Jean Klock Park | John Klock | 1917 Dedication

“There is little joy in piling up money that you do not

need, and so the

majority of my earnings have been

spent in providing beaches, parks,

churches and

schools. Our first major gift was Jean Klock Park, a

half

mile of Lake Michigan frontage, which was given

to the city of Benton

Harbor. I say “our” for my wife

was very anxious to give this park to

the

city in

memory of our little child. Her untimely death made

possible

the

giving to other children the share of our

earnings which belonged to

her,

but which she could

not use."

1932 Mr. Klock wrote

autobiography

detailing his

life

from his

struggling

beginning at

the age of eleven

as a

typesetter

to a

successful

newspaper

owner,

Mayor of

Benton

Harbor, and later the

owner of

two

manufacturing

facilities.

The following is a

quote

from

his autobiography

recalling he

and his wife’

s gift

of Jean

Klock Park

and the

many that

followed:

At the 1917 dedication ceremony Mr. Klock stated:

“In taking an

inventory of life, we all take stock of the

circumstances

surrounding

the happiest moments. The

giving of

this park to the

city

Benton Harbor has

been to

Mrs. Klock

and

myself, the

happiest

moment

our lives.

The

deed

of this

park in

the

courthouse of St.

Joseph will

live

forever. Perhaps

some of you

not

own a foot of

ground, remember

then,

that

this is your park,

belongs to

you.

Perhaps some of you have no

piano

phonograph,

the roll of the

water

murmuring in calm,

roaring in

storm,

your

music, your piano

and music box.” In

closing Mr.

Klock

stated

“The

beach is yours, the

drive is

yours, the

dunes are

yours, all

yours.

It is

not so

much a gift

from

wife and myself, it’

s a gift

from

little

child.

See to it,

that

the park

is the children's.

”

At that time the City Mayor said:

“All we can do and say seems small in comparison to what

you

have

done

for us.”

Miss Ruth Sykes, who had the honor of accepting Jean Klock Park on

behalf

the city’s children stated:

“The securing of means for bettering its children is one of

the

most

blessed

things

that can befall a city or nation. The

receiving of this

park is

a means

which Benton

Harbor is

today

grateful to receive.

The

Great out

of doors

affording,

a place for

play and exercise as

necessary,

this

need is

answered in

this

park.” Declared the

children’

representative, “The

children of

Benton

Harbor will have

the

benefit

the learning the

beauties

of nature.”

917 City Council's Acceptance of the Gift

Save Jean Klock Park

A Gift to the Community

In 1917, John Nellis Klock and his wife Carrie purchased then

deeded

a stellar 90

acre parcel of Lake Michigan frontage to be

used by"

the City of Benton Harbor

Michigan and surrounding communities explicitly and

forever"

as a public park

and

bathing beach. The property was dedicated "

for the children

" and was named

Jean

Klock Park in mem

ory of their dec

eased daughter who died

as a young child

The July 11, 1917 dedication ceremony drew a crowd of over 4,000 people from

far

and wide.

Click on photos below to enlarge them