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River Side Park, Saginaw, Mich.
Post card dated May 25, 1914 1 cent
"Saginaw, Mich. May 25, 1914 dear Mother, I am here in
saginaw Mich leave for detroit this evening. I sent you a small
box of flowers thinking perhaps you would enjoy them _______ at once.
Love to all, H. E. Burcham or Burnham, c/o R. L. Polk & Co.,
Detroit, Mich. to: Mrs. E. J. Burcham or
Mrs. E F Burnham, 628 No. Park Street, Kalamazoo, Mich."
Riverside Park - my husband was born in 1925 and he
just this
a.m. told me he went there many times and told me some stories about
it. Maybe you could add those too?? He remembers going there
up until
he was about 12 yrs. old. He said the inter-urban was still
running!
Riverside Park address is: early 1900s "End of Maple"
and in
1965: 2050 Maple.
1902
Saginaw City Directory said "at foot of Maple, west
side"
1910
Saginaw City Directory said "on Tittabawassee River, 1 1/2
miles from the Court House."
The
Park was listed in the Saginaw City Directory until 1986.
Early on until about the late
1940's this was an amusement park with
a "Jack Rabbit",
Merry-go-round" and other rides, a roller skating rink, a
dance hall, arcade with
games of chance, picnic area and rental canoes.
The "Interurban" street cars
ran to the park and there was a waiting
pavilion with roof where you could
sit. Sometime between 1935 to 1942
the roller skating rink burned down
and then the dance hall became the
roller skating rink. Possibly during
this time period the Jack Rabbit which
was close to the river had an
accident in which a car(s) shot off the ride
into the river with fatalities. After
the accident the Jack Rabbit was
discontinued. Eventually only a
picnic area remained. Later there may
have been a horse riding stable
there owned by a Mr. Hickey who sold
automobiles. A little west
of the park up the river was a swimming
spot with sandy bottom and beach.
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