Eldora Park

Eldora Park was an amusement park that opened in 1904 in Eldora, Pennsylvania. It survived for three decades before closing from poor economics and declining attendance.

Eldora Park was located in the Black Diamond area of Carroll Township between Charleroi, Donora and Monongahela in Washington County. It was on the Pittsburgh Railways Company's interurban trolley that ran from Roscoe to Pittsburgh. It was a popular location for outings for mine worker unions, schools, and community associations and for family reunions.

The park had a merry-go-round, roller coaster, motion picture tent called the "Electric Theatre", slides, swings, picnic tables, a restaurant, and a dance pavilion.

The park's Figure Eight roller coaster is believed to have been designed by Frederick Ingersoll, a native Pittsburgher who designed, built, and operated a roller coaster at Kennywood Park called the Figure Eight.Paglia, Ron. [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_482040.html Eldora Park was big part of area's history] . "Tribune-Review", December 3, Retrieved on December 9, 2006.]

The amusement park declined in the 20's and the dance hall remained hosting big bands in the 30's including Lawrence Welk, Frank Lombardo, and The Golden Gate Five, a popular local band. Steve Woodward, Guy Moffitt and Tom Sloan were financial backers credited with building the park on property formerly owned by the Wickerham family, one of the pioneer families in the area.

The Depression, World War II, declining ridership on the trolley, and interest in other forms of entertainment are all credited with the park's demise.

The dance hall was used as a roller skating rink before the park closed in the 1940s.

The park was chartered to the Charleroi Girl Scouts in the mid 40's and used as a day camp called [http://eldorapark.com/charwood.htm Camp Charwood] into the 1970s.

Noteworthy Events

*March, 1904 - Stockholders announced plan to open May 30th [ Beautiful Eldora, "The Daily Independent", March 24, 1904, http://NewspaperARCHIVE.com, Retrieved on April 27, 2008. ]
*July 9, 1905 - Carrie Nation delivered two lectures. On the street car on her way to Pittsburgh from Eldora Park after her lectures, Nation caused a scene that was reported in all the local newspapers. She ripped off and tore to pieces an advertisement for beer that originally read "Drunk by all nations" that had been altered by a practical joker to read "Drunk by Carrie nation." [Objected to the Sign, "The Daily Independent", July 10, 1905, http://NewspaperARCHIVE.COM, Retrieved on May 18, 2008.]
*September 24, 1911, Gertrude Breslau Hunt, socialist lecturer and author from Chicago spoke [You Can't Afford to Miss This: Gertrude Breslau Hunt (advertisement), "The Daily Independent", September 23, 1911, http://NewspaperARCHIVE.com, Retrieved on May 18, 2008.]
*June 8, 1913, Mother Jones (at age 81) spoke at Tri-County (Washington, Westmoreland, and Fayette) association of Socialists event ["Mother" Jones Scores West Va. Coal Barons, "The Charleroi Mail", June 6, 1913, http://NewspaperARCHIVE.com, Retrieved on May 25, 2008.]
*June 4, 1939 Lawrence Welk and orchestra performed [Lawrence Welk and Orchestra at Eldora, "The Daily Independent", June 3, 1939, http://NewspaperARCHIVE.com, Retrieved on May 18, 2008.]
*May, 1946 - Girl Scouts plan to open camp in June. Buildings purchased and land leased by Girl Scouts. [Local Girl Scouts Lease Eldora Park, "The Charleroi Mail", May 3, 1946, http://NewspaperARCHIVE.com, Retrieved on May 18, 2008.]
*June 19, 1946 - Girl Scout summer camp opened [Charwood Day Camp Will Open Tomorrow, "The Charleroi Mail", June 23, 1947, http://NewspaperARCHIVE.com, Retrieved on May 18, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://eldorapark.com Eldora Park]