Rock Springs Park Sold

Thursday, October 7, 1937

The Evening Review reported that Frances D. Schatt of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company is repainting the ponies of the Merry-Go-Round at Rock Springs Park. This would contradict claims, at the time the horses were auctioned off 37 years later, that they were still in their original paint. See them at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/08/trinket-or-tradition.html.

Saturday, October 7, 1950

East Liverpool, Oct. 7 - Charles A. Smith Jr., today announced the sale for $70,000 of Rock Springs Park at nearby Chester, W. Va., to Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Hand, who have managed the 50-year-old amusement resort since 1935. The 45-acre park was established by the retiring owners father Charles A. Smith, in 1898, when Ohio River steamboats carried picnic excursions. (The Youngstown Vindicator, October 7, 1950)

Don't Miss Out!

Rock Springs Park is currently part of a special offer by Arcadia to celebrate the availability of their “Images of America” series on eReaders. A special $2.99 price promotion is being offered now until midnight Tuesday October 1st, 2012.

Johnny Appleseed's Birthday

I missed an entry this week and was reminded by my first grade daughter, when she brought home a map showing the travels of Johnny Appleseed, that Wednesday was his birthday.  John "Johnny Appleseed" Chapman was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, on Monday, September 26, 1774.

According to John Chaney in his 1965 book, The Old Stone House, Chapman very likely passed through Rock Springs Farm on his way to Ohio. His name is carved into a wooden border in the kitchen of the nearly 200-year old stone home familiar to area residents. Read more at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/09/old-stone-house-part-iii.html.

Book Talk at the Orchards

Saturday, September 24, 2011

On this date, Joe Comm gives a book talk at the Orchards at Foxcrest’s Harvest Festival and breaks the number one rule of "showbiz" - NEVER FOLLOW AN ANIMAL ACT! Read all about it at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/10/number-one-rule-of-showbiz.html.

Historical Marker Respotted

Monday, September 22, 1980

On this date, the historical marker honoring Rock Springs Park was respotted from Route 30 to the inbound turn of the Jennings Randolph Bridge off-ramp. Do you know how many times it has been moved? Read http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/06/historical-marker-moved-three-times.html.

Annual Tri-State Exposition and Live Stock Show Kicks Off

Tuesday, September 20, 1910

On this date in history, the Third Annual Tri-State Exposition and Live Stock Show kicked off at Rock Springs Park. An advertisement for the event which appeared on September 10, 1910 in the Daily Times of Beaver, PA, boasted "$5,000 in premiums and $2,000 in prizes, including four Smith & Phillips pianos." Every purchaser of a ticket at the gate was given a number.

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."