Valley Girl Views: Sunset Park, Williamsport Pa

Sunset Park, 1931-?
Located along Lycoming Creek, where the Weis Store stands today.

Operated by the Baumgard Sisters, who had formerly operated Island Park, between Sunbury and Northumberland.

In April of 1931, "Sunset Park" was decided on as the name for the new recreation center along the Lycoming Creek North of the City. The Consolidated Amusement Corporation, who was developing the park, asked school children to submit names, and the successful name was selected by two, Ruth Sadler, age 15, of Newberry, and Betty Bratzler, 9, of Montgomery. The prize of $50 was divided between them.

The park held opening ceremonies Saturday August 8th 1931.

The opening celebration included a balloon ascension (Hot Air Balloon), A concert by Brownles Hickville, Fireworks, and an orchestra for dancing.

Miss North Carolina performed a parachute jump every afternoon that week.

Park attractions included an aeroplane, Custer Card, Whip, Ferris Wheel, Shooting Gallery, Miniature Golf, Miniature railway, and more.

All rides were 5 cents for children under age 12, 10 cents for adults.

The park included a 2000 foot floodlighted bathing beach with lifeguards on duty, and a shady picnic grounds.

General admission to the park was 5 cents for children under 12, 10 cents for adults.

The Baumgart sisters had formerly operated the Island Park Pavilion (between Sunbury and Northumberland), and "were associated with their father in the management of the Armory Skating Rink." Two of the girls held their weddings in Roller Skating Rinks, with the entire bridal party on skates.

A Map of the park, as sketched from Memory By Someone Who Worked There

1931 - several notices announced that next years various reunions would be held at Sunset Park in Williamsport.

1932 - August, Political Rally held at park

1938 - Newspapers around the state reported that "At Williamsport, three sisters, Beatrice, Henrietta and Victory Baumgart, operate a roller skating rink"

1938 - "the distinction of being the first organization to present the Blue Barron Band on this tour came to the Baumgard Sisters due to the fact that the girls are personal friends of the famous band leader."

1938 - September 19th - Guy Lombardo

1938 - October 31 - Chick Webb Orchestra with ELLA FITZGERALD, for the Jitterbug Jamboree Halloween Dance

1938 - December 9 - Horace Heidt, who was offering a $50 cash prize to the winner of a jitterbug contest to be staged in connection with his appearance.

1939 - April 12, Benny Goodman performed at the Easter Dance

1941 - Beatrice Baumgart married Richard Motter of Jersey Shore, at the Sunset park Skating Rink. The entire bridal party was on roller skates, "including her father, who gave her his personal bible when he presenter her in marriage"

1942 - Sunset Park Skating Rink leased by Bethlehem Steel Corporation, to construct wire protective nets for ships. Three shifts of 50 men each employed in construction. "The skating Rink has been operated for the past 6 years by the Baumgart Sisters"

1942 - announcement made of the engagement of Miss Henrietta Baumgart to C. Larue Tyson of Jersey Shore. Miss Baumgart, a graduate of Northumberland High School, planned a wedding on skates, at the Armory. "The couple will be married on roller skates at the armory rink, at Williamsport, with the entire wedding party on Roller Skates."

1945 - July 25 - Cetelin & Wilson shows, a Carnival, was performing at Sunset Park. And 18 year old carnival worker, from Virginia, drowned while working there that week. A week later, a fellow carnival worker nearly drowned in the same spot, but he was saved by a companion.

1946 - March 23 - "A new toboggan, rowboats, and a diving platform are among improvements at Sunset Park, which is owned by the Baumgard Sisters. F. Baumgard [Fred, the girls father] is manager."

1946 - Advertisement for Sunset Park Skating Rink

1946 - Announcement was made of the reopening of Sunset Park, Williamsport Roller Skating Rink, after completion of repairs to damage suffered during the May flood. A new floor had been laid, new equipment and furnishings installed, and the building was to be veneered in mountain stone.

1948 - June 7 - "Follow the Giant Searchlight" to Sunset Park for the Penn Premier Shows Company events including Speedy Bauers Wall of Death, Jarvis the Great, Manhattan Scandalas, and Have You Seen Stella. All rides and shows half price June 12th.

1949 - Sept 25 - Oct 16th - Dr Bob Wells, Evangelist. 2000 attended on Saturday Night. In his sermon, he urged the audience to make an "all out fight against Sunday Movies in Williamsport" Sunday School Night was held Monday the 3rd.

1950 - Commonwealth Magazine reported that three divisions of Sylvania Electric Products were well represented in Lycoming County. The Radio Tube Division Operated at Sunset Park.

1952 - The Circus was held at Maple Showgrounds "Near Sunset Park" on 15 North.

1953 - Part of the Eastern Part of Sunset Park was cleared for the West Williamsport Dike Project.

1953 - Sandy Ray Hosiery Mill Opened at Sunset Park, 1840 Lycoming Creek Road Williamsport

The A&P opened at Sunset Park in 1957.

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Fred W. Baumgart, 76, Ex-Pavilion Operator Fred W. Baumgart, 76, of Williamsport, died Friday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. LaRue Tyson, Mansfield. He was a native of Chicago and once operated Sun set Park in Williamsport. Two other daughters and six grand children survive. Private rites were held Sunday in Jersey Shore. .Mr. Baumgart was well known in the area and at one time, some years ago, operated the pa vilion at Island Park, between Sunbury and Northumberland when that park was a thriving business. After operating the Is land Park Pavilion, he went to Williamsport where he was en gaged in similar activities. at of of
Obituary 07 Jun 1965
Henrietta Augusta [Baumgart] Tyson went on to own and operate Tyson's Rink in Mansfield Pa. She died December 22 1998, at the age of 81.
The Baumgart Sisters were:
Henrietta 1918 - Married C. Larue Tyson
Victory "Teddy" - 1919 - 2003 Married William L. Sechrist. Graduated from South Williamsport High School in 1936. Lived in Piatt Twp along 220, across from Penton Automotive.
Beatrice " 1921 - 2013 Married Richard R. Motter
Food Chain Buys Third Street Lot
The property at the northwest corner of East Third Street and River Avenue has been sold by John Peters, Sons, wholesale meat packer, to Weis Pure Food Stores. The property is part of a plot that's vacant between Third Street and Washington Boulevard, three blocks west of the intersection of the two streets.
A spokesman for the area grocery chain indicated the firm would be ready to announce the plans within a few weeks.

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Not to be confused with the Sunset Park in Chester County, site of the famed country and bluegrass landmark. https://bluegrasstoday.com/sunset-park-designated-a-pennsylvania-landmark/