The Lodge, Union Park

The Lodge was located on the South end of the Loop. The caretaker, Mr. Bonz, and his family lived in the Lodge; perhaps they are the people pictured on the porch in this postcard. Behind the Lodge, one can see the greenhouses, the small buildings in the background. Mr. Bonz used to store the bulbs and plants in the greenhouses during the Winter and replant them in the Spring. Not visible in this postcard are the well and the spring house.

Take a close look at the sidewalk leading up the hill and the little pine tree in this image. Both the sidewalk and tree still exist as you will see in the next post. The tree has grown into a giant specimen. The sidewalk is still passable and once lead park visitors up to Wonder Cave.

Union Park Now: The Loop

This is a photo of The Loop & Waiting Station area as it appears today. The dark area in the center is the entrance. If you stand in the middle of the loop area, you can see that it still bears a resemblance to the postcards in the previous posts, The Loop postcards 1 & 3. The Loop still retains its circular shape as it did over 100 years ago. The cement platform and sidewalks are still in existence.

In the following posts you will see photos of the platform up close. Over the years I have seen it begin to crumble and erode. Every Spring the silt that builds up from melting snow and run off is removed. If it weren't removed, all evidence of the sidewalks and platform would be hidden.

Union Park Now: Entering the Loop

This image was taken from the same vantage point as the previous post; however, I was facing West towards the Loop instead of East. You can just see the Loop come into view. Imagine the Waiting Station directly ahead with flower gardens in the center. The Lodge would be to your left on the hillside.

The Waiting Station, Union Park

The Depot at Union Park was also commonly known as The Waiting Station. This is one of my favorite images featuring the park in its heyday. The signs on trolley #71 advertise "Baseball Today" and "Union Park Shows - Twice Daily - Big - Free". It's a very crowded image which hints at the popularity of the park. The clothing is typical of the 1910s. Back in the early 1900s, a trip to Union Park was a special occasion; visitor dressed up in their Sunday best for a day at the park. Note that in the background to the left-hand side of The Waiting Station, The Pavilion is just visible.

The Depot, Union Park, postcard 3

This image features The Depot (a.k.a. The Waiting Station) tinted in a brick red color instead of the green we've seen previously. The plants featured in The Loop area have a different configuration. It appears that cannas were planted in the center garden that summer. Union Park was well-known for its collection of flowering plants. The groundskeeper, Mr. Bonz, kept the bulbs in the greenhouses during the Winter and replanted them in the Spring.

The Depot, Union Park, postcard 2

The Waiting Station was created to shelter patrons from inclement weather. It also created a grand entrance area to the park. This image features a summer open-air trolley, number 95. Notice the man standing by the flowerbed in the center; possibly he is the groundkeeper Mr. Bonz or perhaps Park Manager L.D. Mathes. Who knows? Under magnification it is possible to see little bridges that divert visitors to the left and right after arriving at the park. Also, you can see a building off to the right of the Waiting Station situated on the hill. Possibly these are the restrooms. This item was postally used in 1910.

The Depot, Union Park, postcard 1

An early shot of the new depot, A.K.A. The Waiting Station, in a postcard entitled "The Loop and Station in Union Park, Dubuque, IA." It has a 1909 postmark, and the image was obviously taken after 1904. Notice that the configuration of the flowers in the center of the loop has changed. Also, there are flower beds along the tracks as the trolley enters and leaves the Loop.

By this time the ugly electric poles have disappeared and we start to see hanging light fixtures (like the one in the center of the upper third of this postcard). From the center of the Waiting Station and veering off to the left, the sidewalk to the Fish Pond is visible. Also, the Bowling Alley and The Pavilion are visible through the Waiting Station and the trees.

The Loop, Union Park, postcard 4

Very similar to upcoming post, The Depot, Union Park, Postcard 2, this card is postmarked 1908. The image was most likely taken from the porch of The Lodge. The electric poles and wires from the earlier images are no longer there. The rustic railing from the loading dock has been removed. New cement work is visible in the sidewalks and stairs.

The Loop, Union Park, postcard 3

This is a color postcard from an era similar to the previous post. This postcard was postally used in 1907, but again the image was most likely taken between 1900 - 1904 due to the style of the loading docks and railings. The Bowling Alley is visible in the background behind the trolley. Picnic tables are visible on the hillside to the right. Also, note the crude electric poles which will change over time. The flower beds again feature cannas. The garden in the center has changed configuration.

The Loop, Union Park, postcard 2

This postcard is entitled Loop of the Union Electric Co. Union Park, Dubuque, Iowa. This image appears to have been taken from the Lodge. It has a copyright date of 1906 by F. L. EGELHOF. However, with no Waiting Station present, I would guess that the image was taken prior to 1904.

Once again the Loop is featured as it appeared in the early days. Notice the 4 trolleys lined up with people boarding. The building behind the 2nd trolley appears to be the Bowling Alley. The Pavilion is just visible behind the 3rd and 4th trolley cars. Flowering cannas are often featured in the gardens. The flowers and plants pictured in the center of the loop have a very similar configuration to the next post.

The Loop, Union Park, postcard 1

In the early days of Union Park, the Loop was simply that, a loop of tracks with a dock-like platform for letting passengers on and off. If you look closely, you can just make out the railing on the platform (to the right). If you look closely, the Bowling Alley is just barely visible to the right of the railing. Since there is no Waiting Station in this image, I'm going to estimate that this was one of the earlier images of Union Park probably taken between 1900 - 1904.

Over the following series of postcards, pay attention to the flower beds inside the Loop. Notice how the beds change from year to year with the flowers and bulbs being reused in different patterns.