Mt. Hosmer Veterans Memorial Park

A Brief History of Mt. Hosmer
Lansing, Iowa
2017
This history compiled by Derva Burke, Director Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, with the assistance of information provided by Robert Teff, Post 50 American Legion Commander.
June, 1851 – Sculptress, Harriet Hosmer climbs this hill during a steam boat stop at Lansing in 1851 and Local residents then name the hill, Mt. Hosmer. The first settlers in Lansing referred to the hill as, First Hill, in a series of three hills extending immediately north of the town. There was no official City of Lansing at the time; however there was an established Lansing Post Office. Lansing founders, Haney and Houghton owned all the lands in the Lansing area at this time, including the Mt. Hosmer hill. Some of the early town founders came from Galena, Illinois where lead was mined; and therefore, exploratory digging for lead was done on Mt. Hosmer. It is assumed that little lead was found.
The Mt. Hosmer hill was not included within the city limit boundary as a part of the city's incorporation in 1867. The park was annexed to the city in the 1940's. The city's water reservoir was constructed half way up the hill side in 1903.
July 3, 1922 – According a news article in the July 3, 1922, Iowa, Legionaire Newspaper, a meeting of Lansing citizens was held in the City Hall where it was agreed to purchase an estimated 50 acres of the Mt. Hosmer hill as a memorial to the soldiers and sailors of the Great War (World War I), and dedicate the hill specifically to three Lansing soldiers killed in that war. These soldiers were William Beck, George H. Glynn, and Robert Strong. They were battle casualties in August and October of 1918. The hill was owned by Richard Thompson at the time according to the news item. This meeting led to arrangements to raise funds to purchase the hill. Flag poles were to be placed on the three bluff points in memory of each of these soldiers. The original wood poles have been replaced by metal ones.
1922-1923 – Various parts of the hill were purchased from the Thompson family and Mr. E. B. Fowler. Arrangements were made for the Lansing American Legion Post 50 to take jurisdiction over the hill to implement the memorial idea.
1922 – 634 white pine trees were planted on the hill representing all the Allamakee County servicemen participating in the Great War.
August 22, 1923 – The Lansing American Legion donated the Mt. Hosmer hill to the City of Lansing as a Veterans Memorial Park and to assume permanent jurisdiction over the hill and the memorial park.
April, 1925 – Most of the pine trees were destroyed by a wild fire. The pine grove still present represents the remainder of the original plantings.
September 15, 1926 – Park is surveyed, and revealed the park size to be 57 acres. Additional public lands have since been attached to the north.
1920's – 1930's – The limestone entry columns and wall was reported to have been constructed in these years according to a newspaper Reflection article in 1991. Stone mason, Henry Burke is reported to have done this work.
November 11, 2001 – Veterans Memorial Park Re-Dedication - An all-veterans memorial is constructed on Mt. Hosmer in 2001. It featured marble stones to each branch of the military behind an apron of memorial bricks with service members names inscribed. The river bluff flag pole was replaced by a lighted seventy foot high flag pole. Also, a new memorial was incorporated into the white pine grove. This addition featured three limestone boulders from the Mt. Hosmer quarry, with the placement of metal plaques on each, and with six new white pine trees added to the area. These memorials were constructed and funded by the Lansing Veterans Memorial Association who was given special jurisdiction over these areas on Mt. Hosmer.