Rochester Excursion Threatened

For two days in August 1936 headlines in the Daily Times of Beaver, PA, warned of the possibility that the annual Rochester Businessmen's picnic to Rock Springs Park might be cancelled due to the steamship on which the group was to travel being severely damaged in an accident just hours before the event. The large bold print declaring “Ride Cancelled” was very upsetting to area residents as their picnic was the highlight of the year. All Businesses in fact planned to close and the whole town was scheduled to attend.

According to the paper, “Officers of the Rochester Businessmen's Association anxiously awaited the outcome of an inspection of the Ohio River excursion steamer Washington to determine whether or not the craft will be available for the annual Rochester community boat ride and outing scheduled for Wednesday, August 19.” The boat was severely damaged when it crashed into the lower lock gate at U.S. Lock No. 8 near Newell, WV. Her hold began filling up with water and all 650 passengers were immediately evacuated. The Captain explained that he was returning the excursionists to Wheeling after their day at Rock Springs Park. A special train was dispatched from the Pennsylvania Railroad in Pittsburgh to carry them home that evening.

The inspection of the steamer Washington found that a pin had sheared off the ship's reversing gear as she was passing through the lock. It was expected that she would be repaired at Neville Island in time for participation in the celebration of the Montgomery Island Dam to be held on August 29, but not in time for the Rochester Picnic. The businessmen quickly set to work making other arrangements for transportation to Rock Springs. The outing would continue as planned but excursionists would have to rely on private automobiles and buses.

“Lower valley children and adults who for weeks have been looking forward to the annual outing will not be denied the picnic pleasures despite the accident that has prevented use of the Steamer Washington in transporting the picnickers to Rock Springs Park," The Daily Times reported on August 18. "Carefully laid plans for the picnic dashed almost on the very eve of the affair. Oliver Kunsman, chairman, announced that the picnic would be held as scheduled with the complete program to take place. The exodus of Rochester and the lower valley residents will start early in the morning and continue until mid-afternoon. The merrymakers with their well filled baskets will travel either by bus or by private automobiles. Buses to the park will operate on regular schedules between Beaver and East Liverpool where the picnickers may transfer to Chester-bound streetcars. The picnic committee also announced that all persons who had purchased boat ride tickets may obtain refunds."

Fourth of July a Big Day at the Park

The Fourth of July was the biggest day of the year at Rock Springs Park for many decades. Some of the more notable July 4 events are featured in today’s patriotic installment of “This Day in Rock Springs Park History.”


Monday, July 4, 1927

Former owner C.A. Smith commented that the crowd attending the Fourth at Rock Springs Park in the new Macdonald Era was “the largest he had ever seen within the gates of the park at the noon hour.” But was Macdonald the new owner or just the lessee? Read more at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/03/70000-buys-park-in-1950.html.

Friday, July 4, 1930

"Rock Springs Fete"

"Doc" Perkins and his Iowans will play for dancing at Rock Springs Park tomorrow, and the Conley Trio will put on its high pole act, with fireworks display to close the Independence Day celebration. Bob Fisher and his Five Fearless Flyers will open an engagement at the park next week. (The Pittsburgh Press, July 3, 1930.)

Saturday, July 4, 1936

Excursion to Rock Springs Park on Steamer Washington. Leave Pittsburgh 9:00 a.m. Return 11:00 p.m. Arrive at Park 2:00 p.m. and Leave 5:00 p.m. Daylight Savings Time. Adult $1.00 Round Trip Fare, Children 50 cents. Celebrate the 4th on the Ohio. Dancing, entertainment, cafeterias serving lunch and refreshments. (The Pittsburgh Press, June 26, 1936.)


Sunday, July 4, 1954

Safe crackers make off with $8000 in Fourth of July receipts after breaking into the Rock Springs Park office and old fashioned double-door safe. Read the article at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2010/08/safe-crackers-enjoy-picnic-in-rock.html.

Moonlight and Rock Springs

Sunday, June 24, 1928

A Cruise to “Rock Springs Park and Moonlight” aboard the Super Steamer Washington was taken on this day in Rock Springs Park History. The day trip left Rochester at 11:30 a.m. and returned by 6:30 p.m, but there was also an evening voyage. Fare for the day was only $1.00. An advertisement for both excursions ran in The Daily Times, June 23, 1928. “Take the family on this interesting and educational trip,” the ad began. “Passing through immense government locks where you are raised and lowered twenty feet. Rock Springs Park is noted for its natural beauty, 2 cafeterias serving lunch and refreshments. Moonlight Trip leaves Rochester 8:15 p.m. and returns 11:30 p.m. Fare only 75 cents. Elders celebrate deluxe orchestra and beautiful roof garden.”

Accidental Drowning

Thursday, June 19, 1913

On this date in Rock Springs Park History, Fred Shone, aged 20 years, drowned while swimming in the pool at Rock Springs Park. Read more at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/10/setting-record-straight-part-1.html.

Sunday, June 19, 1927

Also on this date in 1927, residents of Rochester, Pa, took a "Moonlight Excursion" on the Steamer Washington to Rock Springs.

For a round trip fare of $1.00 excursionists were carried to "Nature's Most Beautiful Park." The steamer advertised 2 cafeterias, popular prices, and 6 spacious decks. Elder's Dreamland Orchestra played on the "Beautiful Roof Garden" during this "Event of the Season."

Say Hello to Summer Fun!

One of the fondest childhood memories shared by dozens of fans of Rock Springs Park at book signings and on the Web is of finding park tickets in their final report card envelopes. It’s a part of growing up in Chester and the surrounding area that I and my generation missed out on and one, I have to admit, of which I was a little jealous, until I realized that I have experienced a similar thrill in my adult life.


For twelve years I have been employed as a teacher with the Greater Latrobe School District and for each of those years I have found a small white envelope containing reduced price tickets to Idlewild Park in nearby Ligonier in my teacher mailbox. It’s one of many exciting signs that the school year is winding down and summer fun is just around the corner. School and community picnics like the one to be held at Idlewild on June 9 were also a huge part of Rock Springs Park’s success.


One-time Rock Springs Park booking manager, John Hickey told the Pittsburgh Press on May 16, 1954, “Over half of the picnics arranged at the park were for school children,” adding, “Youngsters of today behave exactly as they did when I began 33 years ago.”

In June of 1909, The Daily Times, Beaver, PA, reported that students were charged a uniform rate of 50 cents “in order that they may enjoy a more exclusive evening” on the night of their school picnic. At that time the main source of transportation to community days were trolley lines provided by the Ohio Valley Scenic Railway. Specials ran straight through to the park while regular cars required a transfer in East Liverpool. Tickets were sold at half price to all school children. These special trolley cars continued to carry picnickers to and from the park until 1934 when bus lines were then used.

Manager C.C. Macdonald in a “gesture of friendliness toward the community” in 1932 provided transportation to Rock Springs Park via special cars at “no charge” and gave each child five free amusement tickets. He also created “Bargain Day” the day before the community picnic in which all ride tickets were half price. The Daily Times stated, “Macdonald has always had a fine reputation for handling of large groups and the park employees are men who have been in this type of work for years and are noted for the way they handle children.”

In 1935, school students from Beaver, PA enjoyed a boat ride aboard the steamer, Washington, for their annual school outing. The steamer, capacity 2,000, had been carrying picnickers to the park since 1928. At that time there was an eight-piece orchestra, free dancing, and free ice cream onboard. Boat tickets in the twenties were priced at 15 cents for students and each child received four amusement tickets on the boat in addition to the number bought at school. “Price of amusement tickets at school or on the boat is two for five cents,” said the Daily Times. The Washington was eventually replaced by the new steamer, St. Paul, in 1937.


In June, when school is out for me, I will be thinking of those youngsters from a hundred years ago racing out of school with report card envelopes in their back pockets and strips of park tickets in the fists. It’s hard for me to imagine what it must have been like to have whole towns close down for a day of fun at Rock Springs Park as the article below from June 25, 1927 suggests, but is not difficult to imagine the thrill of school ending and summer fun beginning with the thoughts of all the smells, thrills, and excitement of a day at the park.