farmers' wagons to the two parks where it was spread to bring the lawn up to present grade. A total of 227 loads of dirt were hauled to Jefferson Park and 536 to Franklin Park that day. A roast beef dinner was prepared and served the workmen by a group of women, with all the edibles donated.

Drinking fountains, picnic tables and playground equipment have been installed in the parks and flower beds encircle the walk intersections.

On October 4, 1920 the city council purchased the old pit from which the Fursman & Straight tile factory had secured their clay, paying Mr. James A. Smith $625 for it. For some years the northwest section was used as a tourist park for motorists. The city continued filling in the old pit with refuse until it was full, and in 1951 the area was leveled and seeded and the Corn Belt Park was added to the city's recreation spots. The Kiwanis Club, with the two Robert Maynes heading the committee, provided and set out evergreen trees along the boundaries of the new park. Like the others, the grass is kept mowed with power lawnmowers.

The Kiwanis Club also sponsored the erection of the war memorial on the Illinois Central lawn facing the post office in 1947. Dr. C. E. Cryer was chairman of the committee in charge, and they built the memorial, measuring twenty-five feet in length by over seven feet in heighth, of vari-colored stones. It holds a large bronze plaque bearing the names of all the men and women serving in World War I and II who were residents of our community within a year prior to the out-

El Paso’s War Memorial, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club – re-dedicated September 12, 1972
Page 136

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