Max M. Brown Memorial Park
In 1922, Jacob C. Brown and his family, owners of Standard Wood Pipe Company, donated the land for the park to the city in memory of Jacob's brother Max. The park, formally named Max M. Brown Memorial Park, included baseball fields, playgrounds, a track, tennis and volleyball courts, bathing pools and beaches, and added amusements such as a zoo, a roller coaster, & bumper cars, in 1924.
After the Amusement Company went into receivership in 1930, the rides went to the new Sunset Park on Lycoming Creek Road [opening in 1931] the zoo declined until the 1936 flood ended it, and the dance hall burned down in 1946.
Today Bowman Field is at the park, along with a swimming pool, playground area, and basketball courts.
Memorial Park Playground, 1921
In August of 1921 Jacob Brown purchased the land lying on both side of fourth street bordering Lycoming Creek. He formed the Max M. Brown Realty Company, and planned to fill the area with modest houses, since his brother Max had once said that "the most desirable citizens were those who owned their own homes."
In an article about the purchase, in the Gazette and Bulletin, the location was described as an "excellent one, in the rapidly growing west end, and is contiguous to the Memorial playgrounds, which Mr. Brown once offered to help the city secure."
Picnic At Memorial Park, 1938
In May of 1922, Jacob & Sarah Brown deeded to the city of Williamsport a 22 acre tract in memory of Jacobs Brother, Max M. Brown. The deed was officially turned over on Friday November 25th 1922. It included land along both sides of Lycoming Creek, and the West Fourth Street Extension, and adjoined Memorial field, which was already the property of the city. The land had been in virtual possession of the city since the previous spring, and a considerable portion of the ground had already been cleared of underbrush.
The final transfer was dependent upon the purchase of three small adjoining pieces of land, by the city, which is what caused the delay.
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Memorial Park Monument: World War I Gun, 1936
The only other condition of the transfer was that suitable tablets marking several pieces of the Brown plot were to be erected.
An attractive stucco building, known as the coffee house, had been constructed for picnickers, to allow for preparation of food and coffee at the park. Lumber for this coffee house was supplied by the Brown family.
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THE AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES
May 1924
In July of 1922, there was discussion in the Williamsport papers about so many from the city traveling to Edgewood Amusement Park in Shamokin, and how Williamsport could benefit from having their own Amusement Park. In April of 1923 the Grit reported that "inquiries regarding a merry-go-round, a roller coaster, and other park amusements" had been received and were likely to be at the park that year, but it appears to have been 1924 when the Amusement Park was first opened.
Memorial Park, 1929
The "Big Eli" Ferris Wheel on the right
May 1924
A Balloon Racer, and Kentucky Derby were two new amusements added in 1926
The Big Roller Coaster
A roller coaster enthusiasts forum gives the following stats for the coaster:
Big Roller Coaster
Memorial Park (Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States)
Removed, Operated from 1924 to 1930
Roller CoasterWoodSit Down
Make: Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc.
Tracks
Height 66.7 ft
Inversions 0
Details
Serial Number 43
Designer Herbert Paul Schmeck
In this photo, taken July 1930, the Memorial Park Roller Coaster can still be seen behind the baseball stadium.
In 1927, improvements to the park included: Closing the road through the midway to vehicular traffic, erecting a new pavilion, adding "Big Eli" - a Ferris wheel [which would "help to illuminate the park"], the Whip was to be moved to a "point in line with the merry go round" and a station was to be erected for the mini railroad. Plans were also made to add a dancing pavilion.
The Whip, Max M. Brown Memorial Park
In 1928 the Grit reported that Memorial Park charged no admission, and that all games and rides were 10 cents each, with special 5 cent days advertised. No gambling, nor wheels of chance, were permitted in the park. "Nothing but good clean wholesome FUN and plenty of it."
1927
The train ride can be seen on the right.
In August 1923, an artificial lake was "the latest addition to memorial Park". The southeast part of the park was cleared, with a dam added at either end. The mosser dam on Lycoming Creek was tapped to pipe into the park. A miniature railway ran around the lake, and eight ponies were available for children to ride around a bridle path laid out along the lake bank. Two telephones were installed at the park, along with additional electrical lights and toilets.
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In 1930, The Park Amusement Company, the Municipal Amusement Company, and the Kerstetter Corporation entered into an agreement to combine all Amusement Enterprises in Williamsport "under one direction." In July of 1930 a judge ordered the "bankrupt corporation" to remove all rides from Memorial Park, to a site outside of the City [Sunset Park]. $1,200 was owed to the city from the previous year.
Sunset Park, along Lycoming creek north of the High St bridge in Williamsport opened on Memorial Day, 1931, replacing the Amusement Park at the Max M. Brown park. The roller coaster was reportedly 2 feet taller, at it's new location.
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Golf
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Golf Links At Memorial Park
Opening Day, 1928
In 1925, construction of a 9 hole public golf course began at the park. The plans included two water hazards over Lycoming Creek, and was expected to be completed in the Spring of 1926.
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THE BEACH
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Memorial Park Beach, 1921
Memorial Park Beach, 1924
. The foot bridge at left spanned Lycoming Creek south of Original League Field, which is south side of West Fourth Street near Beeber Street.
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Memorial Park/Bowman Baseball Field
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Late in the summer of 1924, Williamsport baseball officials and city officials met at "Williamsport's venerable Ross Club" to discuss building a new ballpark, In, at Memorial park, land owned by the Williamsport Water Company. Negotiations continued into 1925, when an agreement was reached. A field would be built at Memorial Park.
Memorial Field was renamed Bowman Field on Wednesday June 26th, 1929.
Read more here:
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Little League Game At Memorial Park
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Tourist Camp
1934 Memorial Park Tourist Camp
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Max M. Brown died October 10th 1920, in University Hospital in Philadelphia. He had come to Williamsport from Elmira NY in 1911, and opened the Standard Wood Pipe company in the old Fischer Plant. Soon the mill outgrew that property, and a new plant was built "at the foot of Jefferson Street". Max was survived by two sisters, Bertha Erickson of Philadelphia and Lena of Williamsport, and three brothers, Jacob, Benjamin, and Paul.
In those early years, wood pipes were preferred over cast iron and metal, because they held up better. Electrolysis, caused by electrical rail lines running over the pipes, often caused metal pipes to disintegrate and burst. According to the Williamsport Gazette:
Sulfur, salts, mineral water and chemicals also quickly destroyed metal piping but surprisingly, had little effect on wood pipes.
During 1914, orders for the Williamsport wood pipe placed by municipalities and railroad, coal and manufacturing companies totaled in the millions of dollars. In one mail delivery alone, orders for more than $1M in pipe arrived at the Williamsport mill.
During WWI, The Standard Wood Pipe Co worked day and night under the supervision of Army officers, making pipe for army camps and a shipyard. Shiploads of Williamsport wood pipe were sent to France under special guard and laid right up to the front-line trenches.
The company went out of business in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. A decade later it re-opened as Easter Wood Products, which then supplied piping during WWII, when metal was scarce.
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An Index Of More Local Amusement Parks, Past & Present
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READ MORE
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The Grit 9/6/1925 -
Albert Brown 92 years old died at his home 1067 West 4th Street on Friday evening. He was born in Europe & came to this country 35 years ago. He resided in Williamsport for 15 years. He left 3 sons: Jacob C, Benjamin & Paul & 2 daughters: Mrs. Lena (Brown) Mink & Mrs. Bertha Etticson.
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