Today, we will be visiting Laurys Park, a popular picnic and amusement area. The year is 1890. Mr. Terry Repport, a Laurys resident armed with a 1949 Morning Call and Suburban Scene News article and photographs, allows us to remember some pleasures of our past.

The village of Laurys is located in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, adjacent to the Lehigh River. There was an 11-acre silt island on the west bank of the river. The silt washed down the river from the coal breakers up north. It was covered with trees and 300 feet from the slate river dam.

For years, it was owned by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. In 1890, they sold the property to David Laury, the Lehigh Valley Railroad station agent in Laurys who deeded it to the L.V. Railroad.

In 1890, Laury saw the island as an ideal location for picnics and a place of recreation for guests at the Laurys Hotel. They constructed a basic bridge with the mainland. The railroad saw the island as a money-making project. They could run excursions to the island park.

They moved into action, clearing the island, erecting refreshment stands and piping spring water from a nearby farm. In 1892, the railroad started to run excursions; they continued until 1905.

The world-renowned Allentown Band played there for years. Every Wednesday evening during the summer, they hosted dance concerts. The park had two large dance pavilions. Saturday nights drew large crowds until early fall. Excursions from Easton and Mauch Chunk were very popular.

The biggest day in the park’s history was when policemen from New Jersey planned to run an 11-car excursion to the park. Amazingly, 10,000 people stepped off the train. Because of the crowd, one car unloaded in Allentown. What a day it was! It was the only time beer was allowed in the park.

Besides music, what other entertainment was on the island? There was a toboggan; it was entertaining but not the size of the Dorney Park coaster. A steam engine was the source of power. Free amusements were hand-powered merry-go-rounds, and there was a large barrel called Rolly Polly, swings, seesaws and dozens of picnic tables and benches.

Boat rides were also popular. Twenty-four flat-bottomed boats could be rented for 25 cents an hour. The railroad ran three steam boats - one was the Trilby, a side-wheeled that sometimes carried 125 passengers; the Betsy Ross, for 10 passengers; and Israel Durham, for 25 passengers. A steam-powered screw moved them through the water.

A common problem was boats being stuck in the mud, even though the river was constantly dredged. Later, a power-driven merry-go-round was added, and the ever-present photographer was on hand. The camera certainly was not the handy pocket size. Youngsters enjoyed a 10-coach miniature train circling the island. The train cost $1,000 to build.

Suddenly the clouds darkened, and the rain came. A deluge destroyed the dam, and the park was gone - forever. The year was 1905.

One summer afternoon, Terry, Larry Oberly and this writer walked along the Lehigh River in Laurys. Where were the crowds and music? Only a slight breeze and the rush of the river were there to greet us.

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In two weeks: Life in Laurys.