Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

     Remnants of Hurricane Helena made it to Northern Ohio in the form of light rain. The light rain held down attendance but we had many during the four-hour event walking about in their Euclid Beach Park attire, many holding umbrellas. While setting up, which began at 9 a.m., several cars drove up, occupants asking when the event started. In past years with sunny weather classic cars would also be arriving early, well before the 1 p.m. event start time. Not today with light precipitation.

     Before getting to the picnic pavilion, just off the parking lot was the “Welcome/Event Information” booth. Past issues of our newsletter, The Arch, were available for sale as was a 12-page booklet; “Euclid Beach Park’s Rich Carousel History.”  It contained a paragraph on the history of each of the four carousels which called the park home. It also contained two pages devoted to The Great American Racing Derby, and a half page on the Kiddieland Carousel. An aerial view of Euclid Beach Park is in the center with the ride locations identified and remnants that are still visible. There were handouts of another aerial-view map of the park identifying rides and reproductions of postcards from past Sights & Sounds events. Opposite this booth was a smaller canopy where tickets were sold for the Rocket Ship Car® owned by The Euclid Beach Boys. The light rain didn’t deter individuals from taking a trip on one of the original rockets from the park’s Rocket Ship ride. Mission commander Joe Tomaro was at the controls. Walking toward the picnic pavilion Humphrey Popcorn Balls were available for sale. B. A. Sweetie Candy Co. located on Brookpark Road has the license to produce the original. One can buy them at Giant Eagle, Marc’s, Heinen’s and Dave’s. Next to the picnic pavilion, the spot they have held ever since first participating in the event, was Weber’s Premium Ice Cream. Weber’s travels from their Lorain Road, Fairview Park location to dispense their creamy confection.

     The rain had us change how we display the collection of Euclid Beach Park photo posters. Usually they are set out in the Metropark as near as possible to the location of the actual ride presented on the poster. To protect the posters from damage they were laid across the picnic tables in the pavilion. Attendees walked between the tables checking out the individual posters and reading the narrative on the ride displayed. One elderly woman in a wheelchair was assisted through the picnic table labyrinth by a couple. The woman maneuvered the wheelchair while the man picked up each poster so the lady could better see and read. The two surviving authors of “Euclid Beach Park is closed for the season” and “Euclid Beach Park A Second Look,” Lee Bush and Richard Hershey, were in attendance as were at least four former park employees.

     At the eastern end of the pavilion our youngest board member, Kevin Smith, set up his memorabilia collection, “Kevin’s Northeast Ohio Amusement Memories.” Kevin’s collection preserves artifacts from eighteen Northeast Ohio defunct amusement parks. Besides items from Euclid Beach Park and also objects from Chippewa Lake and Geauga Lake, this year Kevin’s collection featured a recently completed miniature model of one of the Rocket Ships on his 3D printer. The stand for this had signage similar to what appeared at the top of the ride platform. He also had a miniature created on his 3D printer of the Euclid Beach Park Arch. Kevin’s talents don’t end with his 3D printer as he was wearing a cap he just finished embroidering, with the name of his collections and art work of one of the Bug cars. Kevin was aided at his display by his mom and board member Julie along with his dad Stuart and brother Michael.

     Behind Kevin was JakeWear, Sandy Shoe and her crew selling T-shirts and sweatshirts with a variety of original Euclid Beach Park art to choose from. Just north of Kevin was WIXY 1260 on-line. Gary Schmitz, his crew, and disc jockeys were broadcasting remotely the music we grew up listening to on old WIXY 1260 AM Radio.

     Along the path leading from the picnic pavilion to the walkway along the lake was a display courtesy of Amusement Preservation Museum. Troy Parsh brought from his collection on a flatbed trailer, a Ferris Wheel seat from Chippewa Lake Park and from old Sandy Beach Park in Russel’s Point, a Cuddle-Up car and a Ferris Wheel seat. Smaller items on display were an old Euclid Beach Park roller skating box and two shooting gallery targets from old Chippewa. Troy was assisted by his mom Pattie and dad Rob.

     Opposite Troy’s collection were long-time event participants Karen and Denny Lane with their Northern Ohio Classic Parks assortment of memorabilia. Most of what they had on display is from Geauga Lake Park and Sea World. They also have quite a few items from all the other former amusement parks in the Cleveland area. Chris Schneider was aiding at the display.

     Rounding out the informational booths was the Collinwood Nottingham Historical Society; Euclid Beach Park was in Cleveland’s Nottingham neighborhood. They are recording and sharing stories about Cleveland’s Collinwood and Nottingham neighborhoods. Representing the Historical Society that day were Mary Louise Jesek Daley, Elva Brodnick, and Dennis Crislip.

     The Cars We Drove to Euclid Beach Park Car Show had fewer participants than in past years. With a bright sunny fall day we have seen an estimated 500 classic cars participate. With light rain we only saw 45 cars, some of which just cruised thru. However there was a small unwavering group, who under two canopies remained throughout the four-hour event.