Stewart Park

In the early days of the electric business, it was difficult to convince people to patronize the electric trolley system. Thus the Dubuque Electric Railway, Light & Power Company sought a way to showcase the service and purchased approximately 40 acres of land from the Stewart Property to create a park. The trolley line, operated by the Allen & Swiney Motor Line, was extended out to the proposed park, which was to be called Stewart Park. The only way to gain entrance to the new park was by trolley, thereby increasing patronage.

The park was named for William Graham (W.G.) Stewart, a prosperous Dubuqueland resident. W.G. Stewart settled in Dubuque in 1834 where he pursued mining, smelting, and farming. He also had many other interest that served Dubuque County well. For example, he was elected the county's first sheriff and served on the Board of Supervisors. Additionally, he was a state senator and the county treasurer. Over the years he accumulated 900 acres of land. In 1890 at the age of 77, he "donated" some of his farmland, then known as Stewart's Grove, for the proposed park. Stewart park operated from 1890 to 1900. It was known as Union Park from 1901 until it closed in 1934.