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.
Saturday, September 29, 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.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Book Talk at the Orchards
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.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
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.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
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.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
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."
650 Million Brings Instant History
This is the whole Dentzel carousel from Rock Springs Park in Chester, WV. It measures 50 feet in diameter with 48 replacement animals. The trim is still all in original paint. It is a deluxe machine with a full ceiling kit from the factory (a very rare upgrade from the Dentzel factory). The only other deluxe original paint Dentzel machine is Glen Echo Park in Maryland owned by the Federal Government. This machine is the only one in private hands and was the last carousel ever made by the Dentzel carousel company in 1927. It has only operated in one place its whole life and has been in storage since the 70's. The picture of the whole machine was taken just prior to its removal. The original animals were sold off in the 90's. We are offering the machine with a complete set of new Dentzel horses and menagerie pieces. Being sold in “as is” condition as removed from the park and the animals needing paint. This is a true piece of American history on a budget. This machine in complete with the original animals fully restored would be in the 3 to 4 million dollar range. Even with replacement animals restored this is still a 2 million dollar machine when finished. We can provide a full restoration if needed. You can see our work at carousel.com we have been performing museum restorations on carousels for over 30 years. Most of the replacement animals are pieces made from the famous Dentzel Lagoon carousel from Knotts Berry Farm. The pieces were made from molds taken from the original animals. Some of the finest animals ever made by the Dentzel company. This machine brings instant history to any location it goes.
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