Nippono Park

Nippono Amusement Park

1888-1917/20

Nippono Park began as a picnic grove on land owned by W.G. & Timothy Clancy.  

In  1888 the park was leased by the Nippono Park Association, with Dr. J. Stickel, as president, and   J.M. Youngman as secretary.  A large hall for dining rooms,  and a platform for dancing, were installed in late July of that year.

Arrangements were made for a steam boat to travel from the "foot of Locust Street" in Williamsport, 11 miles north to Nippono, four times a week that summer.  "Persons taking this trip have a full view of the boom and enjoy a ride of rare pleasure." Grit 7/1888

"Situated on the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad and the West Branch of the Susquehanna, two miles below Jersey Shore Station", an August 26th 1888 advertisement in the Pennsylvania Grit called the park "The most popular resort in the county." 

 By 1892 it had a dancing pavilion, bathing facilities, and a number of privately owned seasonal cottages.

"Located in the extreme northeastern corner of Nippenose Twp. at the Oxbow Bend in the river a few miles south of Jersey Shore, it was the first of the parks, in the area. "

Many Williamsport families owned cottages at either Sylan Dell or Nippono. Enough families stayed at Nippono throughout the summer that in 1892 a post office was opened for the convenience of the summer residents.

In 1905 the Jersey Shore & Antes Fort Railway Co. was established and began operations The company directors entered into a lease agreement with the Clancy's, to operate Nippono Park as an amusement park.

An electric plant was built on the grounds, and the park was wired with lights. A second pavilion was constructed, and the railway printed a souvenir brochure focusing on the legend of Nippenuce, an Indian hermit who was said to have lived by the spring in the park. Postcards were printed and sold.

Entire Souvenir Booklet included at the bottom of this post.

The Nippono became a typical Trolley Park of  the time, with a dancing pavilion, movie theater, miniature railroad, roller skating, merry go round and even more private cottages.  It was a popular spot for Sunday School picnics, and family reunions.  The biggest attendance days were when the local railroad shops held their picnics at the park.

Skating rink can be seen in the background

As was common with all of the trolley owned parks along the west branch, the Amusement Park proved to be more expense than profit. By 1913 the Railway Company board refused to put any more money into the endeavor. In 1915 & 1916, the park was operating on a very limited basis, with no concessions or amusement activities. Families continued to summer at the cottages, and the trolley company continued to run occasional cars to serve them, through the summer of 1917.

But by the end of 1917, the trolley company received permission the tear up the tracks between Antes Fort and the park, and soon the Nipponono Amusement Park was no more.

In January of 1920 the Gazette and Bulletin reported that the "once great Nippono park which was the most popular summer resort in this section of the county for many years is being gradually deserted" The large dancing and skating pavilion was torn down and "shipped away" in 1920. The only buildings remaining were the restaurant and cottages. "Besides taking away the pavilion, the Jersey Shore and Antes Fort Street Car company has removed the rails and wires running to the park."

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1888 - Nippono's First Season

A DAY AT NIPPONO.
July 29th 1888
The New Pleasure Resort Up the River
Eleven Miles from the City.
FINE SCENERY ALONG THE ROUTE.

SOME WORK THAT IS TO BE DONE NEXT YEAR.

At the invitation of the stockholders, the SUN AND BANNER representatives stepped aboard a little steamer at the foot of locust street yesterday morning at 9 o'clockk, and was soon whirling up the river on a trip to Nippono Park, the new re-sort about eleven miles from the city. There were, about forty people in the party, which included J. Nickel, President of the Nippon Park Association, and wife, a number of stockholders with their families. and several invited friends, who were going op to enjoy a day in the woods and inspect the Park.

The trip up was a delightful one. and the scenery is magnificent and cannot be surpassed anywhere in this section. After you reach DuBois-town the big boom is seen, and its long stretch of logs piled up high In air and reaching nearly to the bottom of the river Is sight that Is not easily forgotten.

Then the pretty bends in the river as you speed on your way reveal something new and fascinating at every -point. On the way up a small craft was sighted in the distance and on getting nearer it was discovered to be a "little steamer for a cent." about ten feet long, occupied by "Condy" Strine, Frank Allewelt and another gentleman. who were enjoying life on the river like regular old salts.

AT THE PARK.

The park was reached about 11 o'clock, and the party at once took to the woods to enjoy the beautiful scenes that present themselves on every side. An innocent little garter snake was dispatched by one of the party first thing and after that half the ladies scattered if a leaf rustled under their feet.

Nippono Park is one of the finest locations for a resort on the river, and anyone who spends a day there is impressed with the manner in which nature has adapted things generally. The possibilities of the place are great and there is no doubt but what it can be transformed with very little trouble into one or the most beautiful of retorts.

 A ravine through which courses a clear run of sparkling water is to be dammed up and converted Into a lake, over which will be built a rustic bridge, and boats will be placed on the water. Then pleasant walks are to be built through the woods to various points, cottages erected, and the whole place converted into a veritable paradise.

 A dancing floor is already under way, and an eating stand will follow this building.

A rustic stairway will be built up from the river front and a floating wharf will also be constructed.

Next year a large double deck steamer will be put on the river, and the accommodations will then be about complete.

The view from the park up the river is immense. Crane's Island is seen in the distance and the most beautiful scenery meets gaze on every hand. A cool breeze blows in from the water all the time, an ice cold spring quenches the thirst, and altogether It is just the place to keep cool

A PHRENOLOGIST IN CAMP

 During the afternoon it man attired in a dress suit that wasn't made this year, and wearing long, curly hair and beard strolled Into camp from the rear everybody wondered what it was. He soon made known that be was a phrenologist and immediately commenced fooling bumps for a quarter. He told one man that ho had a bigger head than a Congressman and that he wasn't crazy to work, while to another he told another fairy tale. He was kept busy for some time, after which he left as silently as he came.

 The homeward trip was wade In about two hours and a half and proved to be as delightful a ride on the water its going up. Everybody had thoroughly enjoyed the day and was glad that they had gone to the park

A picnic at Nippono

Lee Berry acted as pilot of the steamer, while Danny Strauser attended to the engine, and they did their work well. It was intended to comment-a making regular trips to the Park to-morrow, but on account of the non-completion of the buildings they will not begin till Thursday next, at 8:30 am. Several picnic parties have already been arranged for the Park and its popularity Is already assured

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1889 - The Second Season

A Trip To Nippono, 1889

As printed in the Williamsport Sun Gazette

May 16th 1889

The people are beginning to make for the woods. On Tuesday a party went to Nippono park for May flowers and were very successful in getting them and had a splendid time otherwise.

The trip up the river on the fine steamer “Niponno”  is one never to be forgotten period the view of the log boom is very interesting,  the logs above the railroad bridge being piled up twenty feet into the air.  After reaching the park all went direct to the restaurant and enjoyed some of Mr. Forman’s excellent ice cream and cake.  He has a well stocked restaurant and will supply regular meals.

The trees are now in full leaf and will Never look better period everything appears so fresh and cleaned about the park. The birds sang and make the woods joyous. It is well worth the while to make the trip to see the acres of may apple blossoms.

The time for leaving came all too soon and they all felt like going right back next morning. There was a regular station on the Philadelphia and Erie railroad at the park called Niponno and most all trains stop there.

Captain Crane is the pilot on the boat. And Mr. Barringer the engineer and under their careful management a quick trip home was made.

As soon as that is warm enough the park association intends fixing houses for bathing at the river, and will have bathing suits for rent. This would be a thing long needed in the area. There is a beautiful beach at the upper end of the park and fun that will be had there this summer will be “a cantion” as Pat McFadden would say.  No one who goes to the park will regret the time or money spent there. 

Great improvements have been made there since last season; there has been erected A 2 story building for the manager to live in and have a boarding house and restaurant and other buildings are being created. Nippono is bound to succeed.

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COTTAGES

"The Hazlet, Green, and Cornell cottages were said to be the first constructed at the site.  In several instances, a cottage owner rebuilt after a fire"  SG 1976

Nippenuce

Torrence Saylor Cottage

Another view of the Saylor cottage?

In May of 1905 Constable Hartman returned from Slate Run, where he had searched the house in which George Mitcheel boarded. Mitchell was charged with robbing Kavanaughs cabin at Nippono park. [Some of the items reported stolen were found by Hartman]

In 1909, additional cottages were being built at Nippono.  

A picnic, with the dance hall in the background

Other cottage owners included: Cole Green, John Hazelet, Charles Seeley, Robert & Clinton McCullough, Charles Shempp, Harold Brown, John Hopkins, Timothy Evans, Henry Myers, and the Wren, Sallada ["Locust Lodge"], Kavanaugh, Kackenmeister, Hartman, Youngman and Cornell cabins.

Henry Meyers Cottage at Nippono

The Bungalow, Nippono Park

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AMUSEMENTS

A merry go round, miniature railroad, penny arcade, baseball field, and a skating rink and dance floor. 

A small theater hosted amateur theatricals.

The Carousel was coal-fired, steam operated. The ride cost 5 cents.

"In the park itself, the center of attraction, is the newly equipped theater, and around it is grouped all the amusements of dancing, music, miniature railroad, in fact all that makes for a up to date summer resort, without the hotel and the brood of coarse and low pleasures that follows in the wake of the summer resort bar-room....

All these have been studiously avoided, not only for virtue’s sake, but as well out of respect for the memory that hovers over this sacred spot. It is this exemption from all forms of vulgarity and coarseness that has made Nippono Park so popular amongst the cabin dwellers. Here the whole family may find a pleasant and innocent outing, surrounded by all the luxuries of a watering place.” - Souvenir Booklet

Dancing bears, such as Maud, were entertainment at the park.

1908 advertisement for "Box Ball" -  a sort of bowling - at Nippono

A group of men posed in front of the dance hall at Nippono

Miniature R.R. Nippono Park

Train Ride at Nippono Park

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BOATING

 

"The fishing, nowhere finer, has been cultivated and guarded till it has become a veritable paradise for the knights of the Rod and Reel.... boating on the great lake formed by the Williamsport Dam, the head waters of which are at the park wharves, cannot be equaled for canoe, launch or steamer" - Souvenir Booklet

In 1908 two 35 foot boats were being built at Nippono, "for the pleasure of parties".

The dock was located at "Level Corner".

In 1912 a floating platform gave way, with more than 100 who were standing on it dropped into the river.  None were drowned.

• On August 15th 1892, Charles Cook was drowned in the river at Nippono Park.  The Lewisburg Journal reporred that he and a comrade had been intoxicated when they went out in a boat that capsized.
• 21 year old Bashie Miller died in a boating accident at Nippono Park in July 1911.

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BATHING 

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"The bathing facilities, on the long sand beach of Crane’s Island, have been modernized and thoroughly equipped in the most modern mode" - Souvenir Booklet

Bath House & Park Office, Nippono Park

• Nine year old Rathmell Duffield lost life while swimming at Nippono Park, July 3 1913

The bathing houses were moved from the island to the bank, in 1910.

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THE WREN'S NEST

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a The “Wren’s Nest” was a viewing platform providing opportunities for photos.

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Partial Park Map

"This park is in one of the most beautiful groves in the state. There are very large beech and elm trees in it, and one of the strongest springs of water". Grit 7/1888

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LOCATION

As shown on the 1896 Map Of Lycoming County

Nippono Park was located "on the eastern end of Nippenose Bottom, where the broad bend of the river that defines the township runs up against the mountains again. "

"Old timers say the land on which Nippono Park was located originally was owned by the McKinnah Estate.  It was acquired by William and Timothy Clancy, prosperous farmers who owned the land all the time the park was in existence and leased it to the cabin owners and those who operated the park.  The Clancy's resided on the farm land nearby."  - 1976 Sun Gazette article

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STEAM SHIPS

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 In August of 1888 the steamboat "Alice" was advertised to leave Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 9am, from the foot of Locust Street. Adults were 30 cents, children 15 cents, for the round trip. The Return boat left Nippono at 5pm.  

The wooden steps leading up to the train tracks are visible behind the spring

Also in August of 1888, a stop at the park was added by the Pennsylvania Railroad, and "solid wooden steps about forty feet in length have been placed at the entrance of the grounds"

In 1889, the Sun Gazette reported that a group had traveled on the "Nippono" to Nippono park. "Captain Crane is the pilot on the boat. And Mr. Barringer the engineer and under their careful management a quick trip home was made." The Nippono steamer was mentioned in newspaper articles through 1891.

Michael Crane owned and ran the first boat to Nippono Park.

History of Lycoming County By Meginness

The Abe Lincoln "the new steamer that D.N. Thomas will run between Williamsport and Nippono" was first launched in April of 1906.  "The boat draws about 31 inches of water, which gives it a weight of about 65 tons.  It is about 71 feet long and its beam is a trifle over 16 feet.  The Able Lincoln is a twin screw steamer, the first one on this section of the river, and the propellers are driven by four powerful engines, two on each shaft, the marine boiler of special make is guaranteed to stand a pressure of 160 pound, sufficient to furnish power to drive the boat through the water faster than anything that ever appeared on the river have."

The Lincoln made the trip from Williamsport to Nippono in just an hours time.

The "Lincoln" at Market Street Bridge. On back of photo: " Abe Lincoln transported people to Sylvan Dell Park (sister boat to Hiawatha)."

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TROLLEY

 The Antes Fort Trolley line was opened on February 1, 1905. The segment to Nippono Park was opened on May 30 of the same year. • the distance from the Broad and Seminary sts. carbarn to Nippono was 4.50 miles, 2.50 miles from Jersey Shore to Antes Fort — the "Jersey Shore" station of the Pennsylvania Railroad - and another 2.0 miles from there to the park on the south bank of the river at Crane's Island.

The Trolley tracks were removed between 1917 and 1920. The company stopped investing in Nippono in 1913, while still under  a lease agreement.

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THE SOUVENIR BOOKLET

 

Looking towards park from Newberry

Pennsylvania Bridge At Nisbet [Covered Bridge]

The Linden Boom

More about the Lumber Booms in the River

 

 

 

Read about Jay Cooke, and his fishing lodge in Lycoming County that hosted both  Presidents & Movie Stars.

 

 

 

Youngman's Cottage

  

Old Woolen Mill on Antes Creek

Foster Fort - Lochbar

More about this monument - 

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-widaagh-monument-in-antes-fort.html

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1973 article mentioning the booklet

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READ MORE

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In July of 1908, 200 Williamsporters joined the Renovo Shopmen for a picnic a Nippono.  "All told, upwards of 2,000 picnickers were at the up-river park" G&B 1908

History Of Lycoming County, By Meginness, published in 1892

Sources:

• Lots of Newspaper Articles
• “Jersey Shore and Antes Fort Railway - Souvenir of Nippono Park”, published by Grit Press [abt 1913?]
• “The Toonerville Interurban That Met All the Trains – A History of the Jersey Shore and Antes Fort Railway”, by Gene D. Gordon.
• “History of Lycoming County”, John F. Meginness 1892.