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round about
Jan. 5th, 2006 11:19 pm.
I watched another library video today, this one a 1998 PBS documentary on amusement parks. They mentioned one in Central Massachusetts that had a rocket ride originally from Palisades Park. There were also various other rides, shown in action, and a ballroom. I didn't catch the name, and they didn't show names at the end, but I Googled and determined that it was Whalom Park, so I delved further to find out more about it.
I learned that it closed in 2000. A group was formed to save the park, which was hampered by a fire set by some kids in 2002 that burned up the ballroom. At the end of 2003, the group gave up and returned money to the various donors who had each "bought a whale." Around the same time, a fomer carousel operator and band organ enthusiast started a program to purchase the various carousel animals (which had been sold piece by piece at auction). It seems he succeeded in buying a half dozen animals and reopening the carousel for a while.
Other sites have photos of the defunct park in various states of decay. Looks like the wooden coaster was still standing fairly proud as of last year.
While I was looking here and there, I also found out about Mt. Park, not too far from Holyoke (as I recall), which went out of business around '93 and sold some of its stuff to Whalom Park. Up to 2000, buildings were still standing there, but by 2002 there were mostly piles of lumber, some concrete foundations, and maybe the mini golf sign. The carousel was sold and relocated to Heritage Park in Holyoke, where it's still in operation. I've ridden it, and bought a CD of music on their band organ. Sarah's ridden on it! So I guess things aren't all bad, eh? Still, I get sad whenever an amusement park bites the sawdust. I'd even feel that way about the mildly depressing "Kiddie Wonderland" we used to pass when we lived in Houston, with its spiritless ponies and forgettable rides.
Somebody on one of the sites talking about Whalom Park had moved to Denver, and was worried about Lakeside Park going under (like Elitch's -- migod, Elitch's!). Lakeside had been prominently featured in the documentary too. I went online and it seems that they are planning to be open for the 2006 season, so that was a bit of a relief.
In other news, Sarah still worries about Kiki having to leave her mommy and daddy. We talked to her about that for a while. No, she's probably not about to forget, but we hope to convince her that it's just a movie! She asked if she could watch the movie without feeling bad when she's older. When she's ten, she asked. She had said something cute and quotable earlier in the evening that I was thinking of posting here, but in all the stress later on, I forgot about it. I still need to put a tape in the little cassette recorder and see if I can place it quietly outside her room and get her to sing and "play" her guitar. (Would that I had put a tape in a year or so back when she used to talk to herself on her way to sleep. Priceless.) But I'm just as glad I'm not recording her anxieties, poor kid.
.
I watched another library video today, this one a 1998 PBS documentary on amusement parks. They mentioned one in Central Massachusetts that had a rocket ride originally from Palisades Park. There were also various other rides, shown in action, and a ballroom. I didn't catch the name, and they didn't show names at the end, but I Googled and determined that it was Whalom Park, so I delved further to find out more about it.
I learned that it closed in 2000. A group was formed to save the park, which was hampered by a fire set by some kids in 2002 that burned up the ballroom. At the end of 2003, the group gave up and returned money to the various donors who had each "bought a whale." Around the same time, a fomer carousel operator and band organ enthusiast started a program to purchase the various carousel animals (which had been sold piece by piece at auction). It seems he succeeded in buying a half dozen animals and reopening the carousel for a while.
Other sites have photos of the defunct park in various states of decay. Looks like the wooden coaster was still standing fairly proud as of last year.
While I was looking here and there, I also found out about Mt. Park, not too far from Holyoke (as I recall), which went out of business around '93 and sold some of its stuff to Whalom Park. Up to 2000, buildings were still standing there, but by 2002 there were mostly piles of lumber, some concrete foundations, and maybe the mini golf sign. The carousel was sold and relocated to Heritage Park in Holyoke, where it's still in operation. I've ridden it, and bought a CD of music on their band organ. Sarah's ridden on it! So I guess things aren't all bad, eh? Still, I get sad whenever an amusement park bites the sawdust. I'd even feel that way about the mildly depressing "Kiddie Wonderland" we used to pass when we lived in Houston, with its spiritless ponies and forgettable rides.
Somebody on one of the sites talking about Whalom Park had moved to Denver, and was worried about Lakeside Park going under (like Elitch's -- migod, Elitch's!). Lakeside had been prominently featured in the documentary too. I went online and it seems that they are planning to be open for the 2006 season, so that was a bit of a relief.
In other news, Sarah still worries about Kiki having to leave her mommy and daddy. We talked to her about that for a while. No, she's probably not about to forget, but we hope to convince her that it's just a movie! She asked if she could watch the movie without feeling bad when she's older. When she's ten, she asked. She had said something cute and quotable earlier in the evening that I was thinking of posting here, but in all the stress later on, I forgot about it. I still need to put a tape in the little cassette recorder and see if I can place it quietly outside her room and get her to sing and "play" her guitar. (Would that I had put a tape in a year or so back when she used to talk to herself on her way to sleep. Priceless.) But I'm just as glad I'm not recording her anxieties, poor kid.
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