4/7/06 — CONNEAUT LAKE — As a child, Catherine Baker Knoll vacationed at Conneaut Lake Park with her family, traveling from McKees Rocks. “We came to relax,” she said.
She returned Thursday as the state lieutenant governor to tour it — the first time in more than seven decades that a high-ranking state official has been at the local amusement park on official business.
“I grew up here,” Knoll told a group of about 35 people who greeted her to take the more-than-90-minute tour.
“It’s not for us,” she said of the reason Conneaut Lake Park must be kept operating. “It’s for the kids who follow and their kids.”
Invited to visit by court-appointed overseer LeRoy Stearns, Knoll said, “This park has to stay,” praising the efforts of not only Stearns and general manager George Deshner, but all the volunteers for their dedication.
First stop was the Dreamland Ballroom, built in 1909 after a fire which destroyed most of the park’s midway in 1908. Climbing up the steps to the large ballroom, Knoll reminisced about dancing in the ballroom to music of the “Sinatra era. Do you all remember dancing here?” she asked. “Isn’t this amazing,” she said as she listened to the story of the ballroom and the dance floor, which is of a unique design. “You can dance the polka here and the floor won’t budge,” she said before going to the balcony for a view of Conneaut, Pennsylvania’s largest natural lake. “It’s beautiful,” she said, gazing across the midway to the lakefront.
She reminisced about dancing in the Crystal Ballroom of Hotel Conneaut and expressed amazement and appreciation to the volunteers after hearing how at least 119 hotel rooms have been renovated by volunteers at no cost to the park.
Traveling in a golf cart with Stearns, Knoll was shown the area where the Flynn house once stood; was told of plans for development and also shown several dilapidated buildings which must be torn down; and then stopped at the miniature track station.
And, who can go to Conneaut Lake Park without a ride on the merry-go-round? Although the music was missing as the organ is in storage, operators started the ride for the occasion.
Holding onto the front of a horse, Knoll smiled as the ride went in circles. She was joined by many on the tour and laughed as they reminisced about earlier rides at younger ages.
“The purpose of the park is to bring children,” she said, emphasizing the need to follow through with plans to keep it in operation.
The park continues to face financial problems and is $1.9 million in debt. Plans are to sell some lakefront property as the next step of development. The property is the last lakefront real estate available and funds from the sale will be used to help pay off the debt and continue operations.
In addition, the park has some deteriorating buildings which must be torn down, and some improvements need to be made to other buildings.
Although she brought no state money, nor made any promises of immediate financial assistance, she told of state grants available to help with such things as removing blighted areas like the dilapidated buildings.
During a luncheon, Knoll said she keeps tabs of the park’s progress through her friend Joe Prishak of Erie, who was a former member of the Board of Trustees.
“It’s the type of park with historic significance we need to keep,” she told those in attendance. “We can’t do it without you.”
Republican state Sen. Bob Robbins, whose 50th District includes all of Crawford County, joined Knoll for the tour and said he too will do what he can to help ensure the park’s continued operation. Robbins has assisted the park in the past with state grants, including one to improve the sewer system.
Deshner was pleased with Thursday’s tour, noting it was an opportunity to show what residents of northwestern Pennsylvania can do. “After a year of being down (when the park was closed), I’m confident Conneaut Lake Park can make a comeback and will help bring the economy back to Crawford County and to the lakeland area.”
Stearns said the tour was meant to be a way to acquaint the lieutenant governor with the park and what it has to offer and allow her to see what progress has been made.
Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Lt. Gov. Baker Knoll makes stop at Conneaut Lake Park
- Local News
-
-
Completion of $6.8M expansion marks C&J's 50th year
With its 50th year in business under way — and business continuing to boom — a local high-tech tooling and plastic parts manufacturer appears at the ready for an even higher-tech future.
-
Cochranton Carl says winter will be done soon
So here’s the deal. Some groundhogs — animals christened Marmota monax by the Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1758 and also known colloquially as woodchucks, whistle-pigs and land-beavers — are remarkably high maintenance.
-
City council hears what applicants have to offer
Seven applicants for the vacant seat on Meadville City Council interviewed with council members during an extended public session. Council members have 30 days to select a replacement for Chandler Mason, who won a place on the November ballot in the May primary, won again in November, and then opted to not take the seat.
-
Second interviews set for two council hopefuls
Nine applications were received, seven applicants were interviewed and two have been asked to return for a second round of talks as the search for Meadville City Council’s tie-breaking fifth member swings into high gear.
-
Next stop Carnegie Hall for Maplewood singer
Michael Miller stands alone on the stage of Ford Chapel on the campus of Allegheny College. He draws in a breath, opens his mouth and, with no visible effort, fills the entire room with the sound of his voice.
-
Scholarships helping women get back in the classroom
“As long back as I can remember, there’s been this little voice inside me that says, ‘You can do more,’ ” Vanessa Shaffer recalled. “I’d done a brilliant job in ignoring that voice — and I was ready to give it an ear.”
-
Plan unveiled that could save more than $20 million
A citizens’ advisory committee recommends Crawford County split almost all of its courthouse functions among two sites — the former Talon Inc. Plant No. 5 on upper Arch Street and the present Crawford County Courthouse in downtown Meadville — and at a 40 percent lower cost than previously anticipated.
-
Cochranton Carl now on Facebook and ready to forecast
As the annual Groundhog Day gets near, one local weather-watching critter is starting to cause a stir on Facebook.
-
DA: Argument shows accused killer's ill will
A verbal argument related to a drug store robbery is what Crawford County District Attorney Francis Schultz alleges led a Linesville man to murder a Linesville-area couple almost two years ago.
-
Accident closes Route 322 in western Crawford County
Route 322 is closed from West State Road/Turnersville Road in West Shenango Township to Water Street in Jamestown Borough, Mercer County, due to an accident that downed utility lines at County Line Road in Jamestown. The road is expected to reopen by noon today, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Completion of $6.8M expansion marks C&J's 50th year
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
