Water Company
Springfield Leader, June 3, 1925, page 1.
"City and County officials will be guests of the Springfield City Water Company at a picnic supper to be served tonight at Valley Lake [now known as Valley Water Mill Park], one of the properties of the company, which is now undergoing extensive improvements. Invitations to the officials, who have been asked also to take their friends, have been issued by H. B. McDaniel, treasurer and managing director of the company.
"The guests will assemble at the offices of the City Water Company, 801 Boonville Avenue, at 5 o'clock this afternoon and will be taken in automobiles to be provided to Valley Lake, northeast of the city. The visitors will be shown over the grounds of the property and a picnic lunch will be served.
"The guest list will include W. E. Freeman, mayor; City commissioners Ellis J. Cogley, R. L. Potter, J. P. Ramsey and Lon Sharp; City Attorney Dan M. Nee; W. R. Price, fire chief; George W. Culler, city engineer; Judge T. P. Frye, Judge J. W. Tippin and Judge C. J. Pike of the county court; Harve Turner, John L. Bass, assessor and representatives of local newspapers.
"The Valley Lake property is now being beautified and landscaping has been in progress for the past several months. Trees and shrubbery in generous profusion have been planted and this property is reckoned to be one of the most beautiful sites in this section of the Ozarks when all contemplated improvements are completed. It was stated by officials of the company today that it was the intention of the Springfield City Water Company to so beautify its properties to make them creditable to the city of Springfield and it is their desire for city and county officials to view the work that is almost completed.
"Among other improvements contemplated by the company is a scenic roadway to lead through the Valley Lake property and around the lake. This part of the work is not yet completed.
"One of the most beautiful spots in this section of the state is Fulbright spring, one of the principal properties of the Water Company and which is visited each summer by thousands of tourists and picnic parties. Valley Lake, which has a capacity of 125, 000, 000 gallons of water is expected to by another drawing card for visitors when work of beautifying the property has been completed."
The photograph at the top of this article shows the most recent improvements at Valley Water Mill Park and is courtesy of Springfield Greene County Parks and Recreation. The lower postcard is of the Waterworks Park where the Fulbright pumping station was located and is from the Library's postcard collection. For more information see the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks and Springfield Greene County Parks and Recreation websites. KSMU Ozarks Public Radio has a short history of the area.
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