I am in SO much trouble...
Sunday, May 29th, 2005 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rolanniI am now the proud creator/possessor of a color-coded timeline of Events of Epic Proportion that took place in Old Orchard Beach, Maine from 1603 (Martin Pring enters Saco Bay and lands at Old Orchard Beach) to 2004 (Fire: Dy-No-Mite). And may Ghu have mercy on my soul.
I do still have some question marks. Like, which hotel burned in the Summer of 1882? Was the first carousel, installed at OOB in 1892, the one described elsewhere as being on the beach itself, or an entirely different ride? Was the wooden roller coaster added to Seaside Park in 1914 or in 1917, and were either of them a Jack Rabbit -- or is the idea that there had ever been a Jack Rabbit at OOB merely the product of a dedicated roller coastie's fevered imagination? What exactly burned in the 1975 fire? Was White City destroyed by fire in 1909 and rebuilt, only to be destroyed again in 1969 when "Detzel" the carousel burned, taking most of the rest of the amusements with it?
I have measured the depths of Joy and Despair this day, let me tell you. At first, I believed that the Euclid Carousel Nuts had (re)purchased the existing Old Orchard Beach merry-go-round, which Playland (the OOB amusement vendor) purchased from Euclid Beach Park in 1970, after Detzel burned -- and I was desolate, believing that I would never again ride the carousel at the ocean.
But wait! Further investigation produces the factoid that the Euclid Beach ride has been in storage since 1997, awaiting restoration and a suitable site. Relief! The carousel now at OOB is yet a fourth iteration of the ride, and still in residence.
I hope.
It's pretty weird to see stuff laid out side-by-side, like:
1914: WW I
?Wooden roller coaster added to Seaside Park?
I've also stumbled across this interesting little bit of trivia, courtesy of On This Date in New England Fire Rescue History:
Please note that in colonial times (until 1752) the calendar year did not change until March 25 (Feast of the Annunciation), therefore a date such as March, 11 1683 (in its day) would be considered March 11, 1684 by standards used today (new years day = Jan 1) - You may see some dates listed as March 11, 1683/4. This shows both old and new style. Only dates between Jan 1 and Mar 25 and before 1752 are affected. Also in 1752, the date after Sept 2, 1752 became Sept 14, 1752.
Who knew?
Anyhow, I certainly have (more than) enough on which to hang the central argument of the novel that I'm not writing, oh-no-not-me.
*Happy sigh*
I do still have some question marks. Like, which hotel burned in the Summer of 1882? Was the first carousel, installed at OOB in 1892, the one described elsewhere as being on the beach itself, or an entirely different ride? Was the wooden roller coaster added to Seaside Park in 1914 or in 1917, and were either of them a Jack Rabbit -- or is the idea that there had ever been a Jack Rabbit at OOB merely the product of a dedicated roller coastie's fevered imagination? What exactly burned in the 1975 fire? Was White City destroyed by fire in 1909 and rebuilt, only to be destroyed again in 1969 when "Detzel" the carousel burned, taking most of the rest of the amusements with it?
I have measured the depths of Joy and Despair this day, let me tell you. At first, I believed that the Euclid Carousel Nuts had (re)purchased the existing Old Orchard Beach merry-go-round, which Playland (the OOB amusement vendor) purchased from Euclid Beach Park in 1970, after Detzel burned -- and I was desolate, believing that I would never again ride the carousel at the ocean.
But wait! Further investigation produces the factoid that the Euclid Beach ride has been in storage since 1997, awaiting restoration and a suitable site. Relief! The carousel now at OOB is yet a fourth iteration of the ride, and still in residence.
I hope.
It's pretty weird to see stuff laid out side-by-side, like:
1914: WW I
?Wooden roller coaster added to Seaside Park?
I've also stumbled across this interesting little bit of trivia, courtesy of On This Date in New England Fire Rescue History:
Please note that in colonial times (until 1752) the calendar year did not change until March 25 (Feast of the Annunciation), therefore a date such as March, 11 1683 (in its day) would be considered March 11, 1684 by standards used today (new years day = Jan 1) - You may see some dates listed as March 11, 1683/4. This shows both old and new style. Only dates between Jan 1 and Mar 25 and before 1752 are affected. Also in 1752, the date after Sept 2, 1752 became Sept 14, 1752.
Who knew?
Anyhow, I certainly have (more than) enough on which to hang the central argument of the novel that I'm not writing, oh-no-not-me.
*Happy sigh*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-05-29 11:50 pm (UTC)So, yes, fevered roller coaster fan, who has been off the tracks for almost a year now.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-30 08:00 am (UTC)How come? Rode 'em all?
Me, I'm more a carousel person...
no subject
Date: 2005-05-30 09:03 am (UTC)An amusement part generally takes all day, and in my case, all but one requires a car rental (and that one, while it has a large number of rides does not have either a diversity of ride types OR a decent woodie). That is a day/car rental that I could spend on a different passion, currently hiking/trailwork, not surrounded by people.
I think my life coaster list is between 60 and 70, certainly less than 100. I much prefer an old woodie to a fancy new steelie, not that I'll turn down a steelie. Carousels are nice, but riding solo doesn't float my boat, although I have visited all of SF's carousels. The 1905 Looff from Playland is now at Yerba Buena Gardens, the 1921 Dentzel at the Zoo, the 1912 Herschell-Spillman in Golden Gate Park, and the modern (2002) Bertazzon at Pier 39.
The carousel at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk still has a ring dispenser with a clown face target with light up eyes and buzzer. ISTR that the michanical organ was still functional, but *that* could be fevered roller coaster fan memory.
Come visit, in a day we probably could catch ~6, more if obsession ruled the day. A dozen in a weekend is within reach. Gods, it's been too long since I've done that sort of amusement trip.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-30 10:52 am (UTC)Come visit, in a day we probably could catch ~6, more if obsession ruled the day. A dozen in a weekend is within reach. Gods, it's been too long since I've done that sort of amusement trip.
Tempting...
no subject
Date: 2005-05-30 03:31 pm (UTC)At least I still have this: Golden Gate Park Carousel (http://www.sfpeaks.net/031112-ggp/h031112-101148-GGP-Carousel.html) and . . .
no subject
Date: 2005-05-30 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-30 05:22 pm (UTC)I don't think I have pictures online of the Looff at Yerba Buana Gardens, in part because it is housed in an absolutely butt-ugly modern enclosure which appears to be designed to increase glare so people outside can't see in or take pictures. All my other carousel pictures are on slides or negative film.
The conservatory is a gem indeed. I was damaged for life by spending 8 months in Kew, while my dad was on sabbatical at the Royal Botanic Gardens there. Having that as your playground! Greenhouses = conservatories, and they are big curved victorian structures. And I am going to be forced to visit again tomorrow, in hopes "Ted" (the Corpse Lily that wasn't open yesterday) will be open.
Gwynn Oak Park Carousel
Date: 2005-11-01 10:06 pm (UTC)Susan
flavia18@verizon.net
no subject
Date: 2005-05-31 07:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-31 05:04 pm (UTC)I didn't know that.
known mainly for horses with open mouths like they're planning on biting their riders...
Um. I intuit a carousel-maker who wanted, in his deepest, most secret soul, to be an accountant.