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CENTRAL PARK

Central Park, originally known as City Cemetery, was the final resting place for many of Carthage’s earliest residents and Civil War soldiers. Local lore suggests that Belle Starr’s brother may also have been buried here in an unmarked grave.  In 1869, the city designated the six-acre tract as part of a new park system, and by 1871 most of the remains had been reinterred at Pioneer Cemetery, just south of Carthage, or at the National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.​​​​

THE FIRST CARTHAGE PARK

 

By 1875, Mayor Horace Harding, later remembered as the “Father of the Park,” led efforts to transform the land into Carthage’s first city park. Progress was slow, however, and it was not until the economic depression of the 1890s that significant work began. In 1893, the city launched a project to clear trees, create pathways, plant flowers, and build a water basin for a fishpond. To provide relief during hard times, unemployed men of Carthage lined up along the park’s north side each morning to await their turn to work. Each man was given half a day’s employment so more families could benefit from wages, keeping money circulating through the community. Eventually, funding ran out, leaving the fishpond incomplete with only three protruding pipes instead of the intended fountain.

THE FOUNTAIN

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Determined to finish the project, the Confederation of Women’s Clubs pledged in 1898 to raise funds for the fountain. After two years of socials and fundraisers, their efforts succeeded. In 1900, a Victorian-style fountain was installed in the limestone basin, and the grounds were officially christened Central Park. The city held a grand opening and dedication ceremony, with former Mayor Harding delivering the keynote address.

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The fountain has since seen several changes:

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  • 1932 – After toppling, the original cast-iron figure was replaced with a replica carved from Carthage marble from local quarries. The water basin was also resized to reduce overspray.

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  • 1951 – Plumbing was replaced, and the drinking fountain and step at the basin’s edge were removed.

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  • 2005 – The stone fountain was replaced with a three-lady bronze fountain imported from Italy, and a gazebo was added to shelter the historic bandstand.

THE WADING POOL AND BATHHOUSE

 

The Central Park Wading Pool was built in 1930, thanks to the generosity of Frank Reed, a successful attorney from Neosho, Missouri.

Reed grew up in a poor Chicago suburb during the late 1880s, where hot summer days meant cooling off under the spray of an opened fire hydrant.

 

After working his way through law school and building a fortune in the oil industry, he moved to Neosho around 1925. Believing that the wealthy had a duty to help the poor, Reed began donating wading pools to communities. His first, in Tulsa in 1922, brought such joy to local children that he went on to fund pools across the region, earning him the nickname “The Summer Santa Claus.”

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Reed donated the pool itself to Carthage while the city supplied a bathhouse with changing rooms. Contributors to the bathhouse  included Carthage Marble Company and Kellog Marble Company who provided building materials, and the American Legion and Carthage Rotary Club who each donated $500 to support the project.

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The wading pool officially opened on July 17, 1930.  As was Reed’s tradition, he provided 300 gallons of ice cream for children and adults alike. Carthage businessmen staffed 20 serving stations, handing out more than 15,000 ice cream cones that day.  The pool quickly became a beloved summer destination for kids in Carthage.

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Frank Reed provided more than 40 wading pools during his lifetime.  Before his death in 1931, he established a trust fund to continue funding new wading pools after his death.

FEATURES AND ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL PARK

 

Central Park is home to several other notable features:

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  • Marlin Perkins Statue – A bronze sculpture by artists Bob Tommey and Bill Snow honors Carthage native Marlin Perkins, the world-famous wildlife conservationist and longtime host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom (1963–1985). Dedicated in 1988 by Perkins’ wife, Carol, the statue bears a Shakespearean tribute:
    “His life was gentle, and the elements so mix’d in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, ‘This was a man!’”

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  • Vietnam War Memorial – Dedicated in 1989 by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, this memorial honors local heroes who gave their lives in Vietnam.

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  • Replica Civil War Cannon – Installed in 2023, this reproduction Model 1841 six-pounder commemorates Carthage’s Civil War history.

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  • Children’s Playground – A family-friendly space where children can enjoy safe outdoor play.

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Activities in the Park

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  • Food Truck Fridays – Held the second Friday of each month, April through October.

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  • Summer Band Concerts – A Carthage tradition at the historic bandstand.

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  • Maple Leaf Festival©  – Family fun activities each fall.

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  • Sparkle in the Park – Sponsored by Carthage Water & Electric, this event lights up the park with thousands of holiday lights each Christmas season.

FATHER OF THE PARK

 

Civil War veteran Horace H. Harding (1832-1917) first came to Missouri in 1855.  In 1861, he moved to the Nebraska territory and served as the Adjutant General (the senior officer who reports to the Governor) of the Nebraska Guard.  He was instrumental in forming and serving with the first Nebraska regiment and the 2nd Nebraska cavalry.

 

A lawyer by occupation, Harding returned to Missouri in 1867 and became an attorney for the Atlantic & Pacific Railway Company.  He traveled extensively for the company; however, he chose to settle his family in Carthage as he was attracted by its beauty and prospects for prosperity.  He was cousin to President Warren B. Harding who visited Carthage twice, proclaiming that Carthage was indeed a beautiful city.

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Harding served as Mayor in 1875-76 and led the effort to create Central Park.  He was involved in local and state politics and was nominated for State Attorney General but was defeated.  Harding was regarded as one of Missouri’s foremost corporation attorneys, arguing cases before both the Missouri and the United States Supreme Courts. 

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In 1870, Harding became the agent for Life Insurance of America and opened a branch in Carthage.  He also served as a Director of First National Bank, attorney for Ice & Cold Storage Company, and had many railroad interests. 

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