109-Year-Old Park Provides Memories, Fun For All
By LOREN KENT
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4/30/2007 - MAPLE SPRINGS — First opened in 1898, Midway State Park is one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the country, and park administrators are preparing for another exciting season.
A family owned and operated entertainment center throughout much of its history, Midway became part of the state park system in 2006, making it the newest state park in the Allegany region. Recently, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced it is seeking seasonal employees for Midway to assist with park activities.
''It may only be early spring, but preparations are well under way to welcome guests to Midway State Park this season,'' said Michael J. Miecznikowski, general park manager. ''Midway State Park will continue to offer the same friendly atmosphere that people have come to love.''
Applications are now being accepted for seasonal summer employment for ride operators,arcade hosts and grounds crew. Anyone interested in employment is asked to call 386-3165 or stop by the park office Monday through Saturday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Employment interviews will continue through May 15, with orientation and training expected to begin on May 19. The park is located at 4859 Route 430, three miles west of Bemus Point at Maple Springs.
''We have a wide range of people who traditionally work at the park,'' Miecznikowski said. ''There are school teachers, bus drivers, retired folks and teenagers all looking for summer employment — we welcome everyone to apply.''
Maintaining The Family
Atmosphere
A Western New York native, Miecznikowski often visited Midway Park with his children long before becoming general park manager.
''For many people, Midway Park is known for its great, old-fashioned fun atmosphere,'' Miecznikowski said. ''People are able to step back in time when they are here. For many people, return visits spark memories from their early childhood and we want to keep that going.''
Midway State Park will continue to welcome company picnics and corporate outings, according to Andy Hillman, park manager. Nearly all of the features that made Midway a popular local icon will remain as it begins its first season under state ownership.
''The arcade will remain along with most of the historic rides and attractions,'' Hillman said. ''In fact,there are more than two dozen rides here and many are historic treasurers.''
One such historic masterpiece is the park's vintage carousel, a 1946 merry-go-round built by the Allan Herschell Company of North Tonawanda. The antique carousel features 30 horses and two chariots with the horses placed 3-abreast on its deck.
The current carousel, with its brightly painted ''jumping'' aluminum horses, was brought to Midway Park in 1968 from Owasco Lake Park in Auburn, N.Y. It replaced the park's original Dentzel carousel which had occupied the park's lakeside roundhouse since 1928.
''I enjoy seeing people coming to the park with their children as families,'' Hillman said. ''The excitement on children's faces as the watch the rides or win at the arcade games is really great.''
Midway Between Jamestown and Westfield
During the late 1800s the Jamestown & Lake Erie Railroad introduced a ''trolley'' line between Jamestown and Westfield with a popular stop at a steamboat dock located near the community of Maple Springs. It was at this site that Midway Park was opened on July 12, 1898.
The actual electrified ''trolley'' between Jamestown and Mayville came into existence in 1914 under the direction of the Jamestown Westfield & Northwestern Railroad Company. The trolley could whisk visitor from Jamestown to Midway in under 30 minutes. Throughout this era, local steamboats also brought visitors to Midway Park at a more leisurely two-hour pace.
Today, state park officials hope to renovate and preserve the facilities at Midway State Park and will be working on infrastructure upgrades in the immediate future. Midway Park has a long, rich history on the shores of Chautauqua Lake, but state park officials are looking forward to its best days laying ahead.
A family owned and operated entertainment center throughout much of its history, Midway became part of the state park system in 2006, making it the newest state park in the Allegany region. Recently, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced it is seeking seasonal employees for Midway to assist with park activities.
''It may only be early spring, but preparations are well under way to welcome guests to Midway State Park this season,'' said Michael J. Miecznikowski, general park manager. ''Midway State Park will continue to offer the same friendly atmosphere that people have come to love.''
Applications are now being accepted for seasonal summer employment for ride operators,arcade hosts and grounds crew. Anyone interested in employment is asked to call 386-3165 or stop by the park office Monday through Saturday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Employment interviews will continue through May 15, with orientation and training expected to begin on May 19. The park is located at 4859 Route 430, three miles west of Bemus Point at Maple Springs.
''We have a wide range of people who traditionally work at the park,'' Miecznikowski said. ''There are school teachers, bus drivers, retired folks and teenagers all looking for summer employment — we welcome everyone to apply.''
Maintaining The Family
Atmosphere
A Western New York native, Miecznikowski often visited Midway Park with his children long before becoming general park manager.
''For many people, Midway Park is known for its great, old-fashioned fun atmosphere,'' Miecznikowski said. ''People are able to step back in time when they are here. For many people, return visits spark memories from their early childhood and we want to keep that going.''
Midway State Park will continue to welcome company picnics and corporate outings, according to Andy Hillman, park manager. Nearly all of the features that made Midway a popular local icon will remain as it begins its first season under state ownership.
''The arcade will remain along with most of the historic rides and attractions,'' Hillman said. ''In fact,there are more than two dozen rides here and many are historic treasurers.''
One such historic masterpiece is the park's vintage carousel, a 1946 merry-go-round built by the Allan Herschell Company of North Tonawanda. The antique carousel features 30 horses and two chariots with the horses placed 3-abreast on its deck.
The current carousel, with its brightly painted ''jumping'' aluminum horses, was brought to Midway Park in 1968 from Owasco Lake Park in Auburn, N.Y. It replaced the park's original Dentzel carousel which had occupied the park's lakeside roundhouse since 1928.
''I enjoy seeing people coming to the park with their children as families,'' Hillman said. ''The excitement on children's faces as the watch the rides or win at the arcade games is really great.''
Midway Between Jamestown and Westfield
During the late 1800s the Jamestown & Lake Erie Railroad introduced a ''trolley'' line between Jamestown and Westfield with a popular stop at a steamboat dock located near the community of Maple Springs. It was at this site that Midway Park was opened on July 12, 1898.
The actual electrified ''trolley'' between Jamestown and Mayville came into existence in 1914 under the direction of the Jamestown Westfield & Northwestern Railroad Company. The trolley could whisk visitor from Jamestown to Midway in under 30 minutes. Throughout this era, local steamboats also brought visitors to Midway Park at a more leisurely two-hour pace.
Today, state park officials hope to renovate and preserve the facilities at Midway State Park and will be working on infrastructure upgrades in the immediate future. Midway Park has a long, rich history on the shores of Chautauqua Lake, but state park officials are looking forward to its best days laying ahead.
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