whyamuseum

As I compose this after dinner on January 4th, one of the corners of the internet I frequent is ablaze over news of the Blue Streak roller coaster at Conneaut Lake Park having caught fire. Even if you’re one of the few readers of this newsletter familiar with an old amusement park in northwest Pennsylvania, you’re probably wondering how it connects to the Wildwoods. For that bit of information, I won’t keep you waiting: There is no direct link. Yet still, there is something to be appreciated about this if you are a supporter of a history-minded organization like the Wildwood Historical Society.

The CliffsNotes version of the story: Conneaut Lake Park, dating back to 1892, spent much of the last three decades as an unlikely survivor, having endured crushing debt, various fires destroying historic buildings, and increased competition from other area amusement parks. It was the determination of the park’s supporters that kept it alive under the oversight of a non-profit that resulted in volunteers rehabilitating the property and its classic rides like the carousel, Devil’s Den, and iconic Blue Streak.

Finally having paid down back taxes owed and looking better than it had in years, the future for Conneaut Lake Park was looking up when new ownership took control early in 2021. Initially providing further optimism, fans and followers of the park grew skeptical when old rides were unceremoniously scrapped and ownership refused to comment on the future of the remainder of the amusements. Rumors of the Blue Streak’s demise circulated for months, and tonight’s news of the wooden structure having caught fire surprised no one. The roller coaster was in the process of being demolished and a “controlled burn” of the wood debris claimed much of what was still standing at the time. Burned along with the Blue Streak were 120 years of history and the selfless efforts of countless people who believed it deserved to be preserved.

For me, the news brought back awful memories of the summer of 1989 when we arrived in Wildwood for our summer vacation to discover the Flyer roller coaster I’d fallen in love with the previous year had been demolished along with most everything else of historic, nostalgic value on Hunt’s Pier. I recalled having shed many tears over the realization of never again being able to enjoy something that had become so close to my heart, like having lost a dear friend. The real estate of the Wildwoods is littered with hundreds of structures that replaced other structures that meant so much to people – hotels, motels, houses, restaurants, stores, and even places of worship. Everyone has their Conneaut Lake Park Blue Streak; everyone has their Hunt’s Pier Flyer. Everyone has something they wish they could still touch and experience.

As someone without the financial means or the political clout to make a meaningful difference, it shines light on a problem plaguing preservation-minded individuals – how to balance the desire to save the past while simultaneously being at the mercy of property owners being free to do as they wish with their assets. Even a covenant issued by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museums Commission wasn’t enough to save Conneaut Lake Park from demolition and eventual redevelopment. The Blue Streak is now a historical footnote, as is the Satellite Motel, Jack Rabbit/Scream Machine, and Starlight Ballroom.

I’m further conflicted because on one hand, I’m thrilled to be part of an organization staffed with and supported by individuals with the same intense passion as those who worked for years to give Conneaut Lake Park another chance of survival. When visitors walk in the doors of our George F. Boyer museum, they’re warmly enveloped by hundreds of remnants and thousands of photos depicting the rich history of the Wildwoods. All the unpaid hours invested by volunteers become worth the sacrifices when one of those countless artifacts connects with a visitor – they either smile, laugh, or cry as they tell anyone within earshot why one specific memory means so much.

On the other hand, it’s frustrating how so little can be done in the realm of preservation. While the photos of the Hunt’s Pier Flyer covering one of the Boyer’s many walls simultaneously make me smile, laugh, and cry, I sure wish I could walk to the boardwalk for another ride instead of living through memories in a museum. Still, we are lucky, because those with a connection to the Wildwoods have a wonderful organization and museum to keep history alive. I can only hope those with a connection to Conneaut Lake Park can claim to have the same.