Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

Reprint of an article that appeared in Euclid Beach Nuts Newsletter predecessor of The Arch, Euclid Beach Park Now’s quarterly newsletter: Issue 3, May 1990. Authored by Robert Callaghan.

Robert’s dad worked as a chauffeur for D.S. and Effie Humphrey. Along with the job a house was provided in the park so Robert grew up in the park.

Recollections no not always consist of mental visions. Sometimes sounds and odors bring back even stronger memories. That’s the way it seems to me anyway, when I think back to my growing up years in Euclid Beach. I am amazed at the way the sounds and the smells seem to come alive again.

The sounds – like the clink, clink, clink, of the safety dog on the Thrill cars as they were pulled up that first hill – the dog prevented the cars from rolling back down the hill if the pulling chain broke – the joyful screams of the riders and the rumble of the cars on the Flying Turns. The sound of the Carousel organ provided a musical background for the whole area. I remember the ratchet sounds of the electric ticket machines punching out tickets in strips of five for a quarter – the a-hoo-ga of the Auto Train horn as the driver very carefully made his way through the crowds. Laughing Sal was there, but I did not care for her sound – to me it seemed almost manical.

The Colonnade was a sound potpourri – the concrete building echoed to the delighted squeals coming from the Kiddie Rides – I felt sorry for the young men working those rides hour after hour. I remember the thumping sounds coming from the rows of the Skee Ball machines and the sound of the balls rolling down as someone put in another nickel to try his skill.

There used to be a Rifle Range at the south end of the Colonnade and I remember the crack the .22 caliber short rounds made and the clang if the bell was hit. Next door was the Train Station for the Miniature Railroad and the train would whistle and its bell would ring as it arrived and departed.

So many sounds – the Roller Rink with its massive organ blasting out tunes for the skaters and don’t forget the sound those hundreds of roller skaters made – when the rink was crowded those skaters, moving around the rink, actually made a breeze. Sit behind the screen at the Main Lunch and you could feel it.

Out on the Pier it was quiet. Fishing is a quiet pastime, so all you could hear would be the water sloshing and gurgling between the piles, the hushed voices of the anglers and maybe a gull crying for a minnow.

So many sounds – the cheers coming from the busloads of kids from Parmadale Orphanage as they arrive early in the day for the Orphans Picnic.

And the odors! First of all the smell of freshly made popcorn – the sweet sour smell at the Candy Kiss stand – the smell of Vernors Ginger Ale, oh, how I liked that one. There was also the smell of Loganberry juice, but I didn’t care for that. How about the delicious odors from the Hot Dog stand – the smell of the buns and the pungent mustard and catsup aromas and the hot dogs themselves – especially appealing it you here hungry! The Creamy Whip and its own odor – sublime!

Wow – fifty plus years melt away in an instant. The summer mornings then were bright and warm and the afternoons pleasant and they seemed to last forever.