Tecumseh Shelter House About Us
The new Tecumseh Park Shelter House is complete and was officially dedicated on Saturday, March 25, 2017.
This was a community effort sponsored by the Tecumseh Kiwanis Club, the Tecumseh Township, corporate sponsors and many members of the community who donated time and money to see this project completed.
Shelter Information
The idea for a new shelter house to replace the original structure, built in the early 1960's, began with Ken and Mary Ertl, members of the Tecumseh Kiwanis Club. They presented the idea to the Kiwanis Club, who pledged personal and club money, and got approval to move forward with the idea. Ken then presented the idea to the Tecumseh Township board, who is responsible for the park, and they approved the plan and agreed to help fund the new structure.
With initial funding for the concrete floor and Morton building secured, it was time to seek funding from community members and corporate sponsors. Craig Cooper was successful in getting in-kind donations from many very generous area contractors including Lower Heating & Air, Ace Plumbing, Hill & Company, and Current Electric. The Westar and Capitol Federal Foundations provided major funding for the project.
Third grade students at Tecumseh North Elementary School also held fund-raisers to help contribute to the project. Township Supervisor Roy Malloy became the construction supervisor, and local resident Allen Cutter helped with the construction, and they followed through with all parties to produce this new landmark structure in Tecumseh Park.
This project is a great example of how public and private groups can work together to benefit the community.
History
The park began as a community gathering place as far back as at least the 1880’s when there are records detailing a school picnic here. The area became known as Murphy’s Grove in the early 1900’s named after Jim Murphy, who owned the land. Dewey Mohler, a long time Tecumseh resident, related that there was a pond to the south of the present day restrooms that he used to swim in as a kid, and there were picnic tables for the community to use.
The Tecumseh Grange adopted creating a park in 1960, and Tecumseh township sold a bond issue for $20,000 to fund the purchase of the land for $10,000 from Ethel Richards, who had inherited the land. The remaining money fenced the property, and built the ball diamonds, wooden bleachers, the original playground and an outhouse!
Dewey’s father, Clay Mohler, Cindy Cooper's father, Wayne Ice, Gerald Kreipe, John Lessley, Fred Root, Wright Bertschinger, and Joe Burgardt were on the Grange committee that worked on the park. Many of those are familiar names or relatives of many of you. We don’t have a date as to when the original shelter was built.
The park was dedicated on August 28, 1960 and over 1200 people attended the ceremony! The township has managed the park ever since.