Couple Elope from Rock Springs

At the dawn of the 20th Century, many couples were wed in Rock Springs Park. Ceremonies were conducted atop the Shoot-the-Chutes Bridge.

I have read several newspaper articles featuring weddings held in the outdoors at Rock Springs Park. Two such stories and photographs appear in my book, Images of America: Rock Springs Park. The first, at the top of page 12, is of a wedding party posing casually in the park in 1889 and the second, on the book’s dedication page, a couple being married under a white canopy on the arched bridge which spanned the Shoot-the-Chutes Ride in 1908. Below, however, is an article from the Youngstown Vindicator from August 10, 1902, that tells of a couple eloping from Rock Springs Park and being married “over the wire” in Lisbon, Ohio.

All that remains of the Shoots Ride Bridge are the cement supports that were partially buried under landfill and used to line the drive of the log house when it was moved to its present location in 1974.Fact: The first telephone call was made by Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, when he called to his assistant, Thomas Watson: "Mr. Watson--come here--I want to see you." on March 10, 1876.