| Author | Message | ||
     extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 473 Registered: 6-2001 |
For your convenience, a few links about Maplewood's Olympic Park... http://community.webshots.com/album/51720910hrynZy Link has some photos of the park after it closed. A couple of great pictures of "the worlds largest swimming pool" http://www.virtualnewarknj.com/parks/olympic/index.htm Lots of great period pictures. What they list as the "Golden Carousel" is the current name of the carousel at Disney World, but when it was in Maplewood is was called "Liberty" or something like that. http://www.gameroommagazine.com/bk_olympic.htm Buy a book on Olympic park... I read this book about 10-15 years ago. Its got tons of pictures, but mostly black and white. The library has a (remembering back...) dog eared copy There are a ton more links but most are Disney guides about the carousel, and contain some misinformation  Best to avoid -John | ||
| durandhedden Citizen Username: Durandhedden Post Number: 43 Registered: 1-2002 |
The terrific book on Olympic Park by Alan Siegel, Smile,is available at the Durand-Hedden House Country Store. Should you want a copy, the house will have two more programs this season - a Revolutionary War Muster on Sat. May 21 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and a Strawberry Festival on Sun. June 5th from 1 - 4 p.m. The house is at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood. Drop in! | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3734 Registered: 9-2001  |
Extuscan, Thanks for the memories John. I learned to swim in their pool, had a summer job running the kiddy rides, and had a brand new bike stolen from me there... | ||
| ReallyTrying Citizen Username: Reallytrying Post Number: 627 Registered: 1-2003  |
I've never heard of this park before! Where was it? | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 475 Registered: 6-2001 |
Go down springfield ave, turn right on to chancellor ave by the bus terminal, and split between Maplewood and Irvington was the amusement park. Everything that you see that looks like late 70's industrial was once Olympic Park. When the industrial buildings end, take a right. Go down a block or two to "Olympic Community Market" and find out what good kielbasa really tastes like. --John | ||
| Psychomom Citizen Username: Psychomom Post Number: 85 Registered: 5-2005 |
This may be of interest... October 16, 2005 Amusement Close to Home: Maplewood's Olympic Park Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Information: The Durand-Hedden House and Garden, 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood invites the public to its October open house titled, Amusement Close to Home: Maplewood’s Olympic Park . On Sunday, October 16 at 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. historian Alan Siegel will stir memories and amazement with his popular slide show about this beloved local amusement park in the Hilton section. Olympic Park began in the Victorian era as a German picnic ground and grew to delight thousands with varied entertainments that spanned an opera house, a roller-coaster and a roller-rink, marathon dance contests, the world’s largest outdoor swimming pool, and a merry-go-round that now graces Disney World. The park closed in 1965. Mr. Siegel will also sign copies of his book,"Smile" which will be on sale. Also on view will be the exhibit "Historic Hilton and its Historic Highway (Springfield Ave.)". | ||
| durandhedden Citizen Username: Durandhedden Post Number: 47 Registered: 1-2002 |
Thanks for being so observant Psychomom. I had posted this information here, but somehow it didn't get registered. We hope all of you that are intrigued about Olympic Park will come ! Susan Newberry - Durand-Hedden House | ||
| letters Citizen Username: Letters016 Post Number: 424 Registered: 5-2005  |
I spoke to my wife about this. When she grew up here in the 60-70's they lived on Boyden Parkway. She loved this place and told me she once won the weekly beauty contest (her mom still has the picture). She didn't win in the end, though. | ||
| shestheone Citizen Username: Shestheone Post Number: 214 Registered: 5-2003 |
We recently visited Disney World in Orlando. When I checked in at Guest Services and told the guy behind the counter I was from Maplewood, he said, "Did you know our carousel comes from Maplewood?" and thanks to MOL, I did! | ||
| Cubeless Citizen Username: Cubey Post Number: 277 Registered: 9-2003 |
I think I posted this somewhere else a few months ago, but I have more info now. There is an antique store in Somerville (34 Main St.) that is selling 2 very large posterboard advertisements from Olympic Park. The larger one is priced at $3,200 and the smaller one $1,600. FYI, the posters read Olympic Park in Irvington, NJ. | ||
| Psychomom Citizen Username: Psychomom Post Number: 92 Registered: 5-2005 |
oh wow, I wish I had some money to blow! I'd like to see them. | ||
| Cubeless Citizen Username: Cubey Post Number: 278 Registered: 9-2003 |
This is an image of the larger sign that's for sale. I couldn't find a picture of the other.  | ||
| John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2005 |
I spent my childhood in Millburn by the 70 bus line. Tuesdays and Thursdays were dime days. We bought 10 cent strips of coupons. I believe they were sold by the local grocery store but maybe they were sold at the park. Anyway, for the price, you got to go on several of the rides. Fisher's bread also had coupons for the park on the end of the wrapper. They helped also. This was the time when kids were allowed to be free to do things by themselves. So we were aged 9 or 10 and got on the 70 bus and got off a Chancellor. Walked to the park and paid admission to get in. My favorite was the Rotor. It was a ride based on centrifical fource. The ride was a barrel and the rider stood against the wall. The wheel spun around and the floor dropped down leaving the rider suspended in space. Also fun, was the roller rink. Neat. |
