Did you know Jeannette, Pa. was once home to a popular amusement park? Although nature has reclaimed the land, the area once was home to Oakford Park, Greensburg and Jeannette’s very own trolley park.
Like many of the amusement parks of yesteryear, Oakford Park in Jeannette (sometimes listed as Greensburg) started out as a trolley park. These parks were designed as picnic and recreation areas located at the ends of trolley lines. The streetcar companies usually created the parks in order to incentivize people to use the trolleys, or streetcars, over the weekend.
The parks originally consisted of things such as picnic groves and pavilions as well as featured events such as performances, dancing, and fireworks. Many of these parks eventually rides and attractions, making them amusement parks.
The Opening of Oakford Park
Oakford Park officially opened to the public in May of 1896. That year, a dam was constructed on the Oakford Park grounds in order to hold back the waters of Brush Creek in order to form Lake Placid. Similar to the lake at Altoona’s Lakemont Park, Lake Placid was a large draw for the park. In the summer the lake was used for boat races, rowing, and picnics. In the winter, it became an ice skater’s dream.
The park enjoyed instant success, bringing in a steady stream of guests. There even have been reports of having as many as 20,000 guests in one day! In those early years a restaurant and dance hall were built. There was even a small roller coaster which was most likely an Ingersoll switch-back railway, as well as the trolley station and merry-go-round.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
The Dam Breaks at Oakford Park
July 5, 1903 started out as a typical day at the park with a reported 800 guests in attendance when a sudden cloud burst brought extremely heavy rains. The waters in Lake Placid began to rise, putting pressure on the Oakford Park dam. Grounds manager James McGrath, realizing the situation, began urging those who were taking shelter in the buildings to evacuate to higher ground.
Water began rolling over the dam, and shortly before 4 o.m. and with a thunderous crash, the dam broke and unleashed a six-foot wall of water into the park.
The water swept through the park, sweeping away its victims and lifting buildings and attractions off of their foundations. All that was left standing in the park when it was all over were the restaurant and the dance hall. The raging waters carried everything else to the next town over, creating a disaster in the city of Jeannette as well, completely wiping our their sewer system. All-in-all more than 5.5 inches of water fell on Jeannette that afternoon.
There were more than 20 lives lost that day.
Rebuilding Oakford Park
Despite the overwhelming damage to the park and surrounding area, the park reopened in 1904. The new park featured a new figure-eight roller coaster called the Leap Frog. This coaster was similar in design to the Leap-the-Dips coaster at Lakemont Park — which is still operating. The number one attraction in the park, this roller coaster remained in the park until the park’s closure.
Check out this article on Altoona’s Leap-the-Dips, the world’s largest operating roller coaster.
Another notable ride that was at Oakford Park is the Circle Swing. Wicker gondolas were suspended from chains which created seats for riders. The top circle of the structure turned, spinning the riders around. It was located next to the skating rink, which were all built in the footprint of Lake Placid.
Both the Leap Frog and the Circle Swing can be seen on this fire insurance map of Jeannette done in March of 1916. Other notable structures are the merry-go-round, picnic shed, dance hall, skating rink, and band stand.
Some other rides and attractions at the park included a merry-go-round, theater, miniature railroad, and an arcade.
The park remained in operation for another 34 years after the flood. However, like many of its trolley park counterparts, with the rise of automobiles and the fall of streetcars, traffic to the park dwindled. In 1938 the park closed. Competition from neighboring amusement parks, Kennywood and Idlewild, was also part of the reason for the closure.
All of the assets of the park including the Caterpillar, Skooter, Aero Swing, and the Leap Frog were sold at a receiver’s sale to Olympia Park in McKeesport for only $200.
Oakford Park Swimming Pool
The Oakford Park swimming pool was constructed in the park in 1921. Despite the rest of the park being torn down in the 1940s, the swimming pool remained. It was purchased in 1945 from West Penn Power, but at the time there were no other structures on the property. A bathhouse had to be built in order to get the pool operational. At one time, the pool was once the largest in the state. Locals who visited the pool often recall the pool’s famous French fries made with vinegar and ketchup as well as the soft serve ice cream.
The pool remained opened until the 1980s when it also closed. Remnants of the pool remained until as late as 2003 before the area was completely bulldozed over.
Not much remains of Oakford Park today. You can still see the old pool gate at the Jeannette Area Historical Society though. A gas station now marks where the trolley entrance once stood. And to the very keen observer, you may notice that a brown building across the street, which is now an automotive repair shop is now, was once one a trolley shed.
The only thing that remains unchanged is Brush Creek. The creek still winds through what was once the park, a silent reminder of the power of nature.
My grandmother owned a carousel horse from Oakford Park. My Aunt now has the horse.
@Kathleen Blake, the Jeannette Historical society museum would want that they have the iron gate to the park from when it was a pool. This would be a center piece to the museum no doubt.
Vincent Schmitt
Good reading. I didn’t know so many attractions were there.
I remember going to the park in the middle 50’s to watch motorcycle riders ride in an enclosure on the walls. Round and round they would go coming so close to the top edge you leaned back thinking they were coming out. And grew up at the pool to the late 70’s every summer. What a great place to create memories.
Very good story. I once read a while back in a local publication from Jeannette that the “Three Stooges” actually got their start at Oakford Park playing on the stage there. Apparently they had quite an act even back then. And they rented an apartment over a garage as they got their start also.
Thanks again for the history!
@Scott Millen, Moe and Shemp were there for to summers.
This story never gets old. This was a beautiful time in this areas history. I love the pictures and the store. Until I got involved with the historical society I didn’t realize we had an amusement park here. Hard to get my head around. We are very blessed with our vast history
I had three uncles who lived up the oakford park road. Nostalgia ?
Most of the kids from Grapeville would walk a gas line road through the woods then down some private property onto the owners driveway then walk down to the old garage to cross the main road to get to the pool, spend all day at the pool and walked back home the same way. We would spend as much time as possible at the pool getting season passes if you had the money to buy one… we had a great life during the summer.
I was lucky enough to get summer passes in the 70s.
I didn’t live in Jeannette but my father worked at ASG Ind.
I remember eating the fries and drinking
Sprite. What wonderful memories I have
Wow how was it that communities were able to have such places? My parents being from Jeannette, I remember going to the pool as a kid. I always wanted to go more than we did. This would have been the 70s. The size alone was impressive. And the high dive, as a kid, was scary. It seemed so high.
The Three Stooges once performed at Oakford Park.
Moe Howard lived in Jeannette before becoming part of the three Stooges
Growing up in Jeannette in 50s and 60s Oakford Park was a big deal. As child in the late 50s my teenage siblings would take me with them if I begged enough during my teens in the late 60s and early 70s it was where you went to check out the girls and just hang out. All the awkward things teen guys do to the attention of the girls I did at Oakford.
Well-written article! Very interesting to learn about the history of this park.
Interesting read. I have a glass coin (for lack of a better word) that appears to be from a Picnic & Reunion on June 4, 1910 I have been trying to find out the something about this piece. If anybody know anything or has any information, please reach out to me.
I worked for ed Antonucci and son Anfio Antonucci 1956 to 1959. I cut the grass on the grounds surrounding the pool area and the area behind the pool house. I cleaned the pool bath dressing rooms each day. I operated the Farris wheel powered by a 5 hp Briggs and Stratton motor. Dela Shirer the daughter of ed Antonacci would serve the best French fries at the gate to the pool where she collected 25 cents from patrons entering the pool. Ed antonacci at the age of about 75 in 1955 would walk through the grassy area of the pool reminding the young lovers not to get too close or touch by tapping them with his 3 foot long stick he carried with him.
What you omitted from Oakford Park was that Moe and Shemp Howard spent two summers their in the theater.
They lived on Clay Ave above the original post office.