Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1920, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “A good order from Ingersoll for a lot of park work was very welcome. I started it at once so as to be ready on him.”
That year, Ingersoll was involved with the construction of a new amusement park in Atlantic City, Rendezvous Park (Intelligencer Journal, 25 May 1920, 15). Rendezvous was built at a cost of $2,000,000 in 1921 by the Boardwalk Company. The property site was located in the heart of the big hotel district, near Ambassador, the Marlborough-Blenheim, and the Traymore. It had a frontage on the Boardwalk of 150 feet and a depth of 648 feet. The Pennsylvania Railroad unloaded passenger trains near the front entrance of the park, while the Reading and interurban lines were located only a black away.
Advertisements during the planning and construction of the park reported, “The construction will be handled by the Ingersoll Engineering & Construction Company, famous throughout the land for its work in this field. Notable examples of the craftsmanship of Ingersoll builders are to be found in all the greater American amusement parks including Riverview, Chicago; Euclid Beach, Cleveland; Kennywood, Pittsburgh; Chester, Cincinnati; White City, Chicago; Rever Beach, Boston; Hanlon’s Point, Toronto; Belle Isle Bridge Approach, Detroit; Idora, Oakland, Cal.; Venice, Los Angeles; Forest Park Highlands, St. Louis; Lakeside, Denver; Savin Rock, New Haven; and a great many other places throughout the country” (Pittsburgh Press, 24 May 1920, page 7). Here is a great article on Rendezvous Park: http://lostamusementparks.napha.org/Articles/NewJersey/RendezvousPark.html
Frederick Ingersoll (1876 – 1927) was an American inventor, designer, builder and entrepreneur. He created the world’s first chain of amusement parks. Ingersoll, was also known as “the father of the American roller coaster” (Des Moines Register, October 24, 1927, page 1). One of five brothers, Ingersoll started out as a designer, with Ingersoll Construction Company initially focusing on the “figure eight” coaster, scenic railways and Shoot-the-Chutes.
Moses first recorded working for Ingersoll in 1905. That year he wrote, “I had to go to Cleveland to put in a lot of old mill scenery at Luna Park” (see past post #493). Cleveland’s Luna Park operated from1905 to 1929. The park was located on a 35-acre site, bounded by Woodland Avenue, Woodhill, Mt. Caramel, and East 110th Street. Ingersoll opened other Luna Parks across the country; all were independent from Frederick Thompson’s original Luna Park on Coney Island. However, Ingersoll replicated many of the famous attractions from Coney Island, such as the Old Mill ride, Fire and Flames, Coasting the Gorge, Trip to the Moon, miniature railways, the Circle Swing and Infant Incubators.
In 1906, Moses briefly partnered with Will Hamilton to produce scenery for attractions at Ingersoll’s Luna Park in Pittsburgh. He wrote, “Did some designs for a Park in Pittsburg for my old partner Hamilton. I did them in black and white, rather effective” (see past post #554).
During Ingersoll’s lifetime, he owned and operated 44 amusement parks. However, it was not an easy ride. In 1908, Ingersoll declared bankruptcy and was forced to sell Luna Park in Cleveland. By 1911, the “Boston Globe” announced, “Frederick Ingersoll, well known throughout the country as an amusement proprietor, filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy in the U.S. district court today. His assets are three suits of clothes valued at $75 and liabilities are $179,668.94” (June 8, 1911, page 17). He never really bounced by from the financial instabilities associated with his amusement parks.
Tragically, Ingersoll took his own life in 1927. Newspapers across the country reported that Ingersoll was found dead in a concession stand at Krug Park, Omaha. Articles reported that the doors and windows were tightly closed, and an open gas jet filled the room with its fumes. The county coroner convinced that death was self-inflicted, held no inquest and Ingersoll’s suicidal act was attributed to ill health.
On April 28, 2019, the “Akron Beacon Journal” reported, “A historical marker dedicated Saturday in a ceremony by the Heinz History Center, American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) and the Pennsylvania Historical Society & Museum Commission notes the contributions of coaster builder and amusement park entrepreneur Frederick Ingersoll.” Here is a link to the rest of the article:https://www.newspapers.com/image/589458591/?terms=%22Frederick%2BIngersoll%22
To be continued…
