How did you get to Euclid Beach?
So how did you get to “the Beach”?
If you were lucky enough to live here in Collinwood, that’s a no-brainer – you walked! And you did it as often as possible! You’ve shared many tales about walking to the Park, to spend as many waking hours as possible there, even if it was only to fish off the Pier, or sit on a shaded park bench for a while.
But how did everyone else get there?
In the earliest days of the Park, it was likely you got there by what were fondly called “the Tubs.” There was actually regular passenger service on boats that traveled from the E 9th St pier to Euclid Beach Park – which was why the Pier was originally built, and why it extended so far out into the Lake. (And how neat would that have been, to land at the end of the Pier and see the beach, Dance Pavilion etc waiting for you? Not to mention hearing people shrieking on the coasters – and knowing you’d soon be shrieking too!)
Meanwhile getting around Cleveland was always changing. As the streetcar system grew, the Humphreys were astute enough to realize that getting the streetcar system to come to Euclid Beach would be a huge advantage. And that’s what they did – they not only talked the streetcar system into coming out to the Park, they put together a deal that meant it only took one fare to get there ("one fare, free gate and no beer.") A win-win for both the streetcar company and the Park. (You’ll remember that the station was right off Lakeshore Blvd, east of the Entrance Arch.)
Which points up a unique aspect of Euclid Beach. Unlike other amusement parks of the same vintage, such as Kennywood in Pittsburgh PA or Conneaut Lake Park near Meadville PA, Euclid Beach was never what is referred to as a “trolley park”; that is, an amusement park that grew up around the end of either a streetcar line or a train line. Rather it was the other way around – it was the Humphreys who talked the streetcars into coming to Euclid Beach.
Then along came automobiles. Beginning as something only wealthy folks could afford, Henry Ford’s assembly line for building cars, put them in reach of “everyman”, and America’s love affair with cars began. And the Humphreys were quick to see that more and more people would be driving to Euclid Beach, and prepared accordingly.
The Main Entrance Arch was built in the 1920’s as the entrance to the Euclid Beach parking area. Originally just a wood structure, the “Permastone” exterior was added in the early 1940’s. With “Euclid Beach Park” in full lights across the driveway, the Arch became one of Cleveland’s best known landmarks.
Ironically, this very thing the Humphreys recognized as important to the Park, was part of why the Park closed. As people became more mobile in their cars, and gas was cheap (if you’re old enough, you’re remember those gloriously big chromed – and finned -- cars of the 50’s – and the gas price wars!), people wanted to “go somewhere.” Which meant that the adventure became leaving the city, driving yourself, rather than going to the “hometown” park. (“After all”, we figured, “the Beach will always be there.”) Obviously this wasn’t the whole story, but it was something all traditional amusement parks faced. Guess it just points up what can happen when we take something for granted!
There’s still a few places though, where you can feel like you’re ‘”going back to Euclid Beach”. Conneaut Lake Park (www.conneautlakepark.com ) is probably the best place to find that old “Euclid Beach” feeling. Free gate (just like Euclid Beach), you can buy tickets to ride – or simply enjoy a park bench under a big shade tree (sound familiar?!) Conneaut Lake Park has one of only 2 operating “Bug” rides, the vintage Blue Streak roller coaster, an antique Carousel – and one of the neatest Kiddieland areas outside of Memphis Kiddie Park! Well worth a trip, for a relaxing day of easy fun. And just and hour and a half away! (Check the website for hours and prices.)
Happy Summer!
Elva Brodnick
President – Euclid Beach Carrousel Committee
Euclid Beach Carrousel Committee
PO Box 91162 – Cleveland OH 44101
Email: ebcarrousel@gmail.com or carrollsell@gmail.com
Phone: 440–942–1493
Facebook: Euclid Beach Carrousel Committee