The town of Kenwood Park

Isaac Carroll brought his family from Hamilton, Canada, in 1839 to become one of Eastern Iowa's pioneers.

When the Carrolls reached the Cedar River, they built a cabin. The banks of the river were too sandy to grow crops so the family claimed land more than a mile away on a spot that 50 years later would be known as Bower's Hill, named for nurseryman Samuel Bowers.

According to a 1903 Gazette story, “Their claims embraced a half section of land. One corner of the west line was in Central Park, the south line being the same as the north line of what is now known as the Bever farm, the north line running from a point near the Mound Farm through Midway park east of the boulevard (First Avenue) into the woods.”

The family's permanent home stood a story and a half high and was the best house in the county.

Carroll's son, also named Isaac, was 9 when he arrived in Eastern Iowa with his family. He stayed on the farm until he was 23 and then set out for the city. Retiring to the family homestead in 1883 after a successful career in the grocery business in Cedar Rapids, he purchased land on First Avenue near the crossing of the street railway and the Milwaukee Railroad and started platting it into lots. He named the place Kenwood Park and applied for incorporation in 1886.

In 1890, Kenwood Park residents petitioned for a post office. They insisted that their postal facilities were inadequate and that they had enough population to justify a post office.

Soon real estate agents were advertising large lots that sold for $100 to $450 along Iowa (First) Avenue at Kenwood Park, between what would become 26th Street Drive and 34th Street East. The selling points were a beautiful location and a 5-cent fare for a 20-minute ride on the trolley from Cedar Rapids. Construction began on houses almost as soon as the lots were sold.

Kenwood Park had prospered so well that “Kenwoodites” in 1902 vowed to make their little village the county seat. They reasoned that they had a few locations that would be available for a courthouse and placing it in Kenwood Park would “eradicate any animosity that has existed or may exist between Cedar Rapids and Marion,” according to an Evening Gazette story.

In 1910, the Milwaukee Railroad announced it would offer passenger service to the community. A railroad spokesman said no depot would be built, however, but residents could flag down one of the three daily passenger trains that would pass nearby.

A 1912 promotional brochure described the town: “This little suburb of the beautiful city of Cedar Rapids is located most convenient for the home of the people who desire to reside in a pure country atmosphere and at the same time be within easy reach of the city, their business or employment. The population has more than doubled in the last three years. … The homes and its people have the most beautiful view of the distant city by the Cedar, the surrounding valleys and rolling hills, which together with our delightful sunsets make it a most desirable place for any and all classes to who desire to secure a home.”

As more houses were built and the population rose, the town started to think about city services. For most of its existence, Kenwood Park relied on wells, but it became evident that the town would need its own sewer system. The cost seemed prohibitive, so the city fathers petitioned for the right to tie into Cedar Rapids' sewer. Cedar Rapids agreed to a hookup of its choosing at Kenwood's expense and at an initial charge of $1,500 plus $250 per year. That was too expensive. Kenwood tried again, but this time was met with a legal ruling. The city attorney cited a statute that forbade sharing city utilities with other municipalities. The only way it could happen was if Kenwood Park agreed to annexation.

Kenwood Park said no and set about building its own water plant in 1914.

By 1921, a major paving project allowed drivers to travel on First Avenue from Cedar Rapids through Kenwood Park to the county highway without encountering a mud road. In a few years, Kenwood Park's mayor had hired three special motorcycle cops to crack down on First Avenue speeders. Acting as judge and jury, he fined 12 speeders in one night for racing through town at speeds of 31 to 38 mph.

The town was growing fast. In about a dozen years after its construction, the population of more than 1,000 people was taxing the pollution control facility.

Kenwood Park officials began a campaign to convince its residents that the town's best option was annexation. Cedar Rapids followed suit with its residents. On Dec. 17, 1925, Kenwood agreed to the annexation by a vote of 346 to 233. The following March, Cedar Rapids voters approved.

Terms of the annexation allowed the corporate debts of the two cities at the time of the merger to be paid by taxes of each community separately. Kenwood Park received credit of $27,000 for its town hall, waterworks and sewer system.

On July 1, 1926, Kenwood Park became a Cedar Rapids neighborhood.

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