FERGUSON, MISSOURI
In 1845, Ohio born William B. Ferguson purchased a 177 acre
tract of land 12 miles northwest of St. Louis amidst the most
beautiful land he'd ever seen. In the 1850s, the North Missouri
Railroad contracted with Ferguson for a right-of-way through his
property. In return, the Railroad agreed to make a stop, put up a
depot and call it Ferguson Station. This depot became a hub from
which the city grew and prospered.
Today Ferguson is a thriving, diverse community
which still maintains its small town charm although it is only
minutes from Lambert International Airport and downtown St.
Louis. Recently, Ferguson has made national news as an
innovator in healthy, walkable, bikable communities with its
acclaimed Live Well Ferguson programs, award winning Farmers Market, and
fun Citywalk area. Ferguson is quickly becoming the
place to be "just north of ordinary."
Ducks standing on the ice covered lake on a sunny
winter day in January Wabash Park. |
JANUARY WABASH PARK
Another prominent name in early Ferguson history is that of
Thomas T. January whose land is now the site of January Wabash Park
(JW Park). After the end of the Civil War, Mr. January gave
his former slaves and their families deeds in perpetuity for
property on Eddy Avenue located north of the January
Estate (currently on the northeast corner of JW
Park).
After Mr. January's death, his son sold 19 1/2 acres of their
property to the railroad for use as a recreational area for
its employees. The "Wabash Club" was popular with Ferguson
residents as well as railroad employees. But when its
popularity waned years later it was purchased by the City of
Ferguson to be used as a park.
January Wabash Park is a lovely 24 acre park boasting a 5
1/2 acre lake, multi-use trails, playground, picnic pavillion,
bandshell and the Splash at Wabash Aquatic Complex with
beautiful grounds and trees in the heart of Ferguson. Once
used as a swimming pond, today JW Park lake is now prized for
fishing, model boat regattas and migratory bird watching.
QUIET CORNER AMONG THE VINES GEOCACHE
You are looking for a small plastic lock-n-lock container. I've
included one trackable travel bug and some fun stuff for the
kids. This is in a quiet seldom used corner of the park across
a small field from the paved path. The terrain is mostly flat
but the ground can be soft so this one is probably not
wheelchair accessible. Parking is nearby at the end of Eddy
Ave or over by the Aquatic Center and office building off
of January Ave. Please look for my other geocaches in
wonderful Ferguson Parks. This geocache was placed with the
cooperation of Ferguson City and Ferguson Parks
Administration.
FTF Congrats to SHMama!