History Central Park (Allentown, Pennsylvania)







central park s origins date 1868 when j. frank reichart laid out race course north of allentown-bethlehem turnpike (hanover avenue) opened trotting , pacing may august. in 1872 rittersville park association organized. park enlarged 16 acres , known manhattan park.


when allentown & bethlehem rapid traction company took ownership of area thomas ritter called greater central park. included in park menagerie quite collection of animals, including elephants.



derby racer @ central park, 1910


central park came called trolley car park. trolley companies did brisk business during work week when people went work struggled public use them on weekends. decided having amusement park lure people out of town increase weekend use, , public traveled go past building lots suitable houses belonged land development company subsidiary trolley line.


the park opened on 2 july 1893 rittersville park, offering 40 acres of shady walks , ample park benches. built in wooded area picnic groves, walking paths, few amusements, theaters , food stands. first rides carousel, toboggan chute, , razzle-dazzle . 1898 menagerie closed , owner of manhattan hotel bought 2 monkeys zoo keeper. dismay, 1 of monkeys set fire hotel. rebuilt same year. new manhattan hotel place latest fashions seen great crowds come far away mauch chunk , philadelphia park had 1 of biggest outdoor theaters in pennsylvania.



park entrance 1910



sandplile play area, 1900


by turn of 20th century, park grew , grew, reaching heyday in period between 1906 , 1920. in 1906, transit company built theater accommodate 1,600 people , invited major musical entertainers. 1 of biggest draws john philip sousa s band. couples dancing turkey-trout , bunny hug older folks wondered younger generation coming to. plays became thing , 1912 theater expanded 2,500 seats. 2 popular plays george m. cohan s 45 minutes broadway , lew morton s mayor of tokio.


central park s racing coaster, known derby racer claimed surpassed ride of kind in existence in eastern united states. frolic, circle swing , shoot chute, water ride concluded incline dropped lake, on order of might have been found @ new york s coney island. in addition, central park hosted family reunions , picnics businesses, clubs , churches. large sandbox children provided enjoyment young family members while older siblings played on swings , enjoyed rides. among events held in park baby parade.


when allentown-kutztown traction company completed trolley line allentown kutztown in 1899, company added stop @ dorney park, central park s competitor in area. however, central park held own. in 1922 manhattan hotel torn down , in place manhattan auditorium built. attempt made in 1933 establish first supermarket in area, unsuccessful. used marathon dancing, later auto shows, home shows, roller skating, name few. in 1927 when dorney added first thrill ride, roller coaster. also, late 1920s, automobiles in widespread use. unlike central park, tied streetcar, dorney park had plenty of space parking.



the sign , last of buildings of central park demolished in summer of 1964.


the first of twenty-year string of fires plagued central park began 1 on 16 august 1932. funhouse, mystic castle , outdoor theater primary victims. next fire destroyed cyclone coaster in 1935. fires in june, 1940 , april, 1941 destroyed popular dodge em ride , burned dance hall. , in 1944 bowling allies , billiard parlor burned. in 1946, park leased transit company private operator. on christmas day, 1950 venerable carousel , prized derby racer destroyed fire. on 2 august 1951 fire alarm sent allentown firefighters again central park. time second outdoor theater, replacement 1 had burned in 1932.


with fire, park closed in december 1951 , land vacant on decade. in 1960s, sold real estate development, , last of central park razed in 1964. today few abandoned concrete footings remain in wooded areas intermixed between clearings , homes , buildings exist on site.








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