Courthouse Park, Madera 1910

Courthouse Park, located next to the "Old Courthouse" on Yosemite Avenue, owes its existence to the energies of William King Heiskell. Originally hired as a night jailer and gardener at the Madera County Jail, Heiskell's job evolved into the first superintendent of Madera County's Courthouse Park.

On 26 February 1910, the Madera Mercury announced that the supervisor's had accepted plans for the construction of a park. The plans had been prepared by MacRorie and McLaren Compay of San Francisco. The estimate to build the park was $3011, with trees and shrubs costing $1061.50. The pipe system was to cost $900; the construction of walks and roads, $500; shipping and handling, $75; labor and guards, $450; and grass seed, $25. By March 12, the trees trees had arrived, and were being laid out according the approved plan, around several serpentine walks, a large lawn facing Yosemite Avenue, a fountain in the center of the grounds, and a band stand near the Sixth Street side of the park. The ground was first levelled, and trenches for water pipes dug. The contract for the pipe work was awarded to Hoffman & Stephenson (Madera Mercury 12 March 1910).

During the planting phase of the park, a drifter, by the name of J.R. Jensen, was arrested for drunkeness, and Judge Barcroft asked, "Do you know anything about landscape gardening?" Jensen replied, "No." The judge responded, "A man like you ought to know a little about everything" and ordered Jensen to work for ten days under the supervision of William Heiskell. "He's a good gardener, and you'll learn a lot", the judge declared (Madera Mercury 19 March 1910). He was not alone, however, three men were found sleeping in a boxcar, and arrested for vagrancy. Not having the $5 to pay the fine, they were ordered by the judge to join Heiskell's force of gardeners for five days. It is a historical irony that such men are today's chief beneficiaries of the Courthouse Park.

In planning the park, William King Heiskell collaborated with MacRorie and McLaren Company of San Francisco, the premier California landscape architects of their day. Of tne two partners, Daniel A. MacRorie and Donald McLaren, the latter was the son of the Scottish landscape gardener, John McLaren, who was famous for designing Golden Gate Park. The father and son team worked together on the Pacific Panama International Exhibition.

       
From: Western Architect and Engineer 1912

We are fortunate that the correspondence between MacRorie and McLaren Company and William King Heiskell has been preserved, and available using the links below.

MacRorie & MacLaren Correspondence relating to Madera's Courthouse Park

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However, it is unfortunate that the aesthetics of the park, the wide variety of trees lovingly planted and tended by William Heiskell, and the integrity of the park's original design by MacRorie and McLaren have been seriously compromised by the recent construction of the jail annex and