Island Park

Island Park is a Michigan historical marker in Eaton Rapids, Eaton County, dedicated 1974.

Eaton County · dedicated 1974 · GAR Memorial Island Park Grand River Downtown, Eaton Rapids

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This island, owned and operated by J. D. McAuliffe from 1872, was hailed as “a shady retreat for pleasure seekers . . . with a fine collection of animals and a museum of rare specimens.” In 1897 Eaton Rapids bought it for a city park. From 1908 to 1929 the Eaton County Battalion of the G.A.R. held its annual encampment at what was then named Grand Army Park. Summer concerts, reunions, and picnics brought many here over the years. A group formed in 1973 to save the island from erosion served to refocus attention on this spot.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

what this marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years here

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Marker data: Michigan History Center
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Island Park

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