Alvin T. Babb

Sunday, September 6, 1998

Alvin T. Babb, 90, died in Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh. Babb established the Royal Rogues of Rhythm who were regularly featured in the Virginia Gardens Ballroom in Rock Springs Park prior to World War II.

A Unique Race and a Daredevil

Saturday, September 5, 1908

A "Champion Fat Men Race" race is run as part of a unique sporting program sponsored by the Pittsburg [sic] Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar. Read the article at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/07/champion-fat-men-race.html.

Monday, September 5, 1910

Daredevil Arthur C. Holden performs high wire and high diving stunts to hundreds of gaping on-lookers at the park. Seethe article and postcard image at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/08/daredevil-holden-appeared-at-rock.html.

BBQ and Ox Roast

Monday, September 4, 1911

On this day in Rock Springs Park history, a Labor Day “big free barbecue and old time ox roast” was held. As always, there was no admission charged to the park but the event offered “lots of new features.”

Coming Soon to Nook!

I just heard from a friend that Images of America: Rock Springs Park is now available for download on Barnes and Noble’s Nook. According to their website, it won’t be available until September 4, 2012, but perhaps some are able to preview it early. Of course it has been available for download on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iBooks since last March. Look out Kindle, here we come!

Laboring on Labor Day

I spent the day yesterday picnicking and boating with my family at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland.


After a quick two and half hour drive from Greensburg, PA, we found ourselves back in “vacationland” with its roadside produce stands, ads for steamed blue grabs and bathers taking one last opportunity to frolic in the sun even as certain trees took on the reds, oranges and yellows of fall.

Watching a family prepare to go boating and another stringing a hammock between to tree trunks, I began to think about the approaching Labor Day Holiday and to ask myself, “When did industrial workers first see more leisure time than their predecessors?”

It turns out that during the period from 1894 to 1915 workers in the United States began to see decrease working hours and Saturday half-day holidays, giving them more free time for leisure activities. Vacations began to be regularly offered to workers, although they were usually unpaid ones. According to America at Leisure, “The monotony of specialized industrial work and the crowding of urban expansion also created a desire in the worker to have leisure time away from his or her job and away from the bustle of the city.”

People responded to this increased allowance of free time by attending a variety of leisure activities both within and away from the city. New resorts like Rock Springs Park quickly spread across the country. These amusement parks offered rides, fun houses, scenes from foreign life, and the latest technological breakthroughs, such as motion pictures.

One other factor which led to this boom in leisure time activities at the end of the 18th and early 19th century was the development of the light bulb. “The installation of electric lighting in the city streets, which made nighttime leisure activities less dangerous for both sexes.” And for all its critics today on conservative talk radio, it was actually the Progressive Movement which was another factor contributing to the increased value of leisure time for workers, as their health and well-being received more attention.

So, when you’re passing the mustard and the plate of sliced watermelon tomorrow, remember the workers of this nation who literally paved the way for your modern lifestyle. Without them, many of us would still be laboring on Labor Day.

Central Trades Assembly

Wednesday, September 1, 1909

On this date in Rock Springs Park history, the Central Trades Assembly Picnic of Washington, Pa., held it's Labor Day picnic.

The Washington, Pa., Central Trades Assembly decided at its regular meeting last night not to hold any celebration in Washington this year on Labor Day, Monday, September 6, but instead to hold a picnic at Rock Springs Park, Chester, W. Va., on Wednesday, September 1.

The round trip rate from Washington and Canonsburg will be $1.25 for adults, and 65 cents for children. Trains leave Washington at 7:05, 7:35 and 8:15 a.m. Returning, will leave the park at 6:00, 7:30 and 8:00 pm.

Tickets will be on sale next Monday, the 23rd., at the Union Labor Journal office, 202 Brown building, opposite the court house; from the committee men, Frank M. King, chairman; Josepa Marble, Thomas Holmes and William C. Black.

There is something new every year at Rock Springs, and as there has been no picnic from Washington to this park in two years, a large crowd is expected from both this place and from Waynesburg and Canonsburg.

The speakers for the picnic will be William Green, of Columbus, Ohio; Charles E. Lawyer, of Wheeling, W.Va., and Van Bittner, of Piitsburg [sic]. (The Washington Reporter, August 19, 1909.)

Special rates from Waynesburg and surrounding points will be announced later.

Out of Stock

Images of America: Rock Springs Park is currently out of stock and going for another printing at Arcadia. Copies are still available at Amazon (only 3 left) or by contacting me (see right) for a personalized signed copy.