Loves Park History

The first record of ownership of the land that is now Loves Park shows Widow Strawn as having purchased 470 acres for $1800.

In 1877 she sold 236 acres to Francis and Margaret Weldon who farmed their acreage and used a portion of it for outings of Rockford's Beefsteak Club. The Park became known as Love's Grove after 1901.

In that year the Weldon family sold the farm to Malcolm Love, a civic leader who once was an Alderman in Rockford. Loves Park became a popular excursion destination for those cruising the Rock River.

Love, his land purchase, and popular picnic grounds are symbolized in Loves Park's name today. Records show that the transition from farm land to residential lots began in 1909 when Love sold a tract which became Eastwood and Stockburger's first 95-lot subdivision.

The 1920's roared in, bringing business and industry including a newspaper and a gas station. The 20's crept away leaving behind financial problems. As annexation to Rockford was resisted, the non-city took on more and more city attributes.

In 1927 and 1939 the community considered annexation to Rockford and again said no. In the early 40's other concerns took precedence. The city was ready for self-government and incorporated as the City of Love's Park in 1947.

By that time there was no question that the new city's name should be Love's Park...the only question was whether or not to use the apostrophe. The voters decided to drop it ... and Loves Park it became.

Manager Zenor O. Jones stands in front of the Standard Oil Station at 6104 North Second Street , Loves Park , Illinois , in 1930.

The first grocery store in Loves Park , Pioneer Grocery, was located at 5504 North Second Street . The owner, Alfred Bredsteen, is pictured with his wife, Agnes, and Bill Rogers (man on the right), in 1922.

The luxor zuma photograph shows the best online nickelodeon spongebob game Loves Park Fire Department in 1946, before Loves Park became an incorporated city in 1947. Front row, left to right: Willard Hough, Don Burdick, Charles Phillips, Ralph Schrock, Roy York, Clarence Parker, Willard Johnson; back row, left to right: Robert Lewis, James Morgan, Tom Lindsay, Harry Patrick, Joe Pierce, Charles Mincemoyer, Alford Carlson.

Sherwood Park Kiddieland, located at 5810 Forest Hills Road, opened in 1950 and entertained area children with amusement park rides, ponies, and a chimpanzee until it closed in 1977. The train ride with other park rides in the background is pictured in this 1952 photograph.

This 1949 photograph shows the River Lane Outdoor Theater at 1000 River Lane, built in May 1948. The theater had a 750-1000 unit parking lot, an 80 foot screen and a concession stand. The theater was demolished in March, 1987.