Valley Girl Views: Herdic Park [Old Oaks Park], Williamsport Pa

Herdic Park, as shown on the 1872 Fowler Map

The first mention I found of Herdic Park was in 1869. Many groups, including the Washies Fire Company, had their annual picnics here. The horse races brought in some of the most famous race horses from around the state. The park was incorporated in 1871.

Within the city limits is Herdic Park - a magnificent race-course and exhibition ground, -embracing thirty-five acres, on which are erected suitable buildings of superior construction. In connection with the park are hatching-houses and trout-ponds where at least half a million of the "speckled beauties" may at any time be see in all stages of development." The Pennsylvania Railroad, by Sipes

Herdic Park On the Sanborn Fire Map

[By The 1870s] The Local baseball scene shifted to the inner concourse of the Old Oak (Herdic) Park race track where fans flocked to witness some of the best baseball played in teh north-central riter of Pennsylvania" - Williamsport Baseball History by Quiegle & Hunsinger

"The lovers of pictorial amusement will find the Herdic Park with its extensive trout ponds where if we mistake not they may even angle among the hundred thousand trout a spot of exciting interest. Our Herdic House the largest hotel in the State 156 feet square with its beautiful and romantic surroundings is the pride of our citizens and the admiration of visitors." 1871 Pennsylvania School Journal

"Lovers of sport in its now corrupted sense i e sporting men find themselves at home in Herdic Park where there is a magnificent race course and followers of Izaak Walton are equally at home in the hatching houses and trout ponds connected with the park It is one thing to catch trout and another thing to watch trout but the mere sight of them is not without interest even to piscatory laymen There are at least a half million of these little speckled creatures here in all stages of diminution and magnitude "

In 1884, Herdic Park was purchased by by the Hon. R.J.C. Walker, and renamed it for the "magnificent grove of old oaks" Old Oaks Park covered 20 [27? Or 20 even?] acres, including a grove of large oak trees and several springs of ice cold water, some "having water all the time, three feet in depth."

Lining the grove was a long grame building over 160 feet in width by 30 feet in widthe.

On the second story is the grand stand, with seating capacity for over 2000 persons. The building was completely rebuilt in 1884. It was trimmed in Tuscan red, striped with black. A dining room and restaurant was inside the building. The race track was half a mile long, 50 feet wide, except at the home stretch where it was 65 feed wide.

The first mention I found of Old Oaks Park was in 1884.

May 1885

"He [Robert McClure] married Mary, a daughter of William Hepburn, who owned what was then known as “Deer Park”, comprising 320 acres. Old Oaks Park, site of the Williamsport Hospital, was a portion of this splendid estate."

Today, Williamsport hospital sits on the site of Old Oaks Park.

July 1889

"That same year, the hospital began looking for a larger building. A house on Pine Street near Fifth Avenue was purchased. Although this facility was larger, it had its drawbacks. A nearby railroad created a lot of noise that was distracting to ill patients, and when the flood of 1889 filled the building with three feet of muddy water, the board of managers was finally convinced that it was time to find a more appropriate location. Eventually, a large tract of land, called Old Oaks Park, in the vicinity of Louisa and Campbell Streets and Rural Avenue, was being opened for development and the board of managers purchased an entire city block and built a new facility that was opened in 1891. Over 100 years later, the main building of the Hospital is still located on this site and is today The Williamsport Hospital campus of Susquehanna Health." https://www.susquehannahealth.org/about/our-history

August 1889

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October 25 1873 - James Van Dyke of Turbotville, severely injured when Kentucky George, the thoroughbred horse he was riding at a race in Williamsport, fell. The horse broke its neck and died under the wire a winner.

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June 12 1885

A Well-Known Turfman' Dancer. Frank L. Herdlc, a well-known pool seller or the national circuit, had a narrow escape from death on the track on Friday at Old Oaks park, Williamsport, After the races were over a large number of citizens In private, vehicles drove on the course, as is me custom. Among them was Mr. Herdic, with a black horse, which he purchased in Philadelphia last week. He speeded the animal and was going down the stretch at a 2:25 gait when, in turning out for a carriage, his wagon upset Mr. Herdic was thrown out, and his feet caught In the spokes of the rear wheels. The horse ran away and In this position he was dragged five hundred feet on his back, when a horseman very pluckily dashed out, grasped the horse by the nose and checked his violent career. Mr Herdics escape from terrible death was almost miraculous and people who witnessed the affair say that in another moment he would have been dashed to pieces against the fence that surrounds the track. His shoulder was dislocated and two ribs broken.

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