Tilles Memorial City Park

Tilles Park
Type Municipal park
Location Oran, Missouri, United States
Coordinates 37°02′42″N 89°23′38″W / 37.0451°N 89.39385°WCoordinates: 37°02′42″N 89°23′38″W / 37.0451°N 89.39385°W
Area 15 acres (6.1 ha)[1]
Created 1962
Owned by City of Oran

Tilles Memorial City Park, originally known as George Tilles, Jr. Park, is the oldest municipal park in Oran, Missouri.[2]

History

The park was founded in 1962 by Frank Pellegrino, CEO of the International Hat Company in St. Louis, Missouri.[2][3] The park was dedicated by Pellegrino as a memorial to George Tilles, Jr., Pellegrino's, friend, business partner, and former CEO of International Hat. George Tilles was also the nephew of horse racing magnate Cap Tilles.

Throughout the 1950s to the mid-1980s, the company's hat factory was the largest employer in Oran and one of the largest employers in Southeastern Missouri. The Oran factory was also the first International Hat plant built outside of St. Louis. These factors led to Pellegrino's choice of Oran, as a way of giving back to the employees of an International Hat town. As a condition for founding the park, Pellegrino petitioned the city that future funding of the new recreational facilities and park upkeep be managed through municipal taxation. The measure was placed on the voting ballot and passed with 93 percent of voters approving.[2]

Features

Since 1995, a major feature of the park has been the annual car show, sponsored by the Oran Chamber of Commerce.

References

  1. ↑ The Missourian. "Marble Hill to Ballot on Gift of Cash, Park". The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, May 17, 1969. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Missourian. "$10,000 Gift, Voter Approval Bring City Park". The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, April 2, 1962. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Dedicate New Bollinger Park". The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, June 5, 1972. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.