Hillsdale in Hillsdale County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Wilhelmina Stock
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 11, 2022
1. Wilhelmina Stock Marker
Inscription.
Wilhelmina Stock. .
Mrs. Nancy Stock Sessions. , Mrs. Stock was born Wilhelmina Augusta Seidel in the Pommern province of Prussia in 1840. She came to this country in 1855 and married Fredrick W. Stock in 1858. Together they had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Mrs. Stock died in 1925. , New Series, Vol. I, No. 111 August 12, 1909 Stock's Beautiful Park Was Swamp Land 12 Years Ago, Untiring Labor And A Large Expenditure Of Money Has Been Necessary To Bring About This Wonderful Metamorphosis. , Visitors to Hillsdale are almost always told that there is no prettier place in the city, and none more worthy of visiting, than Stock's Park. They are generally taken past the park grounds, and, when the gates are open, are showed through the park. Every pleasant day carriages drive along the winding roadways and pedestrians walk along the mill-it, race or river and idly watch the swans and gold fish. Few of those, however, who view the beautiful park of today, realize the vast amount of work that was required to make it what it is, or even to keep it so beautifully cared for. Practically all of the credit for the conversion of this very distasteful spot into a park of which everyone in the city may well feel proud is due to Mrs. Stock, who has given her time to it untiringly and unceasingly. She has also expended enormous sums of money upon importing trees, shrubs and plants in large quantities. It taxes the credulity of a stranger to believe that this beautiful park, with its handsome trees, fine roads, rock-rimmed ponds and picturesque pavilions, was merely a snake and poison- infected swamp a little more than a dozen years ago. In fact, 13 years ago it was the worst eye-sore in the city. It was impossible for a man to go through part of the tract of land without getting poisoned or snake-bitten. Where there are the best roads of today was a bed of quicksand and some of the work had to be done over, and over and over, day after day, until finally the quicksand was overcome. Another part of the park, on higher ground, was used for pasturage, for circuses There are about a dozen acres in the tract of land occupied by the park. Mrs. Stock's object in improving the property was three-fold. It was a very distasteful piece of property to have so near her home; she wanted to control that part of the river and she thought that if she set the example, by improving the land west of the river, the city might make a park or the property across the river. Then the river was to be bridged, a driveway out made on the other side and all the property opened to the public. When Mrs. Stock began work there was not a tree or shrub which is there today. The first work under her direction was done 12 years ago last fall. She superintended all of the work, in rain or shine, heat or cold. She has walked through the marshes in rubber boots and has watched the horses as they worked on a platform, at the end of long ropes, that they might not sink into quicksand or marsh. One of the ponds had to be dug over several times. A nurseryman, whom Mrs. Stock tried to interest in the project attempted to dissuade her, it seemed so impossible that anything could be made to grow but the wild grass which was there already. But Mrs. Stock was determined. She used the earth dug out of the lakes toward making roadways and brought in soil for trees, shrubs and flowers. It is probable that the number of trees purchased for the park has been over 2,000. There are now less than 1,000 in the park. Many died when reset. One whole row was struck with blight and had to be replaced. From her knowledge of ways in the old country, Mrs. Stock has been able to save some trees threatened with blight. There a barrel of salt fish is placed about the roots of trees so threatened. A lagoon and three ponds have been made in the park. The swans spend most of their time at the large pond. The river must be kept open all winter for them. In the ponds are some beautiful Egyptian lotus and pink and common water lilies. There are also some beautiful little artificial islands, all with stones high around the banks. Numerous small flower beds, too, are raised with stone enclosures. Never have trees grown so fast as those in the park, declares Mrs. Stock. Many of them were imported for experiment. Large numbers of them died, representing quite a loss of money. They would generally winter but with April or May death came. They could not stand the sudden changes of this climate, form cold to warm and then cold winds. The water for the ponds through a stone-like spring. One pretty little pond is used for a fish hatchery. One of the prettiest pavilions is often used by the family as a lunch hall. Quite a large home has been built for a family of doves. Still another interesting feature in the park is the old Lutheran bell, given Mr. Stock when he purchased a new bell for the church. Not far from the bell are two purple beach trees, which cost, when small, $5.00 each. Under one of these Mrs. Stock's first driving is buried. Under the second the horse she now uses will be placed and if she dies first the animal is to be chloroformed at the time, that no one may ever have an opportunity to mistreat it. On one of the islands, the first two years the park was in shape, were some beautiful Holland dahlias. They were one of the prettiest sights in the park, but the climate here changed them and took away all their foreign beauty. From Japan a chestnut tree was imported but the nuts grown here are quite common. One of the most satisfactory trees, if properly cared for, is the yellow bark willow, says Mrs. Stock. She planed one along the river for each member of her family. There were eight children. Then there is the laurel leaf willow, which looks as if it were varnished. There are also the black leaf, weeping and other willows, along both the river and mill-race. Along one side of the park is a stately row of poplars, the Carolina poplar, which grows in all climates and the nome grow poplar. There is the European linden, flowering and white- leaved. A tree which the willows are trying to overshadow is the tulip tree, which has beautiful blossoms. Several Norway maples have been set out and as soon as they are larger the soft maples will have to give way. No citizen ought to set out any other tree along the streets, declared Mrs. Stock, and especially should the city fathers give it preference over the dirty soft maple. It is clean and beautiful, leaves early and lasts late. The work at the park is done mainly by the men from the mill. They go to the park whenever idle at the mill, sometimes most of the employees being there at work. Two men are there most of the time. There is one drawback to men who are not practical gardeners. One day a man called Mrs. Stock's attention to a bed he had "just cleaned out. He had "cleaned out" $40 worth of fine plants. The greatest drawback, however, comes from visitors to the park. They have carried off so many of the lotus seeds that comparatively few lotus are left. All of the seeds from one $12 bulb were taken. Then'a good deal of rubbish is placed in the mill race. Not the least interesting thing about the park is the swans and the facts about them make the teller sound like a "nature fakir." This year there are five, three young ones. If properly cared for swans live, in a good climate, 75 years. That can hardly be expected in this country. The old pair, in the Stock park, have been there since the park was started. They were imported, "Fritz," from Northern Russia and "Betty, from Belgium. There is not another such pair in this country and the young are much in demand by a dealer at Washington. The mother bird eats practically nothing while the eggs are hatching, six or seven weeks, and she scarcely leaves the nest. One year her brood of five were carried off by a mink and the parent birds grieved till they nearly died. If one of the young birds is not perfect it is killed by the father bird. One time he watched for three days and nights to get at one with an imperfect bill which had been put in a cage and finally he coaxed it near and pulled off its head. Another time he killed a young swan with a broken limb and fought Mrs. Stock when she tried to prevent it. Last summer Mr. Stock ran over "Fritz" with his small runabout and the bird's wing was broken. It was put in a plaster cast for six weeks, by one of the doctors, but finally the wing had to be removed. "Fritz" never misses an opportunity of placing himself in front of the runabout and always shows his displeasure, but he never notices the touring cars. But most peculiar of all, every February the young, whether one or several are apparently ordered by "Fritz" to fly. Up to that time he is ever solicitous for their welfare. But after that he will not permit them to eat and if they are not taken away, their wings being clipped they cannot fly, he will kill them, as he would have done earlier had they been deformed. For 12 years past Mrs. Stock has watched the birds and she is convinced that they have most remarkable intelligence.
Mrs. Nancy Stock Sessions
Mrs. Stock was born Wilhelmina Augusta
Seidel in the Pommern province of Prussia
in 1840. She came to this country in 1855
and married Fredrick W. Stock in 1858.
Together they had eight children, five sons
and three daughters. Mrs. Stock died in 1925.
New Series, Vol. I, No. 111
August 12, 1909
Stock's Beautiful Park Was
Swamp Land 12 Years Ago
Untiring Labor And A Large Expenditure Of
Money Has Been Necessary To Bring About This
Wonderful Metamorphosis.
Visitors to Hillsdale are
almost always told that there is
no prettier place in the city, and
none more worthy of visiting,
than Stock's Park. They are
generally taken past the park
grounds, and, when the gates
are open, are showed through
the park. Every pleasant day
carriages drive along the
winding roadways and
pedestrians walk along the mill-it,
race or river and idly watch the
swans and gold fish. Few of
those, however, who view the
beautiful park of today, realize
the vast amount of work that
was required to make it what it
is, or even to keep it so
beautifully cared for.
Practically all of the credit for
the conversion of this very
distasteful spot into a park of
which everyone in the city may
well feel proud is due to Mrs.
Stock, who has given her time
to
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it untiringly and unceasingly.
She has also expended
enormous sums of money upon
importing trees, shrubs and
plants in large quantities.
It taxes the credulity of a
stranger to believe that this
beautiful park, with its
handsome trees, fine roads,
rock-rimmed ponds and
picturesque pavilions, was
merely a snake and poison-
infected swamp a little more
than a dozen years ago. In fact,
13 years ago it was the worst
eye-sore in the city. It was
impossible for a man to go
through part of the tract of land
without getting poisoned or
snake-bitten. Where there are
the best roads of today was a
bed of quicksand and some of
the work had to be done over,
and over and over, day after
day, until finally the quicksand
was overcome. Another part of
the park, on higher ground, was
used for pasturage, for circuses
There are about a dozen acres
in the tract of land occupied by
the park. Mrs. Stock's object in
improving the property was
three-fold. It was a very
distasteful piece of property to
have so near her home; she
wanted to control that part of
the river and she thought that if
she set the example, by
improving the land west of the
river, the city might make a
park or the property across the
river. Then the river was to be
bridged, a driveway out made
on the other side and all the
property opened to the public.
When Mrs. Stock began work
there
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 11, 2022
2. Wilhelmina Stock Marker
was not a tree or shrub
which is there today. The first
work under her direction was
done 12 years ago last fall. She
superintended all of the work,
in rain or shine, heat or cold.
She has walked through the
marshes in rubber boots and has
watched the horses as they
worked on a platform, at the
end of long ropes, that they
might not sink into quicksand
or marsh. One of the ponds had
to be dug over several times.
A nurseryman, whom Mrs.
Stock tried to interest in the
project attempted to dissuade
her, it seemed so impossible
that anything could be made to
grow but the wild grass which
was there already. But Mrs.
Stock was determined. She used
the earth dug out of the lakes
toward making roadways and
brought in soil for trees, shrubs
and flowers.
It is probable that the number
of trees purchased for the park
has been over 2,000. There are
now less than 1,000 in the park.
Many died when reset. One
whole row was struck with
blight and had to be replaced.
From her knowledge of ways in
the old country, Mrs. Stock has
been able to save some trees
threatened with blight. There a
barrel of salt fish is placed
about the roots of trees so
threatened.
A lagoon and three ponds
have been made in the park.
The swans spend most of their
time at the large pond. The river
must be kept open all winter for
them. In the ponds are some
beautiful Egyptian
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 11, 2022
3. Wilhelmina Stock Marker
lotus and
pink and common water lilies.
There are also some beautiful
little artificial islands, all with
stones high around the banks.
Numerous small flower beds,
too, are raised with stone
enclosures.
Never have trees grown so
fast as those in the park,
declares Mrs. Stock. Many of
them were imported for
experiment. Large numbers of
them died, representing quite a
loss of money. They would
generally winter but with April
or May death came. They could
not stand the sudden changes of
this climate, form cold to warm
and then cold winds.
The water for the ponds
through a stone-like spring. One
pretty little pond is used for a
fish hatchery. One of the
prettiest pavilions is often used
by the family as a lunch hall.
Quite a large home has been
built for a family of doves. Still
another interesting feature in
the park is the old Lutheran
bell, given Mr. Stock when he
purchased a new bell for the
church. Not far from the bell
are two purple beach trees,
which cost, when small, $5.00
each. Under one of these Mrs.
Stock's first driving is buried.
Under the second the horse she
now uses will be placed and if
she dies first the animal is to be
chloroformed at the time, that
no one may ever have an
opportunity to mistreat it.
On one of the islands, the first
two years the park was in
shape, were some beautiful
Holland dahlias. They were one
of
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 11, 2022
4. Wilhelmina Stock Marker
the prettiest sights in the
park, but the climate here
changed them and took away all
their foreign beauty. From
Japan a chestnut tree was
imported but the nuts grown
here are quite common.
One of the most satisfactory
trees, if properly cared for, is
the yellow bark willow, says
Mrs. Stock. She planed one
along the river for each member
of her family. There were eight
children. Then there is the
laurel leaf willow, which looks
as if it were varnished. There
are also the black leaf, weeping
and other willows, along both
the river and mill-race. Along
one side of the park is a stately
row of poplars, the Carolina
poplar, which grows in all
climates and the nome grow
poplar. There is the European
linden, flowering and white-
leaved. A tree which the
willows are trying to
overshadow is the tulip tree,
which has beautiful blossoms.
Several Norway maples have
been set out and as soon as they
are larger the soft maples will
have to give way. No citizen
ought to set out any other tree
along the streets, declared Mrs.
Stock, and especially should the
city fathers give it preference
over the dirty soft maple. It is
clean and beautiful, leaves early
and lasts late.
The work at the park is done
mainly by the men from the
mill. They go to the park
whenever idle at the mill,
sometimes most of the
employees being there at work.
Two men are there
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 11, 2022
5. Wilhelmina Stock Marker
most of the
time. There is one drawback to
men who are not practical
gardeners. One day a man
called Mrs. Stock's attention to
a bed he had "just cleaned out.
He had "cleaned out" $40 worth
of fine plants.
The greatest drawback,
however, comes from visitors to
the park. They have carried off
so many of the lotus seeds that
comparatively few lotus are
left. All of the seeds from one
$12 bulb were taken. Then'a
good deal of rubbish is placed
in the mill race.
Not the least interesting thing
about the park is the swans and
the facts about them make the
teller sound like a "nature
fakir." This year there are five,
three young ones. If properly
cared for swans live, in a good
climate, 75 years. That can
hardly be expected in this
country. The old pair, in the
Stock park, have been there
since the park was started. They
were imported, "Fritz," from
Northern Russia and "Betty,
from Belgium. There is not
another such pair in this country
and the young are much in
demand by a dealer at
Washington. The mother bird
eats practically nothing while
the eggs are hatching, six or
seven weeks, and she scarcely
leaves the nest. One year her
brood of five were carried off
by a mink and the parent birds
grieved till they nearly died. If
one of the young birds is not
perfect it is killed by the father
bird. One time he watched for
three days and nights
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 11, 2022
6. Wilhelmina Stock Marker
to get at
one with an imperfect bill
which had been put in a cage
and finally he coaxed it near
and pulled off its head. Another
time he killed a young swan
with a broken limb and fought
Mrs. Stock when she tried to
prevent it. Last summer Mr.
Stock ran over "Fritz" with his
small runabout and the bird's
wing was broken. It was put in
a plaster cast for six weeks, by
one of the doctors, but finally
the wing had to be removed.
"Fritz" never misses an
opportunity of placing himself
in front of the runabout and
always shows his displeasure,
but he never notices the touring
cars. But most peculiar of all,
every February the young,
whether one or several are
apparently ordered by "Fritz" to
fly. Up to that time he is ever
solicitous for their welfare. But
after that he will not permit
them to eat and if they are not
taken away, their wings being
clipped they cannot fly, he will
kill them, as he would have
done earlier had they been
deformed. For 12 years past
Mrs. Stock has watched the
birds and she is convinced that
they have most remarkable
intelligence.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is August 12, 1909.
Location. 41° 55.181′ N, 84° 37.726′ W. Marker is in Hillsdale, Michigan, in Hillsdale County. Marker is on E. Bacon Street,
Photographed By Craig Doda, May 11, 2022
7. Wilhelmina Stock Marker
on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hillsdale MI 49242, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 179 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on June 12, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 2. submitted on July 5, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on June 12, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 8, 9. submitted on July 5, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
