Ilion High School - Class of 1941

The Ilion Sentinel - December 11, 1941

First Russell Park Flag to be Preserved by Superintendent

Article 5

Source pdf file is here Illion NY Sentinel 1941-1943 - 0400.pdf on fultonhistory.com

The Ilion Sentinel - IHS Class of 1941 - First Russell Park Flag

First Russell Park Flag to be Preserved by Superintendent

Photo Caption - First Flag in use at Russell Park, Ilion, to be preserved by Park Superintendent John A. Booth. A Prayer For The President Of the United States

The first flag ever to fly in Russell Park, 19 years ago, was placed this week with other mementos of happenings there during that time by John A. Booth, park superintendent, to be kept until such time as village officials decide what is to become of the relic.

The flag which was presented by the late Roscoe Whiter, then mayor or president of the village, sometime between 1922 and 1924, the exact date is not known by Mr. Booth, nor could records be found in old minute books at the Village Hall, was first flown from a "homemade" flag pole, which was erected by Mr. Booth at a point near where the present pole stands.

The history of the flag goes on through the years until the past summer when its condition became too bad that Mr. Booth feared that the action of the sun, wind, and rain would make, a total wreck of "Old Glory" and decided to substitute another larger and newer flag when Mayor Oliver S. Coleman issued orders that a flag be flown from the pole during present national emergency.

More than a dozen other flags have waved gaily from the flag pole since the Park, was presented to the village in 1924 by Samuel T. Russell, at which time the village board named the park, the Albert N. Russell Park in honor of the donor's father, a pioneer to Ilion's industrial life and a great believer in the conservation of our natural resources. The only comment made by Mr. Russell when he presented the 162 acres of timber and pasture land to the village was, "In offering you this property I make no restriction except that it be forever used for park and recreation purposes." Since that time many thousands of people have visited the tract, during the summer many picnics are held in its wooded dells; in the winter, its snow covered slopes resound to the joyous cries of coasting children, and at present, plans, are under way to create one or more ski slopes for the use of the public during the coming winter.

On November 1, 1924, the grandchildren of Albert N. Russell presented the Village of Ilion with a 93 foot flag pole and a huge American flag. Appropriate dedication ceremonies were held on that day and the new flag was used until it began to show signs of wear when another flag was substituted, being-much smaller in size, it did not "snap" so much when the wind was strong. Mr. Booth said.

Although a flag was only flown on social occasions or on national holidays, the elements soon took their toll, and it became a constant task to keep those in repair, many had to be discarded, others were either sent back to the factory or repaired at Mr. Booth's home, all but the one presented by Mr. Whiter, which at the present time is pretty much tattered and has become so brittle that Mr. Booth feels that if it were used a strong wind would soon tear it apart.

Mr. Booth, like the flag, is another one of the "first" of Russell Park. Booth was in Mr. Russell's employ when the park was presented to the village, and as Mr. Booth says, "I went with it." Shortly after the presentation, a Board of Park Commissioners was named by the Village Board. Mr. Samuel Russell was made chairman and Charles Brill and Frank Bellinger members. At the present time Mr. Brill heads the commission. The Village also appropriated the sum of $2,000 yearly to pay for the upkeep of Russell Park and other park areas in the village, A larger sum may not be appropriated except on favorable vote of the tax payers. The commission keeping in mind Mr. Russell's request that the land be "kept forever wild" have refrained from making too many changes in the terrain; several automobile roads have been constructed, another entrance from Phillip Street has been opened, and several picnic grounds and children's play areas opened, other than that, the land is pretty much the same as when it was presented.

During the past summer much of the poison type of sumac, and considerable underbrush has been removed not only as a safety measure, but to improve the appearances and to give some of the saplings a chance to grow.

A number of evergreens have been planted on the park lands by the commission and the Ilion Fish and Game Clubs, assisted by the Boy Scouts.

During the past summer the Ilion Council of Girls started a program of placing markers on the various types of trees found in the park as part of their summer program.

Much wildlife may be seen in the park, and hunters, straying over the boundary line, which divides the park from adjacent fields, are Mr. Booth who pointed out that it is not the taking of game which the commission objects to strenuously to as the danger that some visitor or workman may be injured.

Many of the events which have been held at the park during the past years had printed programs, a copy of which has been saved by Mr. Booth, and now the flag, which has waved so many years from the highest point in the village has been relegated, along with a considerable quantity of moth balls in a spot in the trunk which has been saved by Booth for its retirement.

Created and maintained by Aileen Carney Sweeney - Class of 1974