Welcome Back to Euclid Beach Park

     Picnics at Euclid Beach Park – my thoughts immediately turn to the wonderful Masonic Day picnics my grandfather always took us to each summer. As a child I remember that the first thing we did was check in at the Log Cabin. Here we were given a “goodie bag” full of treats and surprises, a drawing ticket for great prizes, and most important of all, a tag to wear that was our ticket to all the rides for the day. I believe there was entertainment in the Log Cabin, but we were too busy riding the rides. My mother always packed a picnic basket and we would stake out a table in the Main Lunch. I always enjoyed that as I could hear the Aero Dips coaster trains rumbling over our heads as they passed over the roof. Of course we always had to have at least one of those steamy hot dogs and later a Frozen Whip and Popcorn Balls and Candy Kisses.

     Community Picnic Days were also fun. As I recall these were usually on Wednesdays, and when it was in our community, we would collect strips of coupons at our local stores. The strips had a coupon for a drawing on top and there were usually coupons for free rides on the Racing Coaster and maybe the Dippy Whip. There were also coupons food toward discounts on other rides and food items.

     I also remember working Orphans’ Day outings where AAA member would drive thousands of children to the park in the morning and we would run the rides for them until noon. As I recall, we all volunteered for this, and thoroughly enjoyed it as we watched the happy faces ride the rides and feast on popcorn and candy kisses. Great memories!                                                                               John Waite

     Euclid Beach Memories – I can remember my mom yelling “Hurry up! We want to be there when the park opens!” Mom would be up late preparing lunch and making a lot of good things to eat! We would take the bus; it was about a half hour ride, if I remember right it was #39, we would travel about half an hour and the bus would drop us off in the front, and my family would all be there waiting for us. My cousins and I would help with the food, and then we would take off immediately. We would all head for the Racing Derby first, then we would ride the rides until we got hungry. I remember my grandmother’s cookies and potato salad, they were the best. After that we would ride again all day into the night, and we would stop during the course of the day to laugh with Sal. I ate so much popcorn and candy kisses, yum yum, I felt my stomach was going to burst. Finally, about closing time, Mom and I would gather up the picnic basket and our clothes and get the #39 bus home. I was so tired, as the bus got started I was fast asleep, till my mother would wake me up. What a wonderful day.                                                                                          Madeline DiSanto

     Every Visit to the “Beach” was a Picnic – Every summer my family would go the Eastern Star picnic at Euclid Beach. My great aunt Em was a Star, and for weeks before the big event, I would drive her “nuts” with “What will we have to eat?” “When will we leave for the Beach”?” and most important of all, “How late can we stay?”

     Every summer we took the same picnic lunch. Aunt Em would make homemade ham salad (now we call it sandwich spread), there would be pickles, celery and carrots. Someone would always bring potato salad and Cole slaw, and we would have pie for dessert. We always bought our drinks at the park.

     We were allowed to ride the rides for about one hour before lunch. We always had our lunch at the Lake Lunch; it was near the lake and was cooler than the Colonnade. After a hard day of riding and eating my favorite sandwiches, we would get ready to head for home. No matter how late it got to be I never wanted to go home. Even though we lived within minutes of the “Beach”, each visit was a special one.

     We always had to make a couple of stops on the way out of the park. One was at the popcorn stand for popcorn balls and candy kisses. Then to the Frozen Whip stand for a great sugar cone filled with the best whip the world has ever known.

     Although the “Beach”, the Frozen Whip and Aunt Em are gone now, whenever I bite into a ham salad sandwich I remember a softer warmer time.

     I hope you all enjoy your “Beach” memories as much as I enjoy mine. I hope sometime you’ll share yours with us.  

                                                                                                                                                      Jim Seman

     Those Were the Days – One picnic our family always went to was Mom’s lodge picnic. The Dames of Malta always a headquartered at the Log Cabin; while the women played cards in the afternoon, the kids would run off and ride the rides. Moms were smart, just giving us enough tickets so we would come back every hour or so for more. Great fun for us because we could eat hotdogs, frozen whip, and my favorite, Vernor with a box of popcorn. Daddy would come right from work and we would always walk to the Restaurant for supper. We’d always get a window table with the cloth back chairs. I used to fantasize going to the bathroom there – it was a long hallway – that I was in the Surprise House and this was my own private hallway and would jump imaginary air holes; I beat them every time too. A very happy memory.

     The other picnic was my father’s company picnic. S K Wellman was located at E. 51st & St. Clair, so they were just a streetcar ride away. They played ball next to the Thriller and games by the Lake Lunch. One year we won a War Bond and thought ourselves rich indeed. Daddy would always take me to the afternoon session of the roller skating – a mini date.  One time my wooden wheel came off around the turn and ball bearings went everywhere. I fell and two women behind me fill and one of the women my father worked with, broke her arm. I was 10 when my brother (he’s an EBPN member living in Miami) was born and then we spent many years back in Kiddyland. We couldn’t wait for the coasters and one on the Aero Dips, couldn’t wait for the really big ones.

     The company picnics and the lodge picnics – ah the memories! And we never went home without the “Tweedy Ritual” – walk the pier, buy a box of popcorn, and it we were flushed with $$ or had a few tickets, kisses and a popcorn ball 4-pack; the box of popcorn was for the long streetcar ride to the Square. Then one last ride on the Sleepy Hollow (in the dark) and homeward bound. Those were the days!!                               Verdine Rightnour

Thanks everyone for sharing your wonderful memories of Picnics at Euclid Beach!