Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

Membership

Euclid Beach Park Now is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and memories of Cleveland's greatest amusement park for the enjoyment of current and future generations. Since 1989, EBPN has preserved artifacts and memorabilia of the park and continues to research the park's history and share our discoveries with our members in the quarterly newsletter The Arch.

EBPN's many activities include sponsoring memorabilia shows, multimedia educational presentations, and speaking engagements. Our organization maintains an active historical archive which is continually updated and has published a book chronicling the Park's rich history. We actively support the preservation of any remaining physical artifacts from Euclid Beach Park.

We welcome your membership and appreciate your support to help preserve the memories of Euclid Beach Park for future generations. Thank You.

1 year membership is $16.00, January 1st - December 31st

Membership includes The Arch, Euclid Beach Park Now's quarterly newsletter.

Send your check with your Name, Address, Phone Number and Email Address to:

Euclid Beach Park Now

P.O. Box 19535

Cleveland, Ohio 44119-0535

Or download the Membership form below.

Your Euclid Beach Park Memories

Do you remember Euclid Beach Park, or have you heard stories about the amusement park from parents or grandparents? Help preserve the memories and history of Euclid Beach Park. EPBN collects fond memories of "the Beach" so not only will we have them preserved, but we can also make sure that Clevelanders will always be able to look back and remember Euclid Beach Park. Write or type Euclid Beach Memories and send to:

Euclid Beach Park Now

P.O. Box 19535

Cleveland, Ohio 44119-0535

Or download the Memories form below.

With your story, please include your name and contact information.

By submitting, you are agreeing to allow EBPN to use your submission as deemed necessary to further our Mission.

ICE CREAM

The most memorable treat at EBP was its Frozen Whip. While many vendors today try to emulate the park’s Frozen Whip, none even come close. The original supplier of the mix for this frozen treat was the Soeder and Sons Co. and it was later furnished by the Euclid Race Dairies. The wonderful sugar cones used with the Frozen Whip were made in a stand next to and just south of the Frozen Whip Stand. It consisted of a large ring of waffle irons, into which was poured the cone batter. After a short baking time, the warm “waffles” were formed into cones and allowed to cool and harden. Who can forget the delicious whip coming out of the machines, down the stainless steel chute and into the deep serving containers? The server had a long “soup” type spoon with which he would scoop out a portion of the whip from the container, swipe it across the cone, and hand it to the anxiously waiting customer. You would then turn and give your tickets to the “ticket lady” sitting in her little cubical.

During the 20’s in the Main Lunch area (between the Aero Dips and the Penny Arcade) there was a soda fountain. It served phosphates, ice cream sodas, and sundaes. For a while in the 50’s, ice cream sandwiches were sold from a stand in the Colonnade Building. A block of ice cream was put into a box that extruded just the right amount of ice cream that the operator sliced off and served between two crunchy waffle type pieces. The three Lunch Stands also sold ice cream at one time.

COFFEE

Another memorable treat at EBP was their hot coffee. Hot coffee was served throughout the park at its three Main Lunch counters, at the Boulevard Stand, and at the Lakefront Cafeteria/Restaurant. The coffee was made in large urns, using a special urn blend by Widlar. We all remember the thick, heavy, white mugs in which the coffee was served. In the 20’s the mugs were somewhat bitter and had an off-shite color. These mugs were so popular that customers would take them home for their own use. When the loss of mugs got worse; the employees, on opening a new case of mugs, would use a small hammer to put a chip on the bottom edge of each one to stop them from being “borrowed”.

LUNCH STAND FARE

EBP had four Lunch Stands. The smallest was the Main Lunch Stand located between the Aero Dips and Penny Arcade. The Lake Lunch Stand was located near the lake “bluff” at the west end of the park property. The Colonnade Lunch Stand was just inside the Colonnade Building and the Boulevard Stand was located at the streetcar entrance to the park on Lake Shore Boulevard. The Lake Lunch Building was probably the oldest building at EBP, existing from 1895 before the Humphrey’s owned the park. It was part of the German Gardens area of that park where beer, wine and liquor were sold. This building housed a bowling alley maple-wood flooring and used this wood to build benches and table tops for the new Lunch Building. In later years the Lake Lunch facility was only opened for the bigger picnics. The food at these stands was relatively similar. Ham and cheese sandwiches, steamed hot dogs, pies, coffee, mild, and soft drinks were served. In later years, hamburgers and fries were served only at the Main Lunch location. The Boulevard Stand was the only one open year round and served hot dogs, popcorn, popcorn balls, candy kisses, peanuts in the shell, and hot coffee. (Note 1)

Photo to the left taken in the Boulevard Stand, year unknown. Euclid Beach Park Now photo. (Note 1)

I fondly remember how much my mother enjoyed walking over to EBP in the evening to watch my two younger brothers and younger sister roller skate to the music of the Gavioli Organ. There was an area at the east end of the Main Lunch which had benches and metal “chicken-wire” type screening for watching the skating sessions. She would buy a cup of coffee, smoke a cigarette, and enjoy the evening with her other lady friends.

CAFETERIA DINING

In the early 1900’s home cooked meals were served at Castle Inn located at the extreme east end of the park overlooking the lake. It later became the home of the Humphrey’s for many years and stands empty now, awaiting the wrecker’s ball. (Note 2) A cafeteria was also operated on the top floor of the Bath House Building during the early 1900’s and in 1931 operation of the facility was taken over by a Cleveland restaurateur and was named Crosby’s-On-The-Lake. This remained as probably the best restaurant location in the Greater Cleveland Area because of its wonderful views of the lake, bathing beach, and pier. The interior of the restaurant was light and airy with open wood truss ceiling supports and wooden columns. The food here was typical restaurant fare; beef, pork, veal, chicken, salads, vegetables, potatoes, pies, cakes, ice cream, coffee, tea, and soft drinks. The restaurant was later called Dwight’s Restaurant. It was always a comfortable, roomy place to eat and relax while escaping the bustling, noisy amusement park just outside its doors.

EPILOGUE

And so we have touched on another memorable facet of our past visits to Euclid Beach – its food and edible treats. We are lucky that the Humphrey Company still produces popcorn, popcorn balls and Candy Kisses that are exactly the same as we remember. Some items may elude our “taste memory’ like that of EBP’s Frozen Whip. I find that recent copies of the Frozen Whip seem to have much more of a butter-fat feel in the mouth and a different flavor and texture than the original. I also think that present day Vernors Gingerale doesn’t have that snappy “bite” that I remember. I also can’t remember having a hot dog a good as those steamed “dogs” at the Beach.

Whatever our “taste memory” tell us; I think that our surroundings enhanced the enjoyment of these foods and treats. That Frozen Whip, popcorn ball, Candy Kiss, hot dog, etc., all tasted better because of just being at the park with its sounds, sights, and smells. We have all been blessed for having experienced them and for still being able to enjoy those wonderful memories.

Note 1: The menu behind the waitress states the following;

Coffee 15 Cents
Milk 15 Cents
Ham Sandwich 40 Cents
Cheese Sandwich 25 Cents
Pie Per Cut 25 Cents
Buttered Toast 15 Cents
Soup 20 Cents
Hot Dog 30 Cents
Chili 35 Cents
Pop Corn Balls 35 Cents
Pop Corn in Boxes 15 Cents
Un-popped Pop Corn Hull-Less 25 Cents
Candy Kisses 35 Cents
Frozen Whip Cones 20 Cents
Root Beer 10 Cents
Coca Cola 10 Cents

The Boulevard Stand was at the street car then bus entrance to Euclid Beach Park. Street cars traveling east would enter, make a U-turn so as to head west. When buses replaced the street cars, Cleveland Transit System buses entered for a turn around and also a "Layover" spot. Euclid, Ohio had its own bus system and they likewise used the spot for a turn around and "Layover."

Street car photo taken at Trolleyville, U.S.A. the day of PTC#19's auction. The old CTS bus was also at Trolleyville, U.S.A. the day of the auction. Photos courtesy of Euclid Beach Park Now.

Note 2: The wrecking ball removed the structure during the summer of 2005.

Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

CONTACT US

Euclid Beach Park Now

Membership

Your Euclid Beach Park Memories

Downloads - Membership/Memories

Euclid Beach Park Presentation

Club or Organization

Latest Issue of THE ARCH

Volume 30 - Issue 4 - Fall 2019

July 15th Article

FOOD AND TREATS AT EUCLID BEACH PARK, PART 2

ICE CREAM

COFFEE

LUNCH STAND FARE

CAFETERIA DINING

EPILOGUE

The Humphrey Company

Family Owned and Operated Since 1897