Chester Park

These are not postcards
               
Bird's eye views

   The second image above shows the devastation caused by the 1937 flood. The Chester Park pool and skating rink can be seen on the lower right.

           
Winton Place / Chester Park Station

   The 4 postcard images above show the Baltimore & Ohio Railroads Winton Place Depot. Many of Chester Parks patrons used this depot. The 3rd & 4th images show the depot after it was refurbished and moved to Sharon Woods for display.

   Streetcars at Chester Park.  The 1st image is not a postcard. The 3rd image shows a early summer car.

                                               
  Chester Park Entrance                                    path to the Club House                                         ticket booth            

                                               
Overhead view                                                                                        Same image                                          

Not a postcard

The Club House

Not a postcard

Lakeside View of Clubhouse

   The Lake first appeared in 1902 in the center of the park, oval in shape it took the place where the old arena was located. Starting now and lasting until the park closed for good the water was pumped into the lake from the city's water main on the north end of the park and was discharged back into the mains on the south side. This fresh water was pumped continuously thus ensuring the lake's water was always in pristine condition. There was a period starting in 1904 when the lake was converted to salt water. It was calculated in 1919 that 100,000 gallons of water passed through the park daily. This was of course a very costly expense for the park and was partly responsible for its closing due to the water bill not being paid.

Various views of the Lake

                                               
 Bathing beauties                                                                      Scenes along the Boardwalk                              

Not a postcard

                                               
Four cards of the ride called Slide The Slides

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                The Tickler                                                                             A Shady Spot

   The tickler, installed in 1908, was similar to a roller coaster. Passengers entered a circular tickler car and was pulled up to the top of a steeply inclined platform where it was released and, because of gravity, began to fall through a series of serpentine turns that caused the car to twirl while bouncing off the sides of ride causing the riders to slide into each other.

  I believe this real photo card shows a crowd scene at Chester Park. The poster hanging on the column advertises free vaudeville at Chester Park. The building in the background has a sign over the entrance which also says free vaudeville.

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