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Date Posted:
On March 4, 1929, descendants of Paul Cornell presented this bust as a gift to the park, CPD鈥
Location:
1809 W 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
Located Within:
Cornell (Paul) Square Park
Artist:
Sigvald Asbj酶rnsen
Year Created:
1900
Installed:
1929
Features:
Indoor, Sculpture
Description
This bronze bust of the Cornell Square Park鈥檚 namesake, Paul Cornell (1822鈥1904), is located in the lobby of the field house. A lawyer and real estate speculator, Cornell became known as the 鈥渇ather of Hyde Park鈥 because he purchased and developed extensive property in the 1850s in what was then a suburban area. By deeding land to the Illinois Central Railroad, Cornell secured transportation linkages with Chicago. Bringing in the railroad ensured the success of his new town of Hyde Park. Cornell also believed that green spaces were vital to the community. He asserted that parks would serve as the 鈥渓ungs to the great city and its future generations.鈥 Cornell was instrumental in the formation of the South Park Commission, and served on its Board of Commissioners for fourteen years.
In 1905, one year after Cornell鈥檚 death, the South Park Commissioners named one of its revolutionary neighborhood parks in his honor. Cornell's relatives donated and dedicated the portrait bust in 1929 in celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the park. Norwegian artist Sigvald Asbj酶rnsen (1867鈥1954) sculpted the bronze Paul Cornell Bust. Asbj酶rnsen, who also created the Leif Ericson Monument in Chicago鈥檚 Humboldt Park is best known for his Roald Amundsen Bust in San Francisco鈥檚 Golden Gate Park and the War and Soldiers鈥 Statue, which is part of the General WilliamTecumseh Sherman Monument in Washington D.C.