When the Allentown-Kutztown Traction (Trolley) Company purchased Dorney Park in 1901, trolley companies were buying or building amusement parks all across the country. Perhaps the most famous was Coney Island. Usually located between two cities serviced by the company, it was a plan to increase weekend rider-ship. Passengers could spend a day at the park, swimming, picnicking, and partaking of the rides and amusements. Through merger, the trolley would become the Allentown-Reading Traction Company, whose line began just south of Hamilton, on 7th Street. The line went west on Walnut Street, and then followed the Cedar Creek to the park. The roller coaster was built over the tracks in 1923, the year that the Allentown-Reading sold the park to the Plarr family. Trolley service would continue to 1934.Jim Layland contributed to this post.
Thanks Mike for this Post. This is the stuff I like best. Looking forward to your next WPA walk. Chris
ReplyDeleteThanks once again for a nice piece of our history.
ReplyDeleteMM, is that a picture of Castle Garden¿
ReplyDelete@9:35, the picture shows the terminal for the roller coaster, which was also the Bumping Car Ride, also attached to the same construction was the boat tunnel ride, which ended with a incline structure and splash down. All were built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, a ride manufacturer, in 1923
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