Corby Pond

Corby Pond, a part of Corby Grove (see separate entry), has long been one the primary fishing spots in the city. It is connected to the rest of Corby Grove by wonderful trails. One of the most charming public art installations in St. Joseph, “Catch Me If You Can,” is located adjacent to the pond.

Corby Grove is one of the oldest public park areas in the city. Corby Pond has always been a feature of the area. In 1928, as part of the improvement project of Corby Grove, the pond was renovated to accommodate ice skaters. It became a wintertime fixture for St. Joseph. The shore was lined with benches and log fires to keep skaters warm.

     In 1931, a sewer pipe under the pond ruptured and the resulting sewage spill necessitated the draining of the pond. It took two years for the repairs to be made and the pond repaired.

     These repairs made it possible for Corby Pond to be stocked with 1,500 fish from the Krug Lagoon and thus to become a leading fishing spot in St. Joseph, a position it still retains. The Park Department, working with the Missouri Department of Conservation, has regularly restocked the pond. Fishing derbies were popular, in 1950 and 1951 several thousand children competed in the annual derby. In 1951, the first fishing dock was built. A number of unusual catches have been recorded over the years. In 1952, two boys caught a 35-inch Northern Pike. In 1984, using a doughball as bait, Bill Dalton caught an 18-inch bass, a surprise as Corby Pond was more known for catfish at that time. Three years later, a five-pound shovelnose sturgeon was caught; it was assumed that the fish had gotten in to the pond after someone caught it in the Missouri River and released it in the pond. In 1991, two boys caught a nearly 35-pound flathead catfish in the pond.

     The popularity of Corby Pond has made it a favorite place for beautification projects. In 1941, the Lilac Hill Marker was unveiled in remembrance of the founder of the Garden Club, Georgia Montague Bacheller. In 2000, the Bradley Trust Fund donated the bronze sculpture “Catch Me If You Can,” showing three children rollerblading.

     In keeping with the increasing emphasis on green and sustainable practices, a rain garden was added to the Corby Pond area in 2014. Its purpose is to create a green infrastructure designed to help tread waste water and create a wildlife habitat.

     In 2021 the City dredged Corby Pond once again in order to fix the sewer line under the park. The bottom of the pond was scoured at that time in order to increase its depth. Though the project took longer than hoped, it was completed in spring 2022 and has ensured that Corby Pond remains the community amenity it has long been.

      Today, Corby Pond is always alive with activity and it is a wonderful place to walk, fish, or just watch the world go by.

“Corby Pond Will Be Ready for Skaters by Christmas,” St. Joseph Gazette, Nov. 27, 1928.

“Curd Holds Park Board to Blame for Ruined Lake,” St. Joseph News Press, May 5, 1931.

“A Rebuttal by Curd,” St. Joseph News Press, July 15, 1931.

“Unveil Memorial Marker,” St. Joseph Gazette, May 9, 1941.

“Corby Pond in March,” St. Joseph News Press, March 10, 1951.

“To Stock Corby Pond for Derby,” St. Joseph Gazette, Aug. 13, 1951.

“Northern Pike, 35 Inches Long, Caught in Corby Pond by 2 boys,” St. Joseph News Press, April 6, 1952.

“Corby Pond Bond Issue is Proposed,” St. Joseph News Press, Aug. 29, 1955.

“Corby Pond Restoration Under Way,” St. Joseph News Press, April 12, 1956.

“Fishing at Corby Pond Asked,” St. Joseph News Press, Dec. 18, 1957.

Bill Bennett, “Doughball Lures Dandy Bass in Catfish Country,” St. Joseph News Press, Aug. 7, 1984.

“Corby Pond to Get More Fish,” St. Joseph News Press, April 20, 1986.

Bill Bennett, “Unusual Corby Pond Catch Probably River Gift,” St. Joseph Gazette, Nov. 25, 1987.

Bill Bennett, “Corby Pond Yields 34-Pound Catfish,” St. Joseph News Press, Feb. 26, 1991.

Bill Bennett, “Stocking Program Marks Anniversary,” St. Joseph News Press, July 4, 1993.

Hayley Wilson, “Statues Added to Parkway Scenery,” St. Joseph News Press, July 1, 2000.

Margaret Slayton, “Corby Pond Rain Garden to Help with Waste Water,” St. Joseph News Press, Oct. 11, 2014.

Terry Jordan, “Corby Pond Once Was a Lively Place,” St. Joseph News Press, Jan. 23, 2021.

Zach Fisher, “Corby Pond Work Moving Forward,” St. Joseph News Press, Aug. 26, 2021.

Quinn Ritzdorf, “Landfill Labor Shortage Affects Corby Pond Project,” St. Joseph News Press, Oct. 12, 2021.

Ryan Hennessy, “Corby Pond Awaits Rainfall,” St. Joseph News Press, March 14, 2022.