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HISTORY PART 2
The Proprietorship of the Rock Point Amusement Co.
1905-1911 |
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On March 6, 1905 an agreement for the lease of the Rock Point grounds was signed between the Pittsburgh Company (operators of the P.Y. & A. Railroad) and the Rock Point Amusement Company. The lease was for a period of 10 years "commencing October 1st, 1904 and ending September 30th, 1914."
A blueprint showing the 140 acre park grounds was incorporated in the lease. The only facilities shown were a hotel, 2 dance halls, a dining hall, roller coaster, merry-go- round, photograph gallery & lunch counter. |
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Lease Highlights: |
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Lease Between the Pennsylvania Co. & the Rock Point Amusement. Co. |
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The rent was $2,750.00 per year. |
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Gambling & alcoholic beverages were prohibited. |
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Park was to be closed daily at 8:00 PM & all day Sunday. |
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Excursions to the park had to be over lines operated by the Pennsylvania Co. |
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The lessee was required to "employ only persons to conduct its amusement business who are of good repute and who will maintain the highest possible standard as a pleasure resort for churches, schools and other reputable organizations and societies and to see that all of said employees who shall come in contact with the public shall be courteous and gentlemanly in manner" . |
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Blueprint of grounds leased to the Rock Point Amusement Co. in 1905 |
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New features to be provided "at once" were
Two Rustic Pavilions.
Woman's Cottage, with matron in charge.
Tennis Courts.
Croquet Grounds.
Boat House & Boat Landing.
Swing Carousel
Three-way Toboggan.
Miniature Railroad.
Helter Skelter.
Row Boats on River.
Mechanical Swings.
Cave of the Winds.
House of Trouble.
Ferris Wheel.
Baseball Grounds.
Fences, Walks, Utilities etc. |
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Portion of the blueprint showing the park facilities in 1905. |
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PARK CLOSED |
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The park ceased operation at the end of the 1911 season. The lease is marked "Cancelled Dec. 31, 1911". The only public notice of the closing was in the Ellwood Citizen of May 11, 1912. No mention of organized events there later than August 1911 were found in the Ellwood Citizen.Various reasons and dates for the closure have been given in other reports, including fires in 5 different years. The Ellwood Citizen of April 22, 1915 reported that a fire of unknown origin destroyed the abandoned dancing pavillion & hotel. |
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The May 1912 Ellwood Citizen report of the park closing. |
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