The Oppenheimer Playground - A Sunbury Merchant's Legacy

The Oppenheimer Playground was established by a trust left by Mrs Jennie Weinreich in 1926.  She directed that it be named the Oppenheimer Pleasure Grounds, for her first husband, Sunbury merchant Adolph Oppenheimer.

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The Oppenheimer Store
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Adolph Oppenheimer operated a mens clothing store for many years at the corner of Market and Third Streets.  

Oppenheimer & Jonas Men's Clothing Store

Corner of 3rd and Market Streets, Sunbury PA

[Note - Lorenzo DaPonte, the librettist for Mozart, built a building on the southwest corner of 3rd & Market Streets - this exact location. But probably not this exact building. ]

From Adolph's Obituary, in 1916:

"Mr. Oppenheimer was a shining example of a "self made man." Coming a this country from Germany, in 1866, after spending 5 five years at Lebanon, he decided to locate at Trevorton. He conducted a store at that place for three years and in 1874 came to Sunbury, where he purchased half interest in a small store conducted by Mr. Simon. 

The firm was known as Simon and Oppenheimer, and they occupied a room fronting about 20  feet on Market street and extending less than fifty feet along Third street. The room was enlarged from time time, as the business warranted. In 1886 Mr Simon sold bis Interest to Mr. Oppenheimer, and returned Europe.

Mr. Oppenheimer continued the business until 1895, when a
half interest was sold to his head clerk. M. Jonas, the firm name then becoming Oppenheimer and Jonas. This partnership continued until April 1, 1910, whcn Mr Jonas bought out the interets of Mr.Oppenheimer, who retired.

 He had accumulated a comfortable fortune from his strict attention to  business and his courteous treatment of those with whom he had business dealings. Realizing Sunbury's bright futured, he bought the building, at 360, Market street, which is now occupied by the Magnet store. Quick's barber shop and the Elk's club rooms. He also owns a handsome on Arch street. He was a direcior of the Sunbury Trust and Safe Deposit Company and served a term in borough council.

Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, of Sunbury. and the Caldwell Consistory at Bloomsburg."

When Jennie Married Charles Weinreich in 1923, the papers reported that she was "the town's richest woman".    She died on August 30th 1926.  Under the terms of her estate, $150,000 was set aside for the playground.  She also left a fund to provide coal to the needy in Sunbury, in the amount of $50,000, in addition to $25,000 she left to the Sunbury Hospital.

April 1927

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THE LOCATION

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Prior to 1926, the site that the playground is now located on  was known as the "Basin", having been used at one time to float logs in from the Susquehanna River for use in the nearby lumber industries [Ira Clement's Lumber Yard]

1896 map showing the two lumber ponds at Ira Clements Lumber Yard, along both sides of 2nd street.

The ground was purchased and filled in to create the current recreation center.  One early article mentioned that a few years later, the second "basin", on the opposite side of second street, was acquired by Brosious Lumber company and was filled in for the firms lumber yard, offices, and mill.  "For years, the two bodies of stagnant water on eaither ide of Second Street at that point had been the source of odors in warm weather and breeding places for mosquitos.  Their elimination constituted a major public improvement."

Sanborn Fire Map Showing the "Swampy Basin" and the "Pond"

In 1947, additional ground to the north, known as Greenough Field, was purchased as a recreational annex to the main grounds.

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THE PLAYGROUND

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In 1933 the Harrisburg Telegraph reported that the Oppenheimer Playgrounds in Sunbury held their annual pet show on July 14th. "One hundred and fifty children exhibited stuffed and live pets. Among the casualties were: Escape of pet ants from a match box, owned by Gladys Knauer . Loss of first place in the small animal division.  Charles Jones, entering 19 pets, had his snakes coiled about his wrists, arms, and leg.  Peggy Hoffman showed the blackest cat.  Martha Seid's dog had the longest tail among those presented, winning by an inch."

In 1934 the Oppenheimer Pleasure Grounds began it's annual "Learn To Swim" campaign, in conjunction with the Island Park Swimming Pool.  Children would leave the playground and go to the pool each Tuesday from 10am to noon.

Motion pictures were shown at the park, and sewing classes were held there.  A midget baseball team was established in 1949. 

Classroom Instruction at Oppenheimer Playground, 1957.

Named in the photo: Betty Pursel, Debora Straud, Frances Wirt, Lois Smith, Janice Troutman

"Intensive boxing instructions" were also held at Oppenheimer in 1934, as well as "big muscle activities, handicrafts, workshop crafts, sewing crafts, dramatics, and dancing."

Woodcraft At Oppenheimer, 1957

Named in photo are: Dan Ney, Carl Bidelspach, Francis Slack, Ron Underkoffler and Jim Klinger

1957, at Oppenheimer Playground

In 1963, employees of the playground were constructing a fiberglass roof over the tumbling area, and cleaning off the old paint from the wading pool to prepare it for painting.  General activities at the playground,  in 1963,  included:

two sandboxes, one wading pool, three kelly slides, a log swing, 12 suspension swings, 2 climbing ladder bards, a "jungle jim", merry-go-round, tight rope walk, three tether ball games, a badminton court, a  regulation basketball court, junior basketball area and a bowling lane.  Also, two shuffleboard lanes, basket ball throw, striking bag, building block area, two rocking teeters, trapeze bar, climbing ladder, rope clime, boxed golf game, table of tracks and trains.  Quiet games included checkers, camelot, jacks, puzzles, small blocks, teeko, & parchesi.

1984

On December 31st 1998, the First National Trust Bank who administered the Oppenheimer Trust, transfered ownership of the playground to the city of Sunbury.  The city could qualify for funds that a private trust could not, to maintain and purchase equipment for the playground.

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READ MORE

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Woman Wills Vast Sum For Sunbury Welfare Nearly a Quarter Million Dollars

 Available for Playgrounds, Hospital and Aid of the Poor

 No more generous contribution to the welfare and happiness of Sunbury residents has been made, in round figures, than that provided by the late Mrs. Jennie Oppenheimer Weinreich, beloved Sunbury citizen, according to a survey of the first and partial account of her estate filed yesterday. Legacies totaling close to a quarter of a million dollars were provided in the will of Mrs. Welnreich and the Oppenheimer-Weinreich public playground at Second and Line streets, a liberal bequest to the Mary M. Packer Hospital and a fund for the purchase of coal for the needy families of the city are fitting memorials of her generosity.

The residue of the estate, which was bequeathed for the purpose of establishing the public playground at Second and Line streets, totaled $156,000, according to the account filed. The report shows that from this sum $41,000 was expended on the purchase and improvement of a site, $14,500 having been paid for the land, $21,000 for filling and grading and $5,300 for the erection of the buildings, fences and equipment. This leaves a balance of $115,000 in the playground fund and this sum is invested, the income to be used for the perpetual maintenance of the pleasure spot. The playground Ls one of the finest to be found anywhere. Its future is well secured by reason of its large endowment- It is a beauty spot on the site of what was formerly one of the city's worst eye sores, a large marshy lowland in the heart of the city.

The coal fund with interest has grown from $45,250 to $57,000. From the income of this fund, the sum of $10,443 had been spent up to April 16 to provide fuel for needy households, according to the report. The report shows that the sum of $22,625 was paid from the estate to the Mary M. Packer Hospital, to be used lor 'general purposes, in accordance with the provisions of Mrs. Weinreich's will.

Several generous bequests to friends and faithful employees of Mrs. Weinreich were also provided in her will-She was one of Sunbury's most public-spirited residents and her quiet works of charity during her life time were numerous. She was the widow of A. Oppenheimer, for many years a prominent Sunbury merchant, and later she was married to Charles Weinreich, of New York. Mr.

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Directors & Staff:

Claude Ruch served as the playgrounds first director.  Richard Abbott became director in 1936.

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1954

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