b'Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.and later a covered picnic shelter.Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.Poplar Park Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.(continued from page 29 )Poplar Park was the most popular place in town during the summer for almost 20 years.In addition to these facilities, the Bairds installed picnic benches, and later a covered picnic shelter.and later a covered picnic shelter.and later a diamond, coveredpicnicswings, shelter slide, monk. ey bars and a large round spin-and lateraacovvverereredededpicnicpicnic picnicsheltershelter. .Bairds installed picnic benches, a baseball covered picnicsheltershelter. .In addition to these facilities, the Bairds installed picnic benches, and Inlater addition a cov ertoed these picnic facilities, shelter the.andlateraacocoandlaterand laterningIn table addition withtometal these hand facilities, rails.Janthe said Bair ind sthose installed days picnic the kids benches, calledIn aInaddition to these facilities, theBairBairddssinstalledinstalledpicnicpicnicbenches,benches,a baseball diamond, swings, slide, monkey bars and a large round spin-In additionadditiontoto tothesethese thesefacilities,facilities, facilities,thethe theBairBairddssinstalledinstalledpicnicpicnicbenches,benches,In addition diamond, to these swings, facilities, slide,monkthe Bairey dbarss installed and a large picnic round benches, spin -baseballIn additionitbaseball diamond,sswings,wings,slideslide,,monkmonkeeyybarsbarsandandaalargelargerroundoundspinspina the puk diamond,a abaseball e machine. swings, slide, monkey bars and a large round spin-baseballdiamond,ning table with metal hand rails. Jan said in those days the kids called aabaseball diamond,sswings,wings,slideslide,,monkmonkeeyybarsbarsandandaalargelargerroundoundspinspina baseballning table withdiamond, metal s wings,handrails.slide ,Jan monk saide yin bars those and da ays large the kidsround called spin -baseballdiamond,ning table park with officiall metaly hand opened rails. on Jan June said 1st in1960,thosewithdaysfrtheeekidsadmission calledning table with metal hand rails. Jan said in thosedadaysysthethekidskidscalledcalledit the puke machine.Theningtableningtablewithwith withmetalmetal metalhandhand handrails.rails. rails.JanJan Jansaidsaid saidinin inthosethose thosedadaysysthethekidskidscalledcalledit the tableningpuk ewith machine. metal hand rails. Jan said in those days the kids called ning tableitthe machine.thepukeeemachine.it the pukemachine.for ev puk , and that was the beginning of a 20 year career for the ititthe eryonee machine.The park officially opened on June 1st 1960, with free admission it the puk machine.it theThe puk parke machine. officially opened on June 1st 1960, with free admissionpukf The park officiallyyopenedopenedononJJuneune1st1st1960,1960,withwithfrfreeeeadmissionadmissionentirThee Bair parkd famil officially. y opened on June 1st 1960, with free admission for everyone, and that was the beginning of a 20 year career for the TheparkofficiallyyopenedopenedononJJuneune1st1st1960,1960,withwithfrfreeeeadmissionadmission The park officiallTheparkofficiall or eThever yparkone, officialland thatyopenedwas theonbeginning June 1st of 1960, a 20withyearfrcareeeer admission for the f f for eevvereryyoneone,,andandthatthatwaswasthethebeginningbeginningofofaa2020yyearearcarcareereerffororthethe or eFrveromyone the,andstar tthat both was Jim the and beginning Mary took ofaa20lov eyear tothiscareer ne wfor ven the-foree entire Baird family.entirverfor veryyoneone,,andandthatthatwaswasthethebeginningbeginningofofaa2020yyearearcarcareereerffororthetheorfor eev erBairyoned famil, andy .that was the beginning of a 20 year career for the entire Baird family.on a farm, the long hours didnt bother them. entir yture, eand Bair afterd famil workingy.entireeeBairBair Bairdddfamilfamil familyy.From the start both Jim and Mary took a love to this new ven-entirentirFreom Bair thed famil staryt. both Jim and Mary took a love to this new ven-entirtureFr omthe ytookaa lovveetothisthis thisnene newwwvvenenFrom the start bothJimJimandandMarMarytooktook ve to this newvvenen Fr om the tookalolo a lo to, andthestarstar startttbothboth bothJimJimandandMarMaryy vetoFromJim Frcontinom theuedstarhis tjob both atGeneralJim andMarMotors,y took and alowhenve to he this came new back ven -ture, and after working on a farm, the long hours didnt bother them. Fr omafterthe star workingt both on Jim a andfarm, Mar theylongtook hours a love didn to thist bother newvthem.en-ture,andafterafter afterww workingorkingorkingononaafarm,farm,thethetur and after workingononaafarm,farm,thelonglong longhourshours hoursdidndidn didntttbotherbother botherthem.them.tur and the long hours didnt botherthem.them.tureee,,,andJim continued his job at General Motors, and when he came back home from after hiswshifts,orking he on headed a farm, into the the long park hours totakdidne cart bothere of the them. e, andtur , and afteruedhisworking job atonGeneral a farm, Motors, the long and hours when didn he tcame bother back them. tur econtinJimJim continued his job at General Motors, andwhenwhenhehecamecamebackbackJimcontinuedueduedhishis hisjobjob jobatat atGeneralGeneral GeneralMotors,Motors, Motors,andand andwhenwhenhehecamecamebackbackJimcontinhome from his shifts, he headed into the park to take care of the Jim continJimhea vycontin choruedes. his job at General Motors, and when he came back Jim contin fromued his his shifts, jobheat GeneralheadedintoMotors, theparkandwhento tak hee car camee of back thehomeheavy chores. careeofof thehome fromomhishis hisshifts,shifts, shifts,hehe heheadedheaded headedintointo intothethe theparkpark parktoto totaktakeecarcar eofthehomefrfr fromomhis shifts, he headed into the park totaktakeecar ofthehea e thehomehomehomevychorfromes. his shifts, he headed into the park to take care of the home from his back shifts, Janhesays headed she had into no the idea park how to or tak whene car theire ofthepar -Looking chorheavy chores.es.heavyvyvychorchores.hea es.Looking back Jan says she had no idea how or when their par-heachores. back Jan says she had no idea how or when their par-heavyLookingheaentsvy slept. chor Momes.pretty much ran the park. She was there about 14 Looking back Jan says shehadnono noideaidea ideahoho howwworor orwhenwhen whentheirtheir theirparpar par Looking had no idea how or when their parents Lookingbackback backJanJan Jansasa saysysyssheshe shehadhadLookingents slept. Mom pretty much ran the park. She was there about 14 Looking back Jan says she had no idea how or when their par-Looking slept. Mom backprJanetty sa ysm uchshe ranhadthenoideapark. ho Shew orwas when ther etheir about par 14-ents slept. Mom pretty much ran the park. She wastherthereeaboutabout1414ents slept.Momprpr prettyettyettymm muchuchuchranran ranthethe thepark.park. park.SheShe Shewaswas wastherthereeaboutabout1414entsslept.Momentsslept.MomPoplar Park provided overnightents slept. Mom pretty much ran the park. She was there about 14 ents slept. Mom pretty much ran the park. She was there about 14 Poplar Park provided overnightPoplar Park provided overnightPoplar Park provided overnight P oplar P night Poplar Pararark prok prok provided ovided ovided ovvvererernight P oplar P night Poplar Park provided overnightcamping,ark pro picnic sheltervided overs and nightPoplar Pcamping, picnic shelters and camping, picnic shelters and camping, picnic shelters and camping,picnic shelters and s and s and camping, picnic sheltercamping, picnic sheltercamping, picnic shelters and camping,or y picnic shelteroung and old aliks andeswimming fswimming for young and old alikeswimming for young and old alikeswimming for young and old alikeeswimming f oung and old alikeeswimming for yor yor young and old alikswimming f oung and old alikswimming for young and old alikeswimming for young and old alikehours, seven days a week! She ran the booth, ordered supplies, dealt hours, seven days a week! She ran the booth, ordered supplies, dealt hours, seven days a week! She ran the booth, ordered supplies, dealt hours, sevvenendadaysysaawweek!eek!SheSheranranthethebooth,booth,ororderderededsupplies,supplies,dealtdealt Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.hours, sevvenendadaysysaawweek!eek!SheSheranranthethebooth,booth,ororderderededsupplies,supplies,dealtdealt Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.hours,sesehours,with cranky parents, made enough coffee and hot dogs to last a life- Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.with cranky parents, made enough coffee and hot dogs to last a life- Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.hours, cranky seven par daysents, a w madeeek!Sheenough ran thecoff eebooth, and orhotder dogsed supplies, to last adealtlife-withwith cranky parents, made enough coffee and hot dogs tolastlastaalifeee Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.hours, life Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.withcrankyparpar parents,ents,ents,mademade madeenoughenough enoughcoffcoff coffeeeeeeandand andhothot hotdogsdogs dogstoto tolastlastaaliflifwithcrankytime.seven days a week! She ran the booth, ordered supplies, dealt with cranky Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.time. parents, made enough coffee and hot dogs to last a life-with. crankytimetime. Sharon (Baird) teaching Red Cross swimming lessons.time.timewith cranky the par officialents,madeopening enough of Poplar coffee Park, and admission hot dogsftoorlastchildr a lifene -time . the official opening of Poplar Park, admission for children After the official opening of Poplar Park, admission for children AftertimeAfterAfter the official opening of Poplar Park, admission forchildrchildrenen AfterAfterthethe theofficialofficial officialopeningopening openingofof ofPP PoplaroplaroplarPark,Park, Park,admissionadmission admissionff ororforchildrchildrenentimeAfterwas .25; and 35 for adults. On weekends, 35 for kids and 50 for was 25; and 35 for adults. On weekends, 35 for kids and 50 for Afterwas 25; and the35official foropeningadults. On of wPoplareekends, Park, 35 admission for kidsfandor childr 50 fenor was25;25;andand3535ffororadults.adults.OnOnwweekeekends,ends,3535ffororkidskidsandand5050ffororwas25;was 25;andand3535ffororadults.adults.OnOnwweekeekends,ends,3535ffororkidskidsandand5050ffororwasadults.After Aseasonthe official passopeningwas $6,ofand P oplar$30 f orPark, a famil admissiony.Swimming for childr lessonsen adults. A season pass was $6, and $30 for a family.Swimming lessons was 25; Aseasonand 35 pass for wasadults. $6, On and w $30eekends, for a35famil fory.Swimmingkids and 50 lessons for adults.adults. or afamilfamilyySwimmingSwimminglessonslessonsadults. A season pass was $6, and $30fforaa afamilfamilyySwimmingSwimminglessonslessonsadults.AA Aseasonseason seasonpasspass passwaswas was$6,$6, $6,andand and$30$30 $30ffororadults.waswer e25; $10. andCamping 35 forwasadults. $5Onperwnight.eekends,Picnics 35wforer ekids $5andper50car. for were $10.Camping was $5 per night.Picnics were $5 per car.were $10. A seasonCamping pass was was $5 $6, per and night. $30 f orPicnics a famil wery.eSwimming $5 per car lessons.adults.were $10.Camping was $5 per night.Picnicswwereree $5perpercarcarw er $10. Camping$5perpercarcarwereee$10.Campingwaswas was$5$5 $5perper pernight.night. night. PicnicsPicnics Picnicswwereree$5$5w er$10. Campingadults.The ABairseasondsoffpassered was Red $6, Cr andoss $30 swimming for a famil lessonsy.Swimming with classes lessons The Bairds offered Red Cross swimming lessons with classes werThee $10. BairCampingds offer edwas Red $5Crpeross night. swimmingPicnics lessons were$5with per classes car. The Bairds offered Red Cross swimming lessons with classesTheBairdddsssoffoff offerereredededRedRed RedCrCr Crossossossss swimmingwimmingwimminglessonslessons lessonswithwith withclassesclasses classesTheBairThe Bairstarting at Beginners, followed by Juniors, Intermediate and Seniors.starting Camping was follo $5wed per b ynight. Juniors,Picnics Intermediate were $5andperSeniors.car. wereting $10. at Beginners, Intermediate and Seniors.TheatBair Beginners,ds offered follo Redwed Cr bossy J uniors,swimming Intermediate lessons with and classes Seniors. startingtingatat atBeginners,Seniors.star tingat Beginners, followwededbbyyJJuniors,uniors,Intermediateandand andSeniors.Seniors. starBeginners,ff olloollofollowwededbbyyJJuniors,uniors,IntermediateIntermediatestartingstar Beginners,Dozens of area teens spent their summers at Poplar Park asstarDozens of area teens follo spentwed b theiry Juniors, summers Intermediate at Poplar and Park Seniors. as The Bair ofdsaroffeaer teensed Red spent Cross their swimming summers lessons at Poplar with Park classes asting at Beginners, Dozens of area teens spent their summerssummersatatPPoplaroplarParkParkasasDozensDozensofof ofarar areaeaeateensteens teensspentspent spenttheirtheir theirsummerssummers Dozensat oplarParkParkasasDozensatPPoplarswimming instructors and lifeguards, and when the Bairds children,wimmingof area teens andspentlifeguar theirds, and summers whentheat P Bairoplard sPark childr asen, s Dozens instructorsswimming Beginners, f olloandw lifedeguar by ds,Juniors, andwhenIntermediate the Bair andds childr Seniors.en, starting atinstructors eguards, and when the Bairdsschildrchildrchildren,swimming instructors andliflifeguareguareguards,ds,ds,andand andwhenwhen whenthethe theBairBair Bairdddss children,en, en, sswimming instructorsswimminginstructorsandand andliflifwimminginstructorsSharon, Janet, Cynthia and Jay were old enough they too worked at Sharon, Janet, instructors Cynthia and Jalifyeguar werds,e old and enough when the yBair tood ws childrorkeden, atswimmingSharDozensJaw er enough theon, Janet, of Cynthia area teens and spent Jay w ertheire old summers enoughatthe Pyoplar toowParkork edasat Sharon, Janet, Cynthia andJa y were old enoughenoughthetheyytootoowworkorkededatatSharon,on,on,Janet,Janet, Janet,CynthiaCynthia Cynthiaandand andJaJayShar yy w ereeeoldold oldenough theyytootoowworkorkededatatSharwerthe park.the on, Janet, Cynthia and Jay were old enough they too worked at Shar park.the park.swimming instructors and lifeguards, and when the Bairds children, the park.thepark.the park.the park. Jim and Mary sold the park property in 1978 for a new housing the Jimpark. and Mary sold the park property in 1978 for a new housing Jim and Mary soldthetheparkparkprpr properoperopertytytyinin in19781978 1978ff ororforaa anene newwwhousinghousing housingJim andproperty in 1978 for a new housingSharon,andJanet, Mar Cynthiay soldandtheJaparky w erpreoper old tyenough in 1978 the fory too a ne wwork housinged atJimandMarMar Maryyysoldsold soldthetheparkparkJimandJimdevelopment, but continued to operate Poplar Park for two more Jim and Mar buty continsold theued park tooperateproperty P oplarin 1978 Park for f oranetwwohousingmore development,development, but continued to operate Poplar Park for twoomormoreethe park.dev elopment, but continued to operate Poplar Park for two more de elopment,butbut butcontincontin continuedueduedtoto tooperateoperate operatePP PoplaroplaroplarParkPark Parkff ororfortwtw twoomormoreedevvvelopment,de elopment,years. After the Bairds retired, the developers removed all of the development,ears. After the but Bair continds retirueded, totheoperate developers PoplarrParkemo vfedor alltw oof mor the e yyears. After the Bairds retired, the developersrremoemoemovvvedededallallof theyyears.After emovedallallofofthethe of theyears.Jim After andMarthe yBair solddstheretir parked,theproper developersty in 1978 remo forv eda ne allw of housing the years.Afterthethe theBairBair Bairdddsssrr retiretiretired,ed,ed,thethe thedede devvveloperseloperselopersrrears.Afterparks facilities and started construction on what would become years.s Afterfacilities the and Bair stards tedretir constructioned, the developers on what remo wouldved allbecome of theparks facilitiesandstarstar startedtedconstructionconstructionononwhatwhatwwouldouldbecomebecomedevelopment, constructionononwhatwhatwwouldouldbecomebecomepark facilities and startedtedconstructionpark s facilitiesandandparkssfacilitiesparks facilities but and contin startedued construction to operate P onoplar what Park would fortwbecomeo mor e parkknown asVictorian Village.known asVictorian VillageknoasVictorian and star Villageted. construction on what would become parkwns facilitiesknownVictorianVillageVillage Villagekno wnasas as Victorianknown Victorianyears.wn After asVictorian the Baird Villages retir. ed, the developers removed all of the knoknown asVictorian Village.Note:My sincere thanks to Jan Baird for her help in providing David Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at Pop-Note:MysincersincereethanksthankstotoJanJanBairBairddffororherherhelphelpininprproovidingviding David Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at PopNote: David Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at Pop-Note:My sincere thanks to Jan Baird for her help in providing David Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at Popparks facilities and started construction on what would becomeDavid Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at Pop-Note: MyMy MysincersincereethanksthankstotoJanJanBairBairddffororherherhelphelpininprproovidingvidingNote: David Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at Pop-Note:My sincere thanks to Jan Baird for her help in providing lar Park pool in July 1967.pictures, and details of the 20 year history of Poplar Park.David Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at Pop-Note: lar Park pool in July 1967.pictures, and details of the 20 year history of Poplar Park. lar Park pool in July 1967.picturMy sinceres, ande thanks details to of Jan the Bair 20 dy earfor herhistor helpy of in P oplarproviding Park.David Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at Pop-known asVictorian Village. lar Park pool in July 1967.lar Park pool in July 1967.picturpictur pictureseses,,,andand anddetailsdetails detailsofof ofthethe the2020 20yy earearyearhistorhistor historyyyofof ofPP PoplaroplaroplarPP Park.ark.ark. lar Park pool in July 1967.pictures, and details of the 20 year history of Poplar Park.lar Park pool in July 1967.pictures, and details of the 20 year history of Poplar Park.lar Park pool in July 1967.Note:My sincere thanks to Jan Baird for her help in providing David Lane instructing artificial respiration classes at Pop-pictures, and details of the 20 year history of Poplar Park.lar Park pool in July 1967.30 FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2021'