Splish Splash

Many amusement parks today include a water park on their grounds to attract pleasure seekers looking for a fun way to cool off. At nearby Idlewild Park, in Ligonier, PA, the western lake-end along Route 30 is known as “SoakZone” and features a new wave pool called the “Wowabunga.” While Rock Springs Park never had a specific area exclusively set up and advertised as a “water park”, it did have a number of water-related attractions including the Crystal Pool, the Lake, the Shoot-the-Chutes ride with Splash Lagoon, and several cooling fountains and lily ponds.

Mirrored Rotating Fountain



Lily Pond

 

Shoot-the-Chutes

The Crystal Pool and Lake

The Lake: Before and After

According to Billboard, June 7, 1952, manager Robert L. Hand ordered a full-scale operation to fill in the lake at Rock Springs Park “in order to provide additional picnic space.” The work was done prior to the 1952 summer season.

So, just how significantly was the lake drained? See for yourself in these before and after photographs. Notice the group of trees from Bower Island still clustered in the open field in the late 60s.


Rock Springs Park Lake circa 1927 (Courtesy of Richard L. Bowker).

Rock Springs Park Lake 1968 (Courtesy of Rich Brookes).

Lake Safety Feature Never Installed

While resarching for my book, Images of America: Rock Springs Park, I became obsessed with finding out what was written on the big white sign on the island (pictured above). At the last minute, my friend, Dick Bowker, found a postcard picture at the Three Rivers Postcard Club and let me scan it. The scan was clear enough that I could zoom in and read the sign. See what it says in my book on page 38.

In the Winter 1985 Edition of West Virginia’s Goldenseal Magazine, Susan Weaver wrote in her wonderful article “Rock Springs Park: A Panhandle Playground” that originally the lake in the park, constructed under the ownership of C.A. Smith at a cost of $50,000 in 1900, was to be no deeper than three feet at any point. “The plans required a lattice work to be installed in any deeper spot.” Weaver goes on to conclude, “Nonetheless, there were several drownings, suggesting that the lattice was never constructed.”

I provided an account of a drowning in the pool at Rock Springs Park in a blog post dated March 26, 2011. In it, I retold the drowning of Fred Schoen, “Schoen, aged 20 years, was drowned while swimming in the pool at Rock Springs Park. Schoen ventured into the deep section of the pool and when last seen was sitting on the sidewalk. Apparently his body had been submerged at least 15 minutes before he was discovered missing.” But I had not come across any drowning stories that took place in the lake.

However, this story from The Pittsburgh Press - August 6, 1908 entitled, “Oakdale Couple Nearly Drowned,” dramatically illustrates Weaver’s assumption that Smith’s 3-foot safety barrier was never installed as planned.

The Pittsburgh Press - August 6, 1908

Oakdale Couple Nearly Drowned

Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Fox, of Oakdale, had a narrow escape from drowning, yesterday, in the lake at Rock Springs Park, W.Va. He is a well-known real estate agent at Oakdale and, along with his wife, was participating in the Union picnic from Oakdale.

In the afternoon the couple was bathing in the lake, when Mrs. Fox was seized with cramps and called for assistance. Her husband responded, but when he reached her she caught hold of him and he was powerless to swim and both sank. As they were going down for the second time, they were noticed by Frank Lillo, lumber dealer, Oakdale, who went to their assistance and brought both to shore.

On touching land again, Mrs. Fox fainted. After some time, however, she was revived and both returned to their home last evening.

Although he doesn’t give a full accounting, another of my favorite sources, Roy C. Cashdollar, stated in his book, The History of Chester: The Gateway to the West, that there was a record of six deaths during the existence of Rock Springs Park. “There were four in the old mill, one on the swings, and one on the Cyclone.” He also mentioned “two drownings (in the lake) and several near drownings in the park pool.”

Lake Drained in 1952 to Add Picnic Grounds in Lower Park

This grassy area was once part of the lake at Rock Springs Park. (1970)










According to Billboard, June 7, 1952, manager Robert L. Hand ordered a full-scale operation to fill in the lake at Rock Springs Park “in order to provide additional picnic space.” The work was done prior to the 1952 summer season. Two new rides were also added at that time – the Bisch-Rocco Kiddie Airplane (pictured) and the B.A. Schiff Kiddie Boat Ride (pictured). The 3.5-acre lake was created fifty-two years earlier by then-owner C.A. Smith at a cost of $50,000. In 1906 a report by The United States Bureau of Fisheries under the subject “the propagation and distribution of food fishes ,” reported that the lake at Rock Springs was stocked with 150 “fingerlings, yearlings, and adult” large-mouth black bass. Of course, those who remember the lake in later years saw it substantially reduced in size with only small fish and no boating (see picture). What remained of the lake was drained in 1974-75 when the park was razed to make way for the redirection of Route 30 and the approach to the new Jennings Randolph Bridge.






Kiddie Airplanes and Kiddie Boats in Rock Springs Park (1968)

Rock Springs Fills Lake to Provide New Picnic Area

On June 7, 1952, Billboard Magazine reported that Director Robert L. Hand chose to fill in a portion of the lake in Rock Springs Park. The swimming pool near the lake had been closed since WWII.

Chester, W. Va., May 31 – Filling of the lake in order to provide additional picnic space marked the pre-season activities at Rock Springs Park here, according to Manager R.L. Hand. The park began full-scale operation Monday (May 20) after being open for week-ends since May 4.
Two new rides also were added at the park. They are a Bisch-Rocco Kiddie Airplane and a B.A. Schiff Kiddie Boat Ride. Picnic bookings are up. Fireworks are scheduled for holidays.

(above image coutesy of Richard Bowker)