Do you remember Deer Park?

This photo, submitted by Cecille Gerber of the Tiskilwa Historical Society, shows the tame deer that populated Kitterman's Deer Park between Princeton and Tiskilwa. A Bureau County Republican article from March 3, 1919, explained how the animals were slaughtered by dogs and hunters. The article was sent to Cecille from Lois Osborn.

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

TISKILWA — According to Cecille Gerber, president of the Tiskilwa Historical Society, the mystery surrounding the publication of a photo of Kitterman’s Deer Park, in a 1919 edition of the Bureau County Republican, was solved in bits and pieces from recollections by Richard Hildebrand who used to farm that property, by Eleanor Schertz and Ellen Lawton who remembered hearing of the legendary Deer Park as little girls and by Lois Osburn who sent an excerpt from the Bureau County Republican dated March 3, 1919.

The article began with this lead sentence: “Two lonely, crippled stags grazing in the solitude of the 37-acre Deer Park between Princeton and Tiskilwa are the sole survivors of the once imposing herd owned by John Kitterman.” 

The story goes on to tell of the depletion of the herd, which once numbered 49, by prowling dogs and lawless hunters over a period of six months. After Kitterman purchased seven fawns in Iowa in 1909, he continued to add to the herd as he developed the acreage into a park with eight-to-10-foot fencing. One spring, a record 11 fawns were born at the park. Kitterman spent 10 years building up his herd, and children and adults alike loved to visit at feeding time “to see him in the midst of his flock, doling out fresh cabbages, beets and other delicacies from his garden.” 

The article also mentions a tract of land referred to as “the famous Rainbow Hollow.”  If you have any additional information about Rainbow Hollow,  call the Tiskilwa Historical Society at (815) 646-4353.