As JBS/Swift & Company has been making plans to expand their current pork processing facility, so have the relatives of Margaret T. French - in the form of a trip to Marshalltown.
A resident of Boulder, Co., Louisa Margaret Young - granddaughter of Margaret T. French - addressed the Marshalltown City Council Monday concerning the park named after her grandmother.
In order for Swift to build a massive refrigeration warehouse onto their existing plant, the company would need to purchase property known as French Park, located at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Bromley Street.
Young cited learning of the proposal to divert the playground from recent articles on the Times-Republican Web site.
"My family was under the impression the park had been gifted by my grandmother to the city, and our impression was based on what she had told us," she said. "If the land wasn't used as a park, it would revert back to the family."
Residents, as well as those who since moved away, have inquired whether the city actually owns the property with the legal right for Swift to buy, then build on the land.
According to historical documents at the City Clerk's Office, the land had switched ownership several times from 1857 through 1949, at which time Lennox Machine Company bought it, then gave the property to Margaret T. French during 1949 in exchange for $1.
In turn, French gave it to the city of Marshalltown in 1950 for the sum of $1, but it is also noted the city purchased the property for the fair market value of $5,500 as written on the deed.
With discern, Young said she and her family had the opportunity to review records and see the city's purchase agreement.
According to the title opinion prepared by Steve Irvine, there was no reversion interest or stipulations applied to the initial transaction.
"That was news to us - but the truth is, we heirs would not want the property back even if there was a reversionary provision," Young said. "Our concern is that the park has been here for a very long time - I used it when I was growing up."
Swift has offered to move and replace the park's recreational facilities to other locations. But Young took matters a step further - asking the city to establish another park with similar amenities and naming it the Margaret T. French Park as well.
Several members of the council, along with Mayor Gene Beach, abided.
"It was an act of generosity from my grandmother and we think the city should respect that," Young added. "I think people need to be practical and [replacing the park] may need to happen, but we would just like it not to go away and disappear."
--
Contact Tammy R. Lawson at 641-753-6611 or tlawson@timesrepublican.com
