Captain Homer Smith Announces All-Day Ride to RSP

Wednesday, June 6, 1928

The Sun Telegraph announced that Captain Homer Smith planned an all-day ride of 100 miles to Rock Springs Park, Chester, W.Va., on July 4, aboard his steamship The Homer Smith. See it at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2010/08/beautiful-steamboats.html.

Fire at the Old Mill

Saturday, June 5, 1915

Fire swept the Old Mill ride at Rock Springs Park taking the lives of three children who were attending a school picnic day. Read more at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/03/accidents-and-injuries-at-rock-springs.html.

Charley James Orchestra Played for Dancing

Thursday, June 4, 1936
 
On this date, Charley James and his renowned radio orchestra played for dancing at Rock Springs Park. James and his Orchestra had established "a coast to coast reputation due to their broadcasting activities from the nations leading stations," according to the Daily Times, June 3, 1936.
 
Wednesday, June 4, 1958
 
And later on this date, two boat excursions were scheduled on the Ohio River by the New Brighton Board of Trade and the Lions Clubs to Rock Springs Park, Chester, WV. Read the article at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/01/riverboat-excursions-to-rsp-continued.html.

Impromptu Parking

Rock Springs Park was designed as a trolley park and to that end never truly established parking areas for customers arriving by automobile.   

As early as 1908 automobiles carried patrons to the park but parking was limited to found space. At first, as seen in this postcard image, that meant parking along the trolley loop near the lower entrance.

When the park was re-imagined by C.C. Macdonald in the mid to late 1920s an upper entrance was added under the third hill of his new Cyclone Roller Coaster. The aerial photograph below clearly illustrates that the trolley loop all the way back to the lake and bath house was used for parking, as was the area near the Chester High School to access the upper entrance gate.

Black Model Ts line the trolley loop and lower picnic park to the lake, as well as, near the high school to the west.



The series of photographs which follow shows that this trend continued into the late 1960s until the park closed in 1970. Most travelers from Pennsylvania parked near the lower entrance as it was the first one they encountered along Route 30. While those traveling from southern West Virginia along Route 2 or across the Chester Bridge from Ohio may have used the upper entrance more often.

Rock Springs by Boat

Saturday, June 2, 1910

The Daily Times reported on this date, "There is a fine bill at the Hippodrome, Rock Springs Park, this week, any of the acts being well worth the price of admission, including Carl Daman Family, Sensational Acrobats; the Orloff Troupe of Famous Russian Gymnasts and Roberti’s Bears, Dogs and Monkeys.”

Monday, June 2, 1913

The Ohio and Mississippi Navigation Company operated the beautiful Steamer Steel City on a specially conducted excursion Decoration Day (Memorial Day) to Rock Springs Park, the most popular summer park in this section. "Thousands of dollars have been spent in beautifying and adding new attractions. Tickets on sale at wharfboat, foot of Wood St. 75 cents round trip. Boat leaves 8 a.m., returning in evening." (The Pittsburg [sic] Press, May 28, 1913.)

Decoration Day originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. Southern ladies organizations and southern schoolchildren had decorated Confederate graves in Richmond and other cities during the Civil War, but each region had its own date. Most dates were in May. However, in 1913, it fell on the first Monday in June.

Rocereto's Concert Band Played at the Hippodrome

Wednesday, June 1, 1910


The Daily Times, of Beaver, Pa. - There is a fine bill at the Hippodrome, Rock Springs Park, thus week, any of the acts being well worth the price of admission, including Carl Daman Family, Sensational Acrobats; the OrloffTroupe of Famous Russian Gymnasts; Johnston Davenport and Lorella, in "The Football Players and the Farmer"(a vaudeville playlet), and Roberti's Bears, Dogs and Monkeys. The music is by Rocerto's Concert Band. Performances are given every evening. Sacred concerts Sunday afternoon and evening. The latest appropriate moving pictures included in the Sunday evening bill. Read more at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/02/hippodrome-mystery-remains-unanswered.html .

Friday, June 1, 1928

Members of the Lincoln High School Girls' Club greatly enjoyed a hike and trolley ride from Midland, PA, to Chester, W.Va, on this date. “Originally,” according to the Daily Times, June 4, "the club planned to hike the entire distance, but in the end the trip was made by foot and trolley car. An enjoyable day was spent at the park."

Yesterday In RSP History

Monday, May 31, 1897

Just three days after its inauguration, a trolley carried people from Liverpool to the grand opening of Rock Springs Park on Memorial Day 1897. The trolley bridge remains are now the Dr. David S. Pugh Memorial Overlook. Read more at http://rockspringspark.blogspot.com/2011/06/chester-bridge-overlook.html.

Friday, May 31, 1940

Rochester School Picnic. Excursion to Rock Springs Park sponsored by the Rochester Band Mothers and Kunsman Brothers Jewelers for the benefit of the Rochester High School Band. Leave Rochester at 9:30 a.m. and Return at 10:00 p.m. Arrive at the Park at 12:30 p.m. and Leave 7:00 p.m. (Daylight Savings Time) Round Trip Fare: Adults 50 cents, Students 25 cents. Free dancing to Fate Marable and his "Madcap Cotton Pickers." Come along and help boost the band! Tickets on sale at Hetzel Drug Store and Gordon's Pharmacy in Rochester, Edwards' Pharmacy, Freedom and Citizen's Pharmacy, Monaca. (The Daily Times, May 29, 1940.)