Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

Reprint of an article that appeared in The Arch, Euclid Beach Park Now’s quarterly newsletter, Volume 14, Issue 4, Summer 2003. Author, Doris Humphrey. From the archive collection of Rudy Nagode.

Doris Humphrey Mackley and her brother Dudley were the children of Harvey J. Humphrey, son of Dudley S. Humphrey II. She became secretary to the general manager; one of her jobs was to write articles about the various aspects and attractions of the park for the feature story of the Euclid Beach News. Doris wrote journals of documentary-type articles about each of the rides, the annual dance hall events, and the food and safety rules of Euclid Beach. The articles started in 1934 and continued until the 1969 closing of the park. The following article may very well be one of these articles, the date of its writing unknown. Doris and her brother Dudley assumed more important roles in the operation of the park in 1959 after the passing of their father.

Labor Day, the autumn festival of the States, fall due again, as it usually has for many years now, right in the middle of much sunny summer weather. And Euclid Beach Park again this year, by remaining open through September 19, (Note 1) refuses to accept the death-dealing blow to summer activates that the Labor Day weekend strikes in most amusement centers.

Mr. Jack Lambie, assistant manager and personnel director for the Humphrey Company, when he was attending the park men’s convention (Note 2) in Chicago last winter read a paper on the advisability of moving Labor Day, the conventional herald of fall, along on the calendar to a later date then when it usually appears. Here are some of his contentions.

In the first place, Labor Day is the usual index for the opening of the public schools. Consequently immediately following the holiday family activities of the vacation variety must stop; preparations for the coming year must begin. If the date of Labor Day were changed and the schools still retained their rule for going back to work shortly after that day, then both children and parents could enjoy the summer down to its last day. Then too there would be uniformity about the times when all schools convened. The public schools would correlate with the private schools and colleges, which are not going back in the latter part of September in more suitable weather.

In the second place, businesses would find the extended season profitable. All kinds of summer amusements, the transportation agencies, the automobile industry, and innumerable other lines of business would unquestionably find the arrangement financially valuable. The city stores would certainly not be hurt if they avoided the fictitious stimulation of business in fall merchandise when people are still surrounded by summer temperatures.

In the third place, there is the personal angle. Everybody enjoys summer sports, profiting by their wholesome character. Everybody should be encouraged rather than discouraged in the pursuit of those activities as long as the weather permits. There’s no point in making a fad of advancing the seasons. Euclid Beach chooses an easier alternative to changing the calendar by simply ignoring the finality of Labor Day and remaining open until September 19th. On Saturday, September 18th, there will be a Nickel Day at the Beach, which will constitute the desired holiday to mark the close of the amusement park season at Euclid Beach. 

(Note 1): September 19thfell on a Sunday in 1954.

(Note 2): This could be reference to the National Association of Amusement Parks, Pools & Beaches. The organization is now knows as the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) which holds a yearly convention.