It is good to remember what was, learn from it and continue moving forward.
There
it was, treetop height above my head, an old rusty cable wire
stretched from one side of the river bank to the other. It hung in the
air like a well loved memory, begging for its story to be told. So, here goes.
Just
the other week my family and I went to a picnic on the Lehigh River,
about seven walking miles from Easton. It was there that we were
generously offered the opportunity
to take a speed boat tour of the river, As my wife and two girls were
enjoying the ride we drove under a strange, rusty cable wire. So, my
wife asked the driver what it was dangling ominously over our heads. He
replied that it was the only remaining object
left from a onetime amusement park called Island Park that had been
abandoned years ago.
Island
Park, located near Easton, Pennsylvania is a fascinating story. Built
in 1894 it was a quaint little amusement park that captured the early
twentieth century imagination.
It was quite the charming amusement park for its day. A trolley
company built the park on an island, spanning up to 100 acres. To get
to the park the trolleys would run from Easton, then along the scenic
Lehigh river and then finally over a trestle onto
the island.
The
park’s notable rides consisted of a roller coaster, merry-go round,
Ferris wheel, and a miniature Black Diamond train. There was also a
dance pavilion, picnic grooves
as well and an outdoor amphitheater, where John Philip Sousa performed
on more than one occasion. Quite the place for the young and old alike
to relax and enjoy a little bit of heaven for a day.
Sadly,
the ill-conceived park gave way to Mother Nature when numerous ice
flows during the winters decimated the trolley trestle more than once.
Consequently, in 1919 the
park had its last season and then closed selling off all their rides.
Hard to believe something so wonderful had an expiration date, but life
is funny that way.
As
we continued cruising on our boat ride, it seemed sad that what sounded
like a once magical place now lay hidden by an over gown mass of
greenery. As if had never been
inhabited at all. A tree shrouded island with secrets waiting to be
told had fallen victim to
here today and gone tomorrow.
All of us, like Island Park, follow this premise:
we are created, we exist, and then we ultimately meet our end. Which leads me to this major burning question -
will you leave a lasting impression with your life?
May all our lives be remembered for more than just a rusty cable wire.
Swavel
Author’s Note: Information about Island Park was taken form an article in the Morning Call written on Sept 11th, 1994 by Denise Reaman
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