The White Rose Amusement Park operated near the Farquhar Park Pool, now site of Arthur Ferguson Elementary School. York Daily Record Jim Hubley explained that, despite of the fun the pool offered, it was often a site of controversy: "It was closed several seasons, locked by polio, Sunday blue laws, racial difficulties, political mishandling, even drownings."
The Farquhar Park Pool is drained and suitably feted for its years of service.
After the bulldozer does its dirty work, the YMCA's Graham Aquatic Center will fill its void, complete with a 16-lane indoor pool with an accompanying outdoor pool.
The Farquhar Park Pool area has long been a center of activity - with the park next door, trolleys running nearby, and an adjacent amusement park thrilling thousands for years.
And the pool was the center of a racial controversy in the late 1940s after the city closed the pool rather than allow blacks the opportunity to swim there... .
The Boys Club later operated the pool, and people of all races eventually were allowed to swim there.
From that point of view, perhaps the racism long associated with this pool will be dumped and buried in the landfill along with its concrete.
Jim Hubley's 2005 column gives a glimpse into the life of the 1920s vintage pool:
Beyond the fact that I am qualified to be one, I never have developed a passion for antiques or collectibles -- junk, to my way of thinking.Many friends are different and relish old things, enjoy seeking and collecting antiques.
They preach that anything which has existed at least 50 years or more must be considered rare, precious and, possibly and hopefully, valuable.
Humans formerly also were regarded as relics after reaching the age of 50, but today life expectancy has been extended a few decades or more, thank goodness.
So while antiques are not my thing I do respect humans, or even anything which has soared way beyond 50 years and still is doing all right.
I began to think about all this recently while driving on North Newberry Street, aside Farquhar Park on my left, the Ferguson Elementary School on the right and the sight of the swimming pool directly in front.
There were swimmers on that hot afternoon, and the thought struck me, "Good grief, how long has that pool been here?"
I learned to swim in that pool but haven't been in it for many years. I am familiar with its somewhat rocky-road background, financial problems. It was closed several seasons, locked by polio, Sunday blue laws, racial difficulties, political mishandling, even drownings.
I followed with some exploring and was shocked. The pool was opened Thursday, July 8, 1922. A private group, Community Swimming Pool Association, was the owner. That was 83 years ago. It follows that the pool should command some respect for its age and should not be forgotten when historians write about important places in York's history.
When I tell my grandchildren and great-grandchildren about that pool they know I am not teasing them. All they have to do is see for themselves.
However, when I try to tell them about the amusement park right beside the pool they scoff and say, "Come on. That's a school beside the pool."
I am certain there are countless other Yorkers and York countians who are not aware there once was an amusement park there.
Shortly following the opening of the swimming pool, the amusement park was erected, before Disney World, Six Flags, Hersheypark and other gigantic amusement havens of the current age.
The park had everything an amusement park required -- plus a huge dancing facility, White Rose Crystal Ball Room. Within the open-air structure was a restaurant. No bars in those days of prohibition. The dance hall was oval-shaped with a high ceiling.
Top flight orchestras provided music as the big band era was just getting under way.
The pride and joy of the park for thrill-seekers, naturally, was its huge roller-coaster, which traveled over a right angle route with the usual thrilling long, steep drop, sharp curves and screaming passengers.
It was the ideal spot for a fellow to take a date and hold on tight to her, at 15 cents a ride.
There were airplane swings for the less daring, the banging vehicles known as the Whip, an arcade and a merry-go-round for the youngsters and timid elders. Admission to the park was free, as was parking.
It must be remembered private automobiles were not as numerous as today. Most patrons came from York and York County via trolley cars, none of which were less than two or three blocks away from the park site. That was one reason the park did not fare so well, too far to walk up hills.
There were many other factors which doomed the park, which should have become as popular as the pool.
Combined with the Great Depression, which later followed the park's opening, was opposition to Sunday amusements by York religious forces, which demanded strict observance of Sunday blue laws.
Eventually, the park died a horrible death, rotting and deteriorating until the city bought what was left for $15,000. Later, the Ferguson school was erected, but the pool remains.
Truly, I must respect that pool for its old age because I suddenly remembered my parents took me to the pool the day it opened!
I would like to contact someone with additional knowledge of the park.
Thanks,
Patrick Wentzel
National Carousel Association Census Chairman
Parkersburg, WV
My mother often talked about the White Rose Amusement Park and how she would visit it and ride the roller coaster. My mother was born in 1922. I was born in 1947 and remember visiting the swimming pool in the late 1950's and 1960's. I distinctively remember the cold showers that everyone was required to take before entering the pool. The shower rooms and lockers were located in the strip of buildings that were located on the west side of the pool.
In the 1950's I do remember the empty Merry-Go-Round pavillion which stood directly to the east of the swimming pool where the Ferguson Elementary School stands today. That pavillion remained until just before ground was broken for the construction of the Ferguson Elemntary School -- I believe in the early 1960's The empty pavillion had picnic tables in it and could be rented for special celebrations and family reunions. We had our family reunion there twice. During one of our family (Fahringer) reunions in the late 50's my cousin and I crawled under the crawl sapce below the pavillion and saw several broken and damaged carousel horses. I could kick myself many times for not trying to obtain these damaged horses. In those days I doubt anyone was interested in broken and damaged carousel horses.
In my lifetime I only remeber the pool and its buildings on the west housing the shower rooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms and chlorinating rooms. I also remember the big dark wooden empty Merry-Go-Round pavillion. I find it quite amazing that the entire park had disappeared almost entirely in a twenty to thirty year period from its closing except for the pool and Merry-Go-Round pavillion. Being a collector of York County postcards and antique memorabilia, I also find it amazing that I have never seen any postcards picturing this park except for the swimming pool. Also memorabilia from the park is extremely rare. I have only ever seen two souvenirs from the park: a plate and a salt and pepper shaker. There had to be many more souvenirs--Where are they???
Speaking of carousels, I wonder what ever happened to the carousel that existed in the pavillion in the White Rose Amusement Park in York. I would imagine that it exists somewhere in the world. It would be great to find out where it is. Also, it would be great to find out where the other York County Amusement Park carousels are. For example the carousel that was once housed in the pavillion at the Brookside Park in Dover, PA (York County) and the carousel that existed in the Forrest Park in Hanover, PA (York County). I am not sure if the much older York County amusement park --"Highland Park" had a corousel or not. I would think that they did and if they did --what became of it?
If anyone knows where these former York County Amusement Park carousels are-- it would be quite interesting to know.
Talking about York County Amusement Parks, it would be great to find out more about them. These are the York County Amusement parks that I know about: White Rose Amusement Park(York), Brookside Amusement Park(Dover), Forrest or (Forest) Park (Hanover) and Highland Park(York).
There were several other semi-amusement parks including White Oak Park - between North York and Emigsville, and Valley View Park (Hellam, PA.) There was also a small amusement park located just south of Zion's View along the west side of the Susquehanna Trail. I cannot remember the name, but as a young child I remember visiting it. It had boats in the creek that flowed by it. I also remember a small train ride. There may have been some other small rides. As I recall, the few small rides were mainly for small kids. York County Amusement Parks make a fascinating study.
I never knew about the White Rose Amusement Park. But would like to know more about it or pictures, anyone have pictures of it?
My grandparents were farmers and we didn' t move to York city till 1949. I was 6 years old by then. This is the first time I ever heard about it.
Blogger June Lloyd over at Universal York, www.yorkblog.com/universal, has put up a rich cache of White Rose photos: http://www.yorkblog.com/universal/2009/03/more-photos-of-white-rose-amus.html.
Also see a post in this blog: http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2009/03/whiteroseamusement.html.
I have information about the carousel at white rose park. Please keep in mind that i have pieced this together and can not vouch for 100% accuaracy. When white rose closed, the carousel was sold to Forrest Park in Hanover. They in turn sold it to Astroworld in Houston Texas. When they closed it was suposedly bought by a retoration company in california and is going to be placed in a museum. This was a refurbished Dentzel carousel with some parts dating back to 1890's. Not uncommon for carousels to be taken apart rebuilt and sold over and over.Highland park had two were sold to park in Ohio when they closed in the 20's. White rose roller coaster the flying cloud was in a park in mechanisburg until late 80's.
Wow, talk about memories. I don't remember the White Rose Park but I did work at the Boy's Club pool in 1957, 58 and I think 1959. I was also in the Miss Boy's Club beauty pageant in 1958. I think I might still have a picture of that. Danny Templeton was the manager of the pool during those years. They now own Wisehaven. As far as Brookside Park carosal, it was sold to someone from upstate New York by Alda Ketterman. I think the price was about $75,000 and she never saw a penny of it. My husband knew Alda quite well and that's what she told him that she trusted this person and didn't even know his last name. That was really sad that piece of history got away to some con artist. That's about all I have for now. My husband might be able to give you more history on Brookside.
Bonnie,
You might enjoy this post: http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2007/11/growing-offpeak-trolley-riders.html#more. It includes a bit more information on Electric Parks, such as Brookside. As for White Rose, it's amazing the interest any post on that old park generates. Btw, sometimes that is confused an an Electric or trolley park, but trolley lines did not run close to it and it was not constructed to generate streetcar traffic, according to Dan Meckley, who has studied such things.
Jim McClure
Jill, thanks for sharing this information.
Jim McClure