Valley Girl Views: DeWitt's Park, Riverside PA

Dr. Andrew DeWitt purchased 28 acres of the Van Norstran farm at the South end of Avenue E in Riverside, in 1896, with the intent of creating a 'Pleasure Resort' for the public.

The park was a popular destination for Family Reunions, and Church Picnics, into the early 1920s. Although I have read in some articles that there was no admission fee for the park, that cannot be completely accurate. In 1904, the "gate money" was used as the prize for the races. (Run by college students, the prize money was specifically to help defray college expenses). Another year, DeWitt advertised that groups could use the park for free, to make up for a period of poor weather cancelling earlier events.

The Amusement park included a race track, dance pavilion, shooting range, and baseball diamond. There was a tennis court, and private stalls for horses.

Tour Of Riverside, 1971 - Showing the location of DeWitt's Park

This 1971 map was sketched out for an event, and does not depict how Riverside looked in 1971, but rather, showed historical sights.

DeWitt purchased and installed a Merry Go Round (Carousel) at a cost of over $2,000.

In 1902 the Montour American wrote that the merry go round "which was at DeWitt's Park last summer, was taken through Danville yesterday afternoon to be set up at the park for the season.

The outfit consisted of a house wagon and a genuine old time prairie schooner. It attracted considerable attention in its progress through the streets of this city and south Danville."

1913 Sunday School Parade to Picnic at DeWitt's Park

I was curious how far the walk would have been, from brick lined bloom street to the park, and I do not have it exact - but from what I can tell, roughly 1.5 to 2 miles - not far at all.

In 1904, for labor day, the river was low and the ferry struggled to make the crossing, leaving some from Danville unable to attend the festivities at the park. That was likely due to the 1904 Ice Flood, which took out the bridge.

The park could be reached by trolley from Danville, Bloomsburg, and Berwick - the trolley began running in Danville in 1903. But it would have used the bridge that was destroyed in the 1904 ice flood.

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LABOR DAY AT DEWITT'S PARK , 1904

From the Montour American Newspaper.

The Labor Day celebration held in DeWitt's Park Monday was a fine success, there being nearly a thousand people on the ground.

The low stage of the river renders the ferry service exceedingly poor, which had the effect of keeping hundreds of people on the Danville side who would otherwise have spent the day at Dr. DeWitt's Park.

Note - In 1904, the ice flood took out the bridge between Danville and Riverside. I'm not certain when the repairs/new bridge were completed, but from this article, I think it's safe to assume it was not completed by Labor Day 1904.

A considerable number attended from Danville, however, and were transported over the river by the naphtha launches and row boats, both of which were kept busy.

Outside of the two base ball games interest centered in the races which were run by students of the Susquehanna University.

The 100-yard dash, which was ran by Fleck and Myers, was won by Fleck, whose time was 11 seconds. Myers' time was 11½ seconds.

The 220-yard dash was run by Fleck and Fox. This race was given to Fleck, who came out one foot ahead of Fox. Time, 28 seconds.

The 440-yard dash, run by Myers and Fox, was won by the latter, who came out a foot ahead.

The half-mile race, ran by Fleck and Fox, was a tie.

The winners of these races received the gate money as a prize, which is to be used in defraying college expenses.

Note: William K. Fleck & George Fox were in the class of 1907 at Susquehanna University in 1905. I did not find either of them listed when the class graduated in 1907. They are both listed as being in this culture club photo - however, the names are not listed in any sort of order. (Page with the names is at the bottom of this post)

The Danville Rifle and Gan Club held a shoot on its grounds about 2 o'clock, which afforded amusement for a good many.

A large number outside the club participated. Some of the scores, therefore, were very good, while others belonged to shooters who laid no claim to much skill with the rifle.

About 3 o'clock dancing began and continued during the evening, music being furnished by Wyle's orchestra.

Note - Wyle's Orchestra was most likely Herbert Wyle [1874-1953] .Herbert was the son Gustave Weil, a wholesale jeweler in Danville Pa. Herbert was a well known violinist, and later, a newspaperman.

Many tables were spread in the park and whole families took dinner and supper on the grounds. A very nice display of fireworks was sent op last evening.

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Abraham Tressler Dewitt
1839-1915

DeWitt was an assistant surgeon of the second regiment of the Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery for three years during the Civil War. He moved to Riverside sometime after the War, building a small cottage and operating "Dewitts Drugstore" at the corner of Ave H and Sunbury Rd.

"Eventually DeWitt closed his medical practice, built a cottage in the park and spent the remainder of his life working and improving the park. After suffering a stroke in 1912, Abraham lived with his son, William, until his death on July 21, 1915. "

Interestingly, his brother William DeWitt died just a few hours before Abrahams death. [Danville News 7/22/1915] Abraham is buried at Mt Vernon Cemetery in Riverside, William is buried at Saint Peters in Asherton Pa