1917 Dedication
Jean Klock Park-A gift to the Community

































The Dedication Plaque

That which was carved in stone on the 1917 dedication plague will hopefully
again welcome all to Jean Klock Park.
The Klock Gift
Friends of Jean Klock Park. All rights reserved. Copyright 2008.
    At the 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 of Benton Harbor has been to Mrs.
    Klock and myself, the happiest moment of our lives. The deed of this park in the
    courthouse of St. Joseph will live forever. Perhaps some of you do not own a foot of
    ground, remember then, that this is your park, it belongs to you. Perhaps some of you have
    no piano or phonograph, the roll of the water murmuring in calm, roaring in storm, is 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 my wife
    and myself, it’s a gift from a 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 of 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’s representative, “The
    children of Benton Harbor will have the benefit of the learning the beauties of nature.”

JEAN KLOCK
PARK
PRESENTED
TO
BENTON HARBOR

BY
MR. AND MRS.
J. N. KLOCK
IN MEMORY
OF THEIR
DAUGHTER
JEAN

FOR THE
CHILDREN
1917
    In 1932 Mr. Klock wrote an 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:

    “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".