Motorists driving west along Moreno Street, past Baptist Hospital, soon come upon a unique island of vintage oak trees which have withstood the ravages of time for hundreds of years. They still are part of what a historic sign there declares that once, a century ago, the site was called Kupfrian's Park. The trees and their protected nature have become part of Pensacola's entertainment tradition, and even today, the shaded groves are used as locations for family picnics. The trees are old, yet the overall pleasant groves have a story which illustrates how the economy can blend itself with natural beauty.
The legend-tradition began in the late 1880s. This was when German immigrant Conrad Kupfrian, almost by accident, began his effort to bring modern transportation to the city. Newly arrived Kupfrian had been engaged as an accountant by a new bank, but his skills required upgrading since his training had been in a foreign land. His employer enrolled Kupfrian in classes at an academy in St. Louis, and as he stepped from his train, the newcomer immediately encountered something he had never seen before. There, passing down the Missouri Street, was a horse drawn conveyance, a street car. Even though he was new to Pensacola, Kupfrian felt that the community might profit if such transport was put in service there.
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Back in the city following his training, Kupfrian sought guidance in planning a car system. Mayor William Chipley favored the idea. And two successful businessmen, Joseph Cosgrove and John Pfeiffer, agreed to help finance placement of a system with tracks along Palafox Street. By 1887, the new service was operating successfully and indeed was encouraging more residential movement to the north. Within another 24 months, a second, then a third car route was being prepared.
Indeed, Monday through Fridays the cars ran at full capacity. But there was passenger slack on weekends. What to do? Kupfrian consulted leaders of other car systems, several of whom suggested that one proven traffic builder might be addition of an amusement park at a point of convenience. City fathers approved the possibility, and the three car system owners next acquired a 100-acre tract, centered among city streets which had been laid out but not completed. The developers then proceeded, stage by stage, establishing what they named for Kupfrian. The car system was extended so that vehicles would carry passengers right to the park's entrance.
The area, begun as just a picnicking area, soon had special attractions, too. A German-style beer garden was established, then a race track (for humans and for horses), with the race course surrounding a small lake-like pond. The family friendly locations were carefully cordoned one from another, providing suitable privacy for those who sought it. Other park areas were designed to accommodate larger groups, from clubs and organizations. Streetcar scheduling made trips to and from the park easy to enjoy, with the weekend hours linked to car schedules on the normal routes.
Kupfrian's Park was a success almost from day one. The community had no other similar attraction, and the ease of travel and the no-charge offerings, had appeal for many. Soon the park required so much personal management attention that Kupfrian elected to build his own home, right on the park's perimeter, on Moreno Street. (The house still stands on its original location, owned today by the nearby hospital.)
Through the 1920s, the park's popularity continued, enjoyed by the rising population. But then, in 1931, the bridges connecting the city through the Santa Rosa Peninsula to Santa Rosa Island offered new recreation opportunities. In that same bridge-opening year, 1931, the street car system itself was terminated; the new owners, Gulf Power Co., declared that the cars were losing money.
From that point, despite the emerging number of motor vehicles, attendance at the park declined. Into the 21st century, the handsome trees remain, and a careful sleuth might still find traces of the old race course. However, the other facilities are gone. For witnesses today there are the wonderful trees, and a drive or walk through the area will allow one to appreciate what the grand park once was like.
John Appleyard is a Pensacola historian and writes a weekly historical column in the Pensacola News Journal. His 15-minute films about Pensacola are viewable, without-charge, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in The Cottage, 213 E. Zaragoza St.
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Kupfrian's Park was once popular Pensacola hangout | John Appleyard - Pensacola News Journal
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