Eldora Park
Encyclopedia
Eldora Park was an amusement park
that opened in 1901 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, 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 and opened Luna Park, Pittsburgh
in 1905.
The popularity of Eldora Park's amusement park declined in the 1920s, while the dance hall continued to host big band
s through the 1930s. Lawrence Welk
, Frank Lombardo, and The Golden Gate Five (a popular local band) were among the headliner
s. 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 Camp Charwood into the 1970s.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
that opened in 1901 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
Carroll Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Carroll Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,677 at the 2000 census.Carroll Township is strongly allied with the City of Monongahela and the boroughs of Donora and New Eagle...
between Charleroi
Charleroi, Pennsylvania
Charleroi is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, along the Monongahela River, 25 miles south of Pittsburgh. Charleroi was settled in 1890 and incorporated in 1891. The population in 1900 stood at 5,930; in 1910, 9,615; in 1920, 11,516, and in 1940, 10,784...
, Donora
Donora, Pennsylvania
Donora is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh on the Monongahela river. Donora was incorporated in 1901. Donora got its name from a combination of William Donner and Nora Mellon, banker Andrew W. Mellon's wife. Agriculture, coal-mining, steel-making, wire-making, and...
and Monongahela
Monongahela, Pennsylvania
Monongahela, colloquially called "Mon City," is a Third Class City in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, located approximately south of the city proper. The population was 4,761 at the 2000 census...
in Washington County
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
. It was on the Pittsburgh Railways
Pittsburgh Railways
Pittsburgh Railways was one of the predecessors of the Port Authority of Allegheny County. It had 666 PCC cars, the third largest fleet in North America. It had 68 street car routes, of which only three are used by the Port Authority as light rail routes...
Company's interurban trolley that ran from Roscoe
Roscoe, Pennsylvania
Roscoe is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 848 at the 2000 census.-History:The Allenport & Roscoe Street Railway was formed in 1903 and was purchased by Pittsburgh Railways to form part of their interurban line to Pittsburgh in 1906. The extension to...
to Pittsburgh. It was a popular location for outings for mine worker unions, schools, 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
Frederick Ingersoll
Frederick Ingersoll was an inventor, designer, and builder who created the world's first chain of amusement parks and whose manufacturing company built 277 roller coasters, fueling the popularity of trolley parks in the first third of the Twentieth Century...
, a native Pittsburgher who designed, built, and operated a roller coaster at Kennywood
Kennywood
Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The park first opened in 1898 as a "trolley park" at the end of the Monongahela Street Railway. The park was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan and thus began the Kennywood...
Park called the Figure Eight and opened Luna Park, Pittsburgh
Luna Park, Pittsburgh
Luna Park was an amusement park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, from 1905 to 1909. Constructed and owned by Frederick Ingersoll, the park occupied a 16 acre hilly site bounded by Baum Boulevard, North Craig Street, and Centre Avenue, and included roller coasters, picnic pavilions, carousels, a...
in 1905.
The popularity of Eldora Park's amusement park declined in the 1920s, while the dance hall continued to host big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s through the 1930s. Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
, Frank Lombardo, and The Golden Gate Five (a popular local band) were among the headliner
Headliner
A headliner is a composite material that is adhered to the inside roof of automobiles or yachts. It typically consists of a face fabric with nonwoven or foam backing. Headliners consist of multilayered composite materials that bring together multiple functionalities, including the requested look,...
s. 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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 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 Camp Charwood into the 1970s.
Noteworthy Events
- 1901 - Eldora (land development) was laid out in 1901 by James A. Pahe with an amusement park popular among the people of Monongahela city.
- March, 1904 - Stockholders announced plan to open May 30
- July 9, 1905 - Carrie NationCarrie NationCarrie Amelia Moore Nation was a member of the temperance movement, which opposed alcohol in pre-Prohibition America. She is particularly noteworthy for promoting her viewpoint through vandalism. On many occasions Nation would enter an alcohol-serving establishment and attack the bar with a hatchet...
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." - September 22, 1905, Booker T. WashingtonBooker T. WashingtonBooker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
, spoke at a Monongahela Valley Emancipation Association rally - September 24, 1911, Gertrude Breslau Hunt, socialist lecturer and author from Chicago spoke
- June 8, 1913, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones (at age 81) spoke at Tri-County (Washington, Westmoreland, and Fayette) association of Socialists event
- June 4, 1939 Lawrence WelkLawrence WelkLawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
and orchestra performed - May, 1946 - Girl Scouts plan to open camp in June. Buildings purchased and land leased by Girl Scouts.
- June 19, 1946 - Girl Scout summer camp opened