Seasons Past
Butler's Alameda Park today is known mostly for its pool and picnic shelters, but between 1901 and 1943, it was home to roller coasters and carousels and had venues that played host to nationally-known entertainers.
Bill May of Butler, an amateur historian who's giving a multimedia lecture in the park's Carousel Shelter on Thursday, said Alameda Park at its start was a trolley park, much like Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh or Waldameer Park in Erie.
“Streetcar companies, such as the Butler Passenger Railway Co., built picnic groves and amusement areas so people would have to buy a street fare to go to the park,” May said. “Alameda Park began as a picnic grove and then they quickly began to add rides, including the original carousel in 1903.”
He said the builders also created a lake for boating.
“It opened July 4, 1901,” said May. “Seven thousand attended opening day for a 25-cent streetcar fare that was round-trip. They had vaudeville performers and a huge fireworks display that included a bust of George Washington high in the sky.”
May said in its first year of existence, Alameda Park attracted 43,000 visitors, an amazing number considering the population of Butler County was 54,000.
During its heyday, May said, Alameda Park had a roller coaster, carousel, airplane ride, dance pavilion, Ferris Wheel and a swimming pool.
Among the celebrities appearing at the park were big band leader Tommy Dorsey and temperance crusader Carrie Nation, May said.
“One of the most interesting picnics that took place at Alameda was a Ku Klux Klan event,” May said. “In 1926, 5,000 Klansmen descended on Butler and Alameda Park. They had an airplane that flew over the park and Butler at night that pulled red lights in the shape of a large red cross.”
But by 1941, the Butler Passenger Railway Co. had closed and the park was run by its concessionaires, May said. They wanted to sell the park to the city and township of Butler, but government officials declined.
The park closed, its lake was drained and many of its rides and buildings demolished. Others, such as the carousel, which May has tracked down to the South Coast Plaza Mall in Costa Mesa, Calif., were sold.
Pat Collins, administrative director of the Butler County Historical Society, said on Jan. 14, 1944, the park property was sold to the Nazarene Church.
May said the only remnants of the park's past are the ornate structures around some of the park's 12 springs and the carousel shelter dating to 1914.
“It's gone back to what it was originally billed as, a picnic area,” said May.
Gary Pinkerton, director of Butler County Parks and Recreation, agreed.
“The carousel shelter is the only original building left in the park from when it was an amusement park,” he said, adding the foundations of the dance hall are still visible as are at least three stone decorations marking springs in the 417-acre park.
May said his interest in the park began when he was a boy and he and his brother found a silver napkin holder in the park's old lake bed. He said he's spent a year researching the park history for his upcoming talk.
<B>WHAT: </B>Bill May will present a 50-minute slide show presentation of the activities and attractions that brought thousands of people to Alameda Park in its early days.<B>WHEN: </B>7 p.m. Thursday<B>WHERE: </B>Carousel Shelter in the lower part of the park<B>WHO: </B>Sponsored by the Butler County Historical Society. In the event of rain, please check its website at www.butlerhistory.com after 5:30 p.m. for cancellation information or call 724-283-8116.
