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Parks and neighborhoods defined Lake Geneva

Photo at left: Seminary Park in Lake Geneva. More Mystery Place photos are GALLERY

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LAKE GENEVA -- Seminary Park is located at Baker Street and South Lake Shore Drive in Lake Geneva.

The city council began using park names for neighborhoods in the city in 1887, according to the “Annals of Lake Geneva, Wis.” 1835-1897, by James Simmons.

Block 18 was named Maple Park and the neighborhood south of Block 24 was named Elm Park; most people know it as Library Park.

The area between South Broad Street and South Center was named Willow Park, which is now known as Flat Iron Park. Up the hill was Block 34, which was named Oak Park. It is now better known as Seminary Park.

In 1864, a group of citizens from the village of Geneva formed a corporation called Geneva Seminary, according to “Butterfield’s History of Walworth County.”

The group opened a school at the foot of Geneva Lake and hired Anne Moody to manage it.

The Warner family bought the school and property in 1869. At first, the boarding students were housed in whatever accommodations they could find. But by 1874, an elegant brick dormitory was built for the young women and teachers. By 1882, about 100 students, both boys and girls, were enrolled.

The school offered classes in mental and moral philosophy, English language, literature, history, natural sciences, mathematics, ancient and modern languages, instrumental and vocal music as well as art.

The staff was comprised of 11 teachers and the Honorable John W. Boyd headed the board of trustees. The rest of the board was comprised of members of the Warner family.

Butterfield quotes an article from the Chicago Tribune that reads, “The boarding hoe is designed for the exclusive use of lady pupils and teachers. To the day school, both sexes are admitted, thus securing in the class work the advantages of a mixed school, while avoiding all the disadvantages of a mixed boarding school.

“The course of study is designed to meet the demands of pupils who do not intend to take a full collegiate course, but is modified, when desired, to prepare pupils for college ... The home and educational advantages offered here combine to make this one of the most desirable home institutions of the Northwest,” according to the newspaper.

Sometime after 1885, the seminary closed, although occasionally it was still used as a school.

In 1895, it was sold to the city and was used as a high school for a time. But eventually, the building was condemned as unsafe and unsanitary. All of the buildings were torn down and it became a park.