Minneapolis Club honors Theodore Wirth
Here's the text of an interesting document about an event at the Minneapolis Club. It was signed by more than one hundred Minneapolis business leaders:
This Luncheon today is given in honor of Theodore Wirth by his friends as a public recognition of notable and enduring services to the City of Minneapolis.
After a service of thirty years as General Superintendent of Parks he recently reached the mandatory retiring age and was retired by the Board of Park Commissioners with the title of distinction Superintendent Emeritus.
When Mr. Wirth came to Minneapolis he brought with him a love for flowers from his early childhood, a three year apprenticeship in horticulture, a special training in engineering in his birth country, Switzerland, and an experience in landscape work and in the management of large private estates in America and abroad and as Superintendent of Parks Hartford, Connecticut.
At that time the Park System consisted of 1,800 acres, which were increased while he was Superintendent to 5,200 acres and the inclosed lakes and woods were embellished and strung together under his direction on a filament of parkways as a superb jeweled ornament about the heart of the city, with such gems as Glenwood Park, now named Theodore Wirth Park in his honor, Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lakes Calhoun, Harriet and Nokomis and Minnehaha Falls fascinating in their settings.
During all his life, both as a private citizen and in public service, Theodore With has been honest in all his dealings, faithful to his concept of a great unified park system and earnest in cooperation with others to make his dream come true.
The perfection and glory of his work charm the visitor and linger in memory long after he departs. They will always be an abiding monument to Theodore Wirth. He can have none better.
Mr. Wirth, your friends give you this signed scroll and this purse as a token of appreciation and high regard with the prayer that they may bring to you and to Mrs. Wirth an added measure of happiness.
Dated at Minneapolis September 13, 1939