Nestled here among the majestic white pines is one of New York Mills’ greatest treasures, thanks to a New York state lawyer by the name of William V Smith.

In 1883, much of the land in New York Mills was owned by the lumber company around which the village was developed. When the New York Mills Company closed its lumber mill that year, the company retained ownership of the land. This proved to be a huge setback for the little community as the towns of Perham and Wadena next door continued to grow while New York Mills remained stuck with no land to purchase and develop.

Trouble between the members of the company and their agent in Fargo and between the partners themselves resulted in litigation that tied up most of the property in the village, making it impossible to buy lots and get clear title to them. In 1890, William V. Smith, a lawyer in the city of Olean, New York was consulted by Olcot Boardman regarding the best way to handle the problem. Mr. Smith came to New York Mills in 1891 and quickly realized that something needed to be done.

During the next eight years of litigation, Smith worked tirelessly to resolve the issues, and ultimately purchased several parcels of land himself when they became available. Through his efforts, the original high school site was donated to the district, religious institutions were provided with lands to build their churches, and this property, now known as Smith Park, was given to the village as a personal gift.

In a May 1928 issue of the New York Mills Herald, attorney Mr. Jesse Schunk gave the following report about the litigation and Mr. Smith’s interest in New York Mills: “Mr. Smith has now reached the age of 71 years and is possessed of a kindly disposition, a fine sense of humor and keen, clear penetrating vision. The hand of time has been laid upon him lightly and he holds those friendships made upon his first visit here in such regard as to prove him a high class citizen and a man that is a privilege to know.”

And so, Smith Park, named for his legacy, was born. It has since been the home of countless memorable community events for nearly 100 years.

In the “Athletics in New York Mills” section of the book 75 Years of Progress, 1884-1959, the authors write: “New York Mills has been known for its many fine athletic teams, but baseball, of course, has been the big game here over the greater part of the years.”