THROUGH THE YEARS
ABOVE: The bear’s den in early Bever Park.
NOT A BEAVER
O
ne of the most common misconceptions, especially among those new to the community, is that one of our oldest and most popular parks was named after a primarily nocturnal, large, semiaquatic rodent. While we have nothing against this buck-toothed, web-footed creature, it did not serve as inspiration for one of Cedar Rapids’ largest and most beautiful parks. Bever Park was established in 1893 and named for Sampson Cicero Bever who had previously owned the land. At that time, the park was two miles outside the city limits surrounded by farmland and cornfields. A street car transported park goers to this natural setting that featured rustic shelters, bridges and a unique zoo in the early 1900s. One popular landmark located at Bever Park is the “rock” (pictured). This rock is actually a piece of residue from the Ice Age created thousands of years ago when glaciers leveled out the land. Over the past century the rock has become smoother from weather phenomena and everyday use.
14
OUR CR
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AUGUST 2016