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Description
In terms of orientation, the main north/south street seen here is N. St. Joseph Ave., and the intersecting road is Diamond Ave. The curvy road in the foreground is Mesker Park Dr. The lake seen in the middle is part of Mesker Park Zoo and if you zoom in, just beyond that along Mesker Park Dr. is Mesker Amphitheatre at 1551 Mesker Park Dr. In 1900, George Mesker, owner of Mesker Iron Co., donated land and money for Mesker Park. With more funding and land, a zoo opened in the park in 1928. Mesker made an additional donation in 1936 to improve the park and to support music programs. Delayed by WWII, the amphitheatre finally opened in 1951/1952. For years it was vastly popular, hosting well known musical groups and a theatre program. Wikipedia says it has 8500 seats, chairback and lawn. No longer heavily used, it has fallen into disrepair and was closed in 2012. Its future is uncertain. The zoo is at 1545 Mesker Park Dr., and when opened, was one of the first to use a moat system. It has been expanded--the area wooded area in front of the lake (known as Lake Victoria) is now a parking lot and new entrance. At the time of this photograph, the entrance would have been on Bement Ave., the short street off to the right of Mesker Park Dr.