In the horse and buggy days, there was an iron pipe fence surrounding the Village Park where folks could tie up their horses while they conducted business in town. The fence in the photos was erected in 1887 and taken down in 1923. Notice the horse water fountain in the foreground of each photo. The local news item in the Metamora Herald of June 27,1901 read “The Village Board has ordered a drinking fountain for horses, to be put in at the northwest corner of the square”. It was installed on July 11, 1901.
Former Vice President Adlai Stevenson I was here on a visit in 1902 and related that the trees were planted in straight rows in 1863 similar to the early parks in Vermont and New Hampshire. He was a member of the Metamora Village Board in 1863 and assisted in the tree planting.
History and photo submitted by Shirley A. Adams
