Chemung County Historical Society recognizes Eldridge Park’s 100th year anniversary

ELMIRA, N.Y. ( WETM ) — The Chemung County Historical Society hosted a lunch-out gathering to recognize the 100th anniversary of Eldridge Park as an amusement park. A picture presentation put together by the historical society showed the park’s transformation from a walk-in park in 1924 to an amusement park.

Some of the attendees felt nostalgic about the history and stressed the park’s significance by reminiscing their own childhood memories.

Debbie Todd who used to visit the park during her childhood in the 1960s and 1970s said, “My family lived close enough to the park, that as a teenager, we could walk over there, but prior to that, it was a place for amusement that we did always know was there.”

Another person, Aileen Colunio added, “The merry-go-round or carousel has been a huge treat for me and still is. I make sure to go there every birthday to ride the carousel.”

After the presentation of pictures, volunteers Mike Robertson and Walter Kowalski, a former employee from 1966 to 1977, shared stories of the park. According to Robertson, people would visit Elmira from out of town for the rides and attractions at the lake such as skiing shows and parachute jumps. There was also music, animal entertainment, and other family-oriented activities. The park operated from 1924 to 1988 and reopened in 2006. Roberston hopes the park will provide memorable experiences for generations to come.

“People have so many memories of the park. Most of them very good memories for people and they get a chance to relive their youth and relive good times. Times gone by and we’ve got a lot of people that met their spouse there and now their spouses are gone but they had Eldridge Park to come to as that reminder,” said Robertson.

Kowalski who used to operate the carousel added, “I was at one point what they called the frontman, and working the front of the carousel, putting kids on and off but again back then we had no fence around it like we do now. No railing and then I ended up operating everything.”

Kowalski also mentioned that businesses such as IBM and Westinghouse used to hold their corporate picnics on Saturdays.

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