14 Dec 2014 063
This aging, but magnificent staircase once connected a dance pavilion to the the White City Lake (now Spring Lake) and is all that remains of the White City Amusement Park. A trolley company that ran a line into the area, bought up some land that was used for picnicking that including a lake. In 1907 they opened the amusement park. During the late 1800s and early 1900s it was not uncommon for railroads and in this case, a trolley company, to build amusement parks to increase ridership on their lines. The Bellewood Park (1904-16) that existed in Pattenburg (HuntCo), NJ for example, was built by the Leigh High Valley Railroad. The White City Park, here on the marsh boasted a water flume ride that started in the bluffs (visible above the staircase) and ended in the lake, a roller coaster, a scenic railroad, a carousel and much more! Sadly, by the late 1920s the park had been shut down. While hiking we saw concrete footings that were probably from one of the rides. The name "White City Park" was given to many amusement parks both here and in the UK.
FMI on The White City Amusement Park in Trenton, NJ: www.marsh-friends.org/cultural-history-and-archeology/whi...
FMI on White City Parks: en.wikipedia.org/wi…/White_City_%28amusement_parks%29
14 Dec 2014 063
This aging, but magnificent staircase once connected a dance pavilion to the the White City Lake (now Spring Lake) and is all that remains of the White City Amusement Park. A trolley company that ran a line into the area, bought up some land that was used for picnicking that including a lake. In 1907 they opened the amusement park. During the late 1800s and early 1900s it was not uncommon for railroads and in this case, a trolley company, to build amusement parks to increase ridership on their lines. The Bellewood Park (1904-16) that existed in Pattenburg (HuntCo), NJ for example, was built by the Leigh High Valley Railroad. The White City Park, here on the marsh boasted a water flume ride that started in the bluffs (visible above the staircase) and ended in the lake, a roller coaster, a scenic railroad, a carousel and much more! Sadly, by the late 1920s the park had been shut down. While hiking we saw concrete footings that were probably from one of the rides. The name "White City Park" was given to many amusement parks both here and in the UK.
FMI on The White City Amusement Park in Trenton, NJ: www.marsh-friends.org/cultural-history-and-archeology/whi...
FMI on White City Parks: en.wikipedia.org/wi…/White_City_%28amusement_parks%29