shelter house, the fine timbered upland beauty, all combined together to make this spot a thing of beauty. Its location less than a mile from the site of the cabin of the first settler in Greene County makes it all the more interesting as a spot to be preserved for future generations.”
The stone inscription crafted by Sloan Monument reads:
Squirrel Hollow is a 56-acre county park located above the Raccoon River. It was developed in 1933 and was the second county park in the State of Iowa. Three farmers sold farmland to form the park.
The Des Moines-Sioux City Stagecoach trail ran on the east side of the Raccoon River, and the tracks remain visible one mile north of this location at the Pleasant Hill Country Church cemetery.
In 1933 this shelter house, a male and female latrine, entrance signs to Squirrel Hollow Park, and two fireplaces were built by the Public Works Administration. The structures were designed by Iowa State College, now Iowa State University.
These structures were accepted by the National Register of Historic sites in 1991.
The Greene County Community Foundation, the Greene County Conservation Office, and the Greene County Historical Society are pleased to share this historical information.
October 2021
Due to the Covid pandemic, and supply chain interruptions the marker was erected in May of 2022. Take a drive over to the park and enjoy the wild spring flowers in bloom and look at the marker, and the millstones in the floor of the shelter house.
-Mary Weaver