HISTORY

The history of Charley Brown Memorial Park starts in the 1930's. The land now known as Charley Brown Park started as a 100 acre cattle pasture that was owned by Charley Brown of Flora. Charley and Minn Brown were well to do farmers and held many other investments as well. Charley died April 30, 1934. Minn inherited most of his estate. It was during the depression and a federal employee was looking for a site to locate a public park in southern Illinois. A deal was made with Minn to sell the City of Flora 100 acres. She only had one stipulation - that it be named after her husband Charley Brown. On September 3, 1935 the City of Flora officials and Minn Brown signed the option agreement for the purchase of the land for Charley Brown Memorial Park. The papers were not approved until over a year later on November 23, 1936. After the transaction became approved by the City Council, over 200 WPA workers swarmed the 100 acre site. The water system, roads, creaing the brush, and other features were built by them. The park was dedicated on September 4, 1939. Over the years there have been many features at Charley Brown Park. The Flora Municipal Pool was added on June 24, 1945. A playground was installed. A softball field was located where the present day Charley Brown Bowl is located. A small zoo was located just west of the playground and an enclosed concesion stand was located near the lake. Today the building is an enclosed picnic area. In 1959 Gaylon Border, with his wife Sallie, brought the Little Toot Steam Railroad to the park. It was a wildly successful venture for 6 years. Gaylon passed away in 1966 and a year later the railroad was sold and moved to Centralia, IL. In 199, forty years after the original train steamed through the park, it came back to run through the park again. This time Clint Green is the owner. The park is continually being improved by a dedicated staff of city employees and visionary groups and individuals who see the Charley Brown Memorial Park as a GREAT place that should be around for a long time to come.

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