I will try and take you thru the
park as you would if you were actually there. After you enter the main
entrance the first row of cards give you an idea of what you would see. The road
to the right goes up the hill to the Art Museum and Mount Adams. Directly ahead
is the reservoir which was periodically emptied and cleaned so the lack of water
in the last card is normal. The buildings you see behind the reservoir are
across the Ohio River in Kentucky.
It took twelve years from 1866 to 1878 to complete the
double basin reservoir, and was considered quite an engineering feat for its
time. When it consisted of two basins it held 100,000,000 gallons of water. The
west basin started operation in 1874, and the eastern one began service in 1878.
The limestone used in the retaining walls were excavated from the other side of
the park and was the reason for the area called twin lakes. More information
will be supplied when these cards come up.
Not a postcard
This photo, taken in 1921, was for the Caruso memorial concert.
We are taking the road going to the left above and the next seven cards show the area around the bend. You see, of course, the reservoir and to the left the springhouse. The gazebo you see in these cards was built in 1904 replacing the original thatched-roof structure which had been erected in 1900 over a spring which, according to legend, provided medicinal benefits. It was soon closed up because the water was not only not beneficial but it was found to be polluted.
Not a postcard
Original Thatched-roof springhouse
The next four cards show the springhouse from the other side. This view allows you to see the road we were just on plus you can see the Art Museum in the distance.
Looking to the right, and behind, the springhouse as seen in the 5 images above you can see the area shown in the next group of cards. In the first card you can see the springhouse on the left and in the distance you can see a bandstand built in 1901. It replaced the first smaller stand built in 1872. The road you see going into the distance is Fulton Avenue, (the third way to enter the park from Gilbert Avenue). You can also see the water tower for the first time, believe me you will be seeing this structure a lot for now on.
Newer card of same area
This was the scene almost every Sunday in the summer months of the popular band concerts when thousands would gather to look and be seen.
Not a postcard
Original bandstand built in 1872
FOR MORE EDEN PARK CARDS 
