Crescent Park (defunct amusement park)

For the community of Crescent Park in Kentucky, see Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
Crescent Park
Location Riverside, Rhode Island, U.S.A.
Coordinates 41°45′22″N 71°21′28″W / 41.756144°N 71.357833°W / 41.756144; -71.357833Coordinates: 41°45′22″N 71°21′28″W / 41.756144°N 71.357833°W / 41.756144; -71.357833
Opened 1886
Closed 1979 (carousel remains operational)
Operating season Easter-Columbus Day (carousel)

Crescent Park was a famous amusement park in Riverside, East Providence, Rhode Island from 1886-1979. During the park's 93-year run, it entertained millions of New Englanders as well as people from all over the world. The park was famous for its sumptuous Rhode Island Shore Dinners and the beautiful Alhambra Ballroom as well as its enchanting midway. Declining attendance during the 1970s forced the park to close. The land was cleared for a condominium development. The only remaining amusement ride is the completely restored 1895-vintage Crescent Park Looff Carousel, designed and built by Charles I.D. Looff as a showpiece for his carousel business.

History

19th century

Crescent Park was founded in 1886 by George B. Boyden, who leased land on Narragansett Bay from the John Davis, the owner of the Bullock's Point Hotel which sat above a bathing beach on the Bay. Several years later Boyden purchased the hotel and changed its name to the Crescent Park Hotel which continued to be operated until 1935, when it was razed to make room for a parking lot for the park. Boyden named the park after the crescent shape of the beach.

In 1892, carousel builder Charles I. D. Looff installed the park's first carousel. The ride's building was built on columns over the beach next to the 400' pier that was used by steamboats traveling up and down Narragansett Bay and the Providence River. In 1895, Looff built a second carousel for the park, now known as the Crescent Park Looff Carousel. The ride has 61 hand-carved horses, 1 camel, 4 chariots and a spectacular German band organ built by A. Ruth & Sohn. This carousel has been renovated, restored and is running to this day.

A shore dinner hall was built on the bluff overlooking the Bay. The Riverside area had become well known for its many hotels, campsites and clam bake sites. Rhode Island Indian-Style Shore Dinners consisted of steamed clams, clam cakes, Rhode Island clam chowder, Maine lobster, fish, corn, watermelon and all the trimmings.*

This is a view across Bullock's Point Avenue, around 1905, looking at the top of the midway with the 1895 Looff Carousel on the left, a scenic railway behind the carousel and Looff's Toboggan Race on the right. In the background is the Alhambra Ballroom, the Bamboo Slide and the Shoot-the-Chutes.

20th century

In 1900, LeMarcus Thompson built a scenic railway next to the Looff carousel. The following year, Boyden sold the park to the Dexter Brothers of the Hope Land Company, with Colonel R.A. Harrington acting as park manager. In 1902, a huge exhibition hall (326'x 122'x 49') was build on the midway, and was used by The New England Association for Arts and Crafts for their annual exposition. The hall was subsequently turned into the Alhambra Ballroom.

In 1905, Charles I. D. Looff moved his carousel factory from Brooklyn to Crescent Park, where he designed and built many carousel for parks in New England and around the United States. He also began to use the Crescent Park carousel as a showcase for his business. During this time, Looff built a tunnel-of-love ride called The Rivers of Venice

In 1910, Looff moved to Long Beach, California and established a second factory there. His son Charles, Jr. and daughter Helen managed the company's Crescent Park operations after their father left.

Charles Looff, Jr. oversaw several renovations to the park, including the construction of a new shore dinner hall in 1914, and renovations to the Alhambra Ballroom in 1920. In 1916, Looff, Jr. built a 150'excursion boat named the Miss Looff after his younger sister who had been killed in a trolley accident in New York. In 1920, he purchased the park from the Hope Land Company.

In 1922, Looff Jr. began to operate a radio station, WKAD, on the park grounds. Following Looff, Jr.'s death in 1925, Beacon Manufacturing Company purchased the park after his estate defaulted on mortgage payments.

The park was damaged by the 1938 New England Hurricane, with the pier and Comet roller coaster sustaining the most damage. Both were subsequently rebuilt. In 1951, the park was purchased by a group of park concessionaires led by Arthur R. Simmons and Frederick McCusker for $329,390. Many improvements were made during the next 15 years. New rides, such as the Flying fish (Wild Mouse), the Satellite (Roundup), a Turnpike Ride, a 1860s Train Ride and a Sky Ride were added, food operations were improved, and free entertainment was offered to the public.The park exchanged hands again in 1966, when it was bought by three Providence investors, Melvin Berry, Max Sugarman and Joe Paolino. Three years after the purchase, on September 2, 1969, the Alhambra Ballroom burned down.

Final years (1975-1979)

In 1975, the park's ownership group, Crescent Park Recreation Corporation, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Hartford National Bank took over the park, and hired Gilbane Properties to operate it during 1976 and 1977.

Concern over the future of the park's carousel grew during rumours that the park would be closed and auctioned off. That year, the "Save Our Carousel Committee" was formed by several Riverside residents, who, after a long legal battle, successfully saved the carousel. The park closed permanently after the 1977 season.

In 1979, the Crescent Park property and rides, except the carousel, was sold at auction.

After closure and preservation of carousel (1980-present)

Crescent Park Looff Carousel

Part of the midway was destroyed by a fire in March, 1980. In 1982, the Kelly & Picerne real estate firm purchased the park property from the City of East Providence for $825,000 for residential development. However, they agreed to preserve the carousel and beach. The shore dining hall burned down in another fire in July, 1984.

The renovated carousel was reopened on July 17, 1984. In 1985, it was named "The State Jewel of American Folk Art" by the Rhode Island General Assembly. It was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1987. The carousel's foundation was rebuilt in 2000 following a $150,000 "Save America's Treasures" grant from The National Trust for Historic Preservation. The ring gear, original to the ride, was replaced in 2010.

See also

References

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