Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

      The 18th Annual Event as reported in Volume 34, Issue 4, Fall 2023: “As for the weather it was a cloudy overcast day with occasional extremely light rain sprinkles.” The 19thAnnual Event as reported in Volume 35, Issue 4, Fall 2024: “Remnants of Hurricane Helena made it to Northern Ohio in the form of light rain.” This year the date which fell 56 years after the day in 1969 our beloved park closed, saw a blue sky filled with sunshine. The temperature was at 68°F at 9:00 A.M. when Euclid Beach Park Now board members arrived at the park to set up for the 1:00 P.M. start. As set-up was going on, classic cars were arriving for the car show, The Cars We Drove to Euclid Beach and by mid-morning participants outnumbered last year’s total of 45 cars. Board members Mike and Debbie Peppard, classic car owners themselves, oversaw the car show and reported that 300 plus cars participated. The temperature would rise to 75°F in the afternoon which equated to a great turnout of people, many wearing Euclid Beach Park T-shirts.  The previous two years’ attendees wore Euclid Beach Park attire, not that visible as they also wore rain ponchos and carrying open umbrellas. The majority of the T-shirts were the product of JakeWear and purchased at previous year’s events. Owner Sandy Shoe designs a new graphic every year and has been participating with the event for many years. This year’s had two gentlemen sitting at a picnic table, the entrance Arch behind them and in the background the façade of the Thriller with a train going up the lift hill.  These were laid out on three long folding tables with a variety of designs from past years. Helping was Sandy’s husband Dean.

     Most of the activity was centered in the Metroparks picnic pavilion, 188 feet from the parking lot. Adjacent to the parking lot was the “Welcome Event Information” canopy manned by board members John Marn and Fletch Milan. An aerial photo view of the old park was at the table showing the location of rides long gone along with the few remnants which can still be seen. John Marn, editor of out newsletter, The Arch, had past issues for sale and was accepting new and renewal EBPN memberships. John also had some informational booklets available on Euclid Beach Park’s carousel history. Opposite was the canopy set up for ticket sales for those wanting to ride the Rocket Ship Car®. Board member Kathy Seman and her brother, Henry Gogolin, a former Humphrey employee, dispensed ride tickets. Commanded by owner Joe Tomaro, the rocket blasted off all afternoon taking riders past the recently moved Arch. Emily Quinn, Kathy Seman’s daughter, assisted with the boarding process. Humphrey Pop Corn Balls were available behind the ticket canopy. Now produced by b.a. Sweetie Candy under the canopy selling the confection were Kathy Seman’s son Jon Seman, his wife Maggie and her son Gordon who was recently honorably discharged from the Marine Corp. My daughter, Melissa Bird, picked up the popcorn balls from b.a. Sweetie and delivered them to the park that morning. Continuing toward the picnic pavilion on two picnic tables were photo posters with narrative on specific rides once at Euclid Beach Park. Posters for the roller rink and the Antique Car ride were set on the raised concrete pad that was the loading and unloading area for the ride.

     Under the shade of a group of trees, James McKnight, Senior Landscape Architect for the City of Cleveland set up posters showing the plans for the Arch Park site where the old entrance Arch has been moved. He was also seeking input on what should be included in this New City Park. Just to the north was a mini-Euclid Beach Park Arch made of cardboard by Joanie Deveney. She had made it for the Arch move on July 17th, setting it up along the sidewalk on the south side of Lakeshore Blvd. opposite the original Arch.

     At the west end of the picnic pavilion was Weber’s Premium Ice Cream, the location they have held ever since coming onboard to the annual event. Inside the pavilion at the west end was the Euclid Beach Park Now sales area. Alice DeBauche, Sandra Wesley, and Kathy Wickens were there to help attendees chose items which included EBPN’s Euclid Beach Park book, the three DVD’s on the park, CD’s of the band organs that were at the park, and other items. Also in the pavilion were the rest of our photo posters set on the picnic tables for viewing. Just outside the east end of the pavilion Kevin Smith under a large canopy had his Kevin’s NE Ohio Amusement Memories. On display was his ever increasing collection of memorabilia from Euclid Beach Park and other Northern Ohio amusement parks. Assisting Kevin was his mom Julie, dad Stuart, and Brother Michael. Kevin had a large Birthday Card at his booth for people to sign in celebration of Euclid Beach Park opening 130 years ago this past June.

     Exiting the pavilion on the north to the right was the broadcast trailer for WIXY1260Online. Owner, General Manager, and Chief Engineer Gary Schmitz was at the event with his disc jockeys and crew matching the original spirt of WIXY making it a Cleveland legend. Playing the top hits and local favorites that were played on WIXY 1260 AM. During the day one would see attendees dancing to the music being played. Across the path from WIXY was naturalist Kyla J. Heck from the North Chagrin Nature Center, Cleveland Metroparks with an exhibits to show and to answer questions. Once again joining in on the annual event was the Collinwood Nottingham Historical Society. Their mission is the preservation of the history of the communities.  Representing the Society that day were Mary Louise Jesek Daley, Elva Brodnick, and Dennis Crislip. At the end of the path was the Amusement Preservation Museum, owned by Troy Parsh. Troy has memorabilia from various amusement parks. Unlike the memorabilia on display by Kevin Smith which was brought in a van, Troy could not bring as many items and needs a trailer for his items. He has collected ride cars from various amusement parks in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario Canada. With the help of mom Pattie and dad Rob, Troy had on display ride cars from Euclid Beach Park: Laff In The Dark, Dodgem, and a horse from the Rodeo Pony.  Also a ticket chopper that was with the Flying Turns.

     Rounding out the 20th annual event was this year’s food truck, Royal E. Enterprise owned by husband and wife Ian and Jennifer Crow. This year the food concession was set next to the park’s concession building which currently is not used with easy access by attendees from the picnic pavilion and car show. The food offering were Italian sandwiches and fresh-cut French fries. Upon their arrival husband Ian and wife Jennifer Crow immediately started food preparation. Italian sausages were on the grill and both then worked on preparing freshly squeezed lemonade.

Photos Courtesy of John Marn and Rich Wickens