On the east side of Fifth Avenue, between 108th to 110th street, and running east to the foot of Oakwood Cemetery, is a tranquil, nicely kept residential area of Lansingburgh.

But on this same spot eighty years ago, you would have heard the cries of midway barkers, the thunder of running horses, the laughter of children, and the roar of a roller coaster.

This 42 acre parcel of land was one of the finest amusement parks in the country and was known as Rensselaer Park. It's tag line was "The Real Pleasure Ground for the Pleasure Bound."

Rensselaer Park had a 1/2 mile racetrack and Midway amusement area tucked away within a huge, beautiful grove of trees. Today, it survives only in memories and a few photographs.

The entrance to Rensselaer Park was on Fifth Avenue just north of 108th Street (108th Street did not extend east of Fifth). The park was organized in 1867 as the Rensselaer Park Association. It also housed the Rensselaer County Fair for years.

The park closed in 1917 and the land was sold in 1919, eventually turning into the residential neighborhood you see there now.

One of the big draws of the Park was the Carousel, called the Menagerie. For a quarter, you could ride hand carved horses, bears, giraffes, camels, lions, elephants, and goats. After the park closed, the carousel ended up in Halfmoon Beach. Eventually it was sold along with the individual animals.

Among the many other amusements was a small 10-seat Ferris Wheel.

It was difficult to get bored at Rensselaer Park. There was a bowling alley, a high wire act, pony rides, a figure eight wooden roller coaster, a dancing pavilion, skating rink, and a band shell where concerts were held every afternoon and evening. Fireworks were held every Thursday night.

For only a dime, you could view Bama The Ostrich Girl, or step up to the Hindu Theater, watch wild animals get tamed, awe as a man or J.W. Groman's High Diving Horses leaped from a tower into a lake that was located within the southern portion of the race track. The 1.5 mile race track, fully visible in all directions, filled the eastern part of the park in sharp contrast to the densely wooded Midway section. Complete with a grandstand and judges tower, people lined up on the northern part of the track to watch harness, bicycle and even chariot races.

The park had its own police squad to direct traffic and handle the mobs of people that frequented the park.

The Haymakers, a local baseball team that became the foundation for the New York Giants, played here during the park's first year. In 1868, the same year the race track, secondary road around it, and pond were built, they drew from 5-9000 people at one game. The Park trustees built them a U-shaped bleacher somewhere near the track.

By 1919, at the end of Rensselaer Park's life...



TRIVIA: Another local aviator, George L. Newberry of Binghamton and Kirkwood, followed a path similar to Hemstrought's. He trained at the Curtiss site in Hammondsport. Afterwards he joined with aviator Earl V. Fritz of Oneonta, New York in giving exhibitions at county fairs throughout the state. And like almost all the early aviators, Newberry soon discovered the dangers of his chosen profession. At a county fair in Plattsville, New York in August, 1914, his takeoff was cut short by a team of horses suddenly crossing his path. He veered into the fence at the edge of the race track. The crash wrecked his aircraft and Newberry suffered a fractured skull. Although close to death for several days after the accident, he vowed from the hospital to continue his flying once his recovery was complete. But George Newberry didn't cheat death for much longer. Near the end of May of the following year, Newberry was performing at Renssalaer Park in Troy, New York. As a crowd of nearly 20,000 spectators gazed upward, his aircraft suddenly twisted and plunged toward the earth. His unconscious body was pulled from the wreckage and taken to a hospital where he died a short time later.


RATES OF FARE BETWEEN ALBANY AND ---- One Way Round Trip Schenectady $ 0.50 Ballston Lake .80 Ballston Spa 1.00 Saratoga 1.20 Glens Falls 2.20 Lake George 2.70 Warrensburg 3.00 Amsterdam .95 Johnstown 1.55 Gloversville 1.70 Sacandaga Park 1.95

GENERAL INFORMATION The Schenectady Railway, in addition to serving the territory through which its lines are operated, makes connections with numerous other transportation lines and their several terminals, thereby reaching the entire territory covered by the Mohawk and Hudson Valleys and Eastern Adirondacks. These connections are as follows:

AT TROY: Hudson Valley Railway, for Waterford, Mechanicsville, Round Lake, Stillwater, Schuylerville, and Greenwich. Troy & New England Railway, for West Sand Lake and Averill Park. United Traction Co., for Rensselaer Park, Cohoes, and Waterford. Delaware & Hudson Co., New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, and Boston & Maine Railroad, for points north and east. Citizens Line boats, for New York.

AT ALBANY: Albany & Hudson Railway, for Electric Park, Niversville, Kinderhook, and Hudson. United Traction Co., for Rensselaer, Troy, Watervliet, and all points in the city of Albany. People's Line boats, for New York. Hudson River Day Line boats, for Hudson, Catskill, Kingston, West Point, and New York. Central Hudson Steamboat Co., for Newburg and intermediate points. New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, Delaware & Hudson Co., Boston & Maine Railroad, Boston & Albany Railroad, and West Shore Railroad, for points north, east, south, and west.

AT SARATOGA: Hudson Valley Railway, for Glens Falls, Fort Edward, Sandy Hill, Lake George, and Warrensburg. Delaware & Hudson Co., for Lake George and points in the Adirondack Mountains.

AT BALLSTON SPA: Hudson Valley Railway, for Round Lake and Mechanicsville. Eastern New York Railway, for Rock City Falls and Middle Grove.

AT SCHENECTADY: Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad, for Amsterdam, Gloversville, Sacandaga Park, Broadalbin, and intermediate points. New York Central & Hudson River Railroad and Delaware & Hudson Co., for points north, east, south, and west. Boston & Maine Railroad, for Rotterdam Junction, Mechanicsville, and points east.

The Schenectady Railway is prepared to furnish folders and other printed information upon request. Special attention is given to excursion parties, and chartered cars may be secured between all points on its system.

For further information and rates address Transportation Department SCHENECTADY RAILWAY COMPANY SCHENECTADY, N. Y.