Letter from Rockford 1975 Inc. on Five Flags_10.10.73ROCKFORD
1975 /NC. NON-PROFIT
October 10, 1973
Mr. Gent Wittenberg, Director
Department of Housing & Redevelopment
Suite IOB, Fischer Building
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Dear Mr. Wittenberg;
RUID OCT D 1y7,-
97 EAST STATE STREET
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS 611104
PHONE (815) 963-4845
0/rectors
John Gordon, President
Raymond F. Applequist, Vice Pre,.
Eugene Abegg, Treasurer
Seth G. Atwood
Harry A. Harris
Cove Hoover
Paul E. Lindstedt
Clint Maslen
Clarendon Mower, Jr.
David S. Paddock
Harold W. Schabacker
S. Penfield Stewart
John Whitehead
E+ecuflee Director
Karl A. Bliese, Secretary
Enclosed are news items of the fine program you and Mr.
Wayne Norman presented at our Annual Meeting, and we also
include a reproduction of the Morning Star write-up, which is
made a part of our minutes.
We also enclose a copy of our letter to our area Legislators,
regarding your "Five Flags Center." Please advise if you wish
additional copies of any of these enclosures or if we may be of
further service to you in your undertaking.
The information you gentlemen so enthusiastically provided
relative to your Town Clock Plaza and proposed civic center should
add impetus to our envisioned State and Main Plaza and civic center
plans.
We again thank you sincerely.
Cordially,
FrV
Executive Director
WHAT'S GOOD FOR CENTRAL ROCKFORD IS GOOD FOR ALL OF ROCKFORD
I
FIFTH ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING, ROCKFORD 1975, INC.
_A 12 MORNING STAR, ROCKFORD Thdrs., Sept. 20, IS73
Downtown mallin Dubuque
keyed by IbusinessmenocaI
A "miracle mall" In down.
town Dubuque, Iowa, was solely
the result of a push by commu-
nity businessmen, two men close
to the project said Wednesday.
Efforts to rejuvenate the
downtown area in cities such as
Dubuque or Rockford need not
compete with shopping centers
on the periphery of the cities,
they said.
Gent Wittenberg, director of
Housing and Redevelopment in
Dubuque, and Wayne Norman,
general chairman of the pro.
posed Five Flags civic center in
Dubuque, spoke before Rockford
1975, a group dedicated to im-
provement of the downtown dis.
trict here.
About 35 Rockford business-
men and political leaders at.
tended the discussion during the
yearly meeting of Rockford
1975.
"Dubuque had a typical down.
town. Narrow streets, tali build-
ings and no trees. Now we have
a beautiful mall centered
around the town clock on a pe.
destal and many trees," Nor.
man said.
The mall, begun in January,
1968, was completed three years
ago. Dubuque is now seeking to
build a $1.3 million civic center. _
Rockford downtown planners
are currently seeking to build
two malls at W. State Street
from Wyman to Church Streets
and at Main from Elm to Mul-
berry Streets.
John Gordon, president of
Rockford 1975, said the two Du-
)uque men were invited to Rock.
'Ord Wednesday "because the en.
husiasm they show for their
Karl Blfese, left, and John Gordon, right, view photos of Dubuque, Iowa, redevelopPhoto ment�� 'I ... Gent Wittenberg and Wayne Norman, center, spoke to Rockford 1975 meeting
ommumty a lust outstanding." The mall in Dubuque was fi-
Donald Busch, owner of Busch nanced with federal funds while
'ewelets, 213 W. State St., told the street work and refurbishing
lednesday's meeting, "Id like of the area was financed by the
a see some of the dollars come city. The proposed civic center
award to develop our down. will be financed with local dona-
nm the way the dollars came Was and matchinv federal
rward in Dubuque." funds. The city has already col.
lected $700,000 in local donations
for the project, Norman said.
Also at Wednesdays meeting,
current officers and board mem.
bers were re-elected to another
year's term. The non-profit
group has been in existence 10
years.
Re-elected Wednesday were
Gordon, president; Karl Blaise,
secretary and executive direc-
tor; Raymond F. Applequist,
vice president; and Eugene
Abegg, treasurer.
Other board members are
Seth G. Atwood, Harry A. Har.
rig, Gove Hoover, Paul E. Lind.
stedt, Clint Maslen, Clarendon
Mower Jr., David S. Paddock,
Harold W. Schabacker, S. Pen-
field Stewart and John White.
head.
ROCKFORD
19 75 INC. NON-PROFIT
October 10, 1973
Hon. John B. Anderson
Congressman
1101 Longworth Building
Washington, D. C. 20515
Dear Congressman Anderson:
97 EAST STATE STREET
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS 61104
PHONE (815) 963-4845
Directors
John Cordon, President
Raymond F. Applequist, Vice Pres.
Eugene Abegg, Treasurer
Seth G. Atwood
Harry A. Harris
Cove Hoover
Paul E. Undstedt
Clint Maslen
Clarendon Mower, Jr.
David S. Paddock
Harold W. Schabacker
S. Penfield Stewart
John Whitehead
Executive Director
Karl A. Bliese, Secretary
"Rockford 1975" was organized more than ten years ago for the purpose of
stimulating redevelopment of our deteriorating Central City area.
Recently, at one of our regular meetings, which was attended by our Mayor
Robert F. McCaw, City and County Officials and other interested in Rockford's
central urban renewal, we learned.about the proposed Five Flags Civic Center
of Dubuque, Iowa, in connection with their downtown plaza, from a program
presented by Messrs. Wayne Norman and Gent Wittenberg from that city.
Significantly they have chosen "Five Flags" because that is the number of
flags that have flown over Dubuqueland since 1673, the period of Jolliet and
Marquette explorations - Fleur de Lis of France, Royal Flag of Spain, Union
Jacket of England, French Republic of Napoleon and the Stars and Stripes of
America. Therefore, their "Five Flags Center" is intended to commemorate
the bicentennial of the birth of the United States of America.
Documentary evidence establishes that a Dubuqueland miner, Jean Marie Cardinal,
following his escape from the British marching down the Mississippi, warned
the French at St. Louis and gave his life in a subsequent battle. Historians
suggest that had it not been for Cardinal's warning, the exploits of
George Rogers Clark might have been in vain and the Treaty of 1782 might have
fixed the western boundary of the United States along the Allegheny Mountains
instead of at the Mississippi River.
In view of the foregoing historical events and patriotic commerative plans by
our neighboring community, the Board of Directors of Rockford 1975, at our
regular meeting October 3, 1973, resolved to respectfully request that our
area United States Legislators, as good neighbors, co-operate with the Dubuque
area officials in gaining all possible interest, recognition and financial
support in Washington for the Five Flags Center, which will serve a wide area
as a cultural, educational, recreational and entertainment center.
Your interest and assistance will be deeply appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
President
WHAT'S GOOD FOR CENTRAL ROCKFORD IS GOOD FOR ALL OF ROCKFORD
ROCKFORD 97 EAST STATE STREET
19 �]� ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS 61104
/ �IVC. NON-PROFIT PHONE (8IS) 963-4845
Directors
John Gordon, President
Raymond F. Applequist, Vice Pres.
Eugene Abegg, Treasurer
Seth G. Atwood
October 10, 1973
Harry A. Harris
_
- Cove Hoover
Paul E. Lindstedt
Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson, III
ClarendoClint Maslen
n Mower, Jr.
U. S. Senator -
David S. Paddock
456 Old Senate Building
_
Harold W. Schabacker
Washington, D. C. 20510
S. Penfield Stewart
John Whitehead
Dear Senator Stevenson:
[vecettve Director
Karl A. Bliese, Secretary
"Rockford 1975" was organized more than ten years ago for the purpose of
stimulating redevelopment of our deteriorating Central City area.
Recently, at one of our regular meetings, which was attended by our Mayor
Robert F. McGaw, City and County Officials .and other interested in Rockford's
central urban renewal, we learned about the proposed Five Flags Civic Center
of Dubuque, Iowa, in connection with their downtown plaza, from a program
presented by Messrs. Wayne Norman and Gent Wittenberg from that city.
Significantly they have chosen "Five Flags" because that is the number of
flags that have flown over Dubuqueland since 1673, the period of Jolliet and
Marquette explorations - Fleur de Lis of France, Royal Flag of Spain, Union
Jacket of England, French Republic of Napoleon and the Stars and Stripes of
America. Therefore, their "Five Flags Center" is intended to commemorate
the bicentennial of the birth of the United States of America.
Documentary evidence establishes that a Dubuqueland miner, Jean Marie Cardinal,
following his escape from the British marching down the Mississippi, warned
the French at St. Louis and gave his life in a subsequent battle. Historians
suggest that had it not been for Cardinal's warning, the exploits of
George Rogers Clark might have been in vain and the Treaty of 1782 might have
fixed the western boundary of the United States along the Allegheny Mountains
Instead of at the Mississippi River.
In view of the foregoing historical events and patriotic commerative plans by
our neighboring community, the Board of Directors of Rockford 1975, at our
regular meeting October 3, 1973, resolved to respectfully request that our
area United States Legislators, as good neighbors, co-operate with the Dubuque
area officials in gaining all possible interest, recognition and financial
support in Washington for the Five Flags Center, which will serve a wide area
as a cultural, educational, recreational and entertainment center.
Your interest and assistance will be deeply appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
President
WHAT'S GOOD FOR CENTRAL ROCKFORD IS GOOD FOR ALL OF ROCKFORD
ROCKFORD
1975INC. NON-PROFIT
October 10, 1973
Hon. Charles H. Percy
U. S. Senator
4321 New Senate Office Building
Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Senator Percy:
97 EAST STATE STREET
ROCKFORD,. ILLINOIS 61104
PHONE IBIS) 963-4845
Directors
John Gordon, President
Raymond r. Applequist, Vice Pres.
Eugene Abegg, Treasurer
Seth G. Atwood
Harry A. Harris
Cove Hoover
Paul E. Lindstedt
Clint Maslen
Clarendon Mower, Jr.
David S. Paddock
Harold W. Schabacker
S. Penfield Stewart
John Whitehead
Executive Director
Karl A. Bliese, Secretary
"Rockford 1975" was organized more than ten years ago for the purpose of
stimulating redevelopment of our deteriorating Central City area.
Recently, at one of our regular meetings, which was attended by our Mayor
Robert F. McCaw, City and County Officials and other interested in Rockford's
central urban renewal, we learned about the proposed Five Flags Civic Center
of Dubuque, Iowa, in connection with their downtown plaza, from a program
presented by Messrs. Wayne Norman and Gent Wittenberg from that city.
Significantly they have chosen "Five Flags" because that is the number of
flags that have flown over Dubuqueland since 1673, the period of Jolliet and
Marquette explorations - Fleur de Lis of France, Royal Flag of Spain, Union
Jacket of England, French Republic of Napoleon and the Stars and Stripes of
America. Therefore, their "Five Flags Center" is intended to commemorate
the bicentennial of the birth of the United States of America.
Documentary evidence establishes that a Dubuqueland miner, Jean Marie Cardinal,
following his escape from the British marching down the Mississippi, warned
the French at St. Louis and gave his life in a subsequent battle. Historians
suggest that had it not been for Cardinal's warning, the exploits of
George Rogers Clark might have been in vain and the Treaty of 1782 might have
fixed the western boundary of the United States along the Allegheny Mountains
instead of at the Mississippi River.
In view of the foregoing historical events and patriotic commerative plans by
our neighboring community, the Board of Directors of Rockford 1975, at our
regular meeting October 3, 1973, resolved to respectfully request that our
area United States Legislators, as good neighbors,. co-operate with the Dubuque
area officials in gaining all possible interest, recognition and financial
support in Washington for the Five Flags Center, which will serve a wide area
as a cultural, educational, recreational and entertainment center.
Your interest and assistance will be deeply appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
President
WHAT'S GOOD FOR CENTRAL ROCKFORD IS GOOD FOR ALL OF ROCKFORD