Anschutz Hill, starting at 17th Street and River Road on the northeast corner of Rand Park, is a road over the bluff that leads down to the Mississippi River, the Yacht Club and Athens Avenue.
In 1858 Friedolin (FW) Anschutz (1825-1889), local brewery owner, had a home at the foot of that hill. At the time the roadway linking River Road to Rand Park did not exist. The only way to enter Keokuk traveling south along the river was to take River Road all the way down to 3rd Street where it led up the bluff to the city.
Around 1870 Anschutz, using his own and donated money, built the current roadway up the hill connecting River Road to Rand Park. It was a big job - heavy overgrowth had to be removed and mostly manual labor was used to dig out the bluff and grade the roadbed.
Creating controversy at first, this community act by a leading citizen was hailed later for its generosity and usefulness. Still today we can thank Mr. Anschutz for this scenic and convenient drive.
NOTES: FW Anschutz's son Hermann later became a noted Keokuk photographer.
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