Cedar Point, A History- Part 2

 In the early 1900's, the second roller coaster Cedar Point ever built was added, the Three Way Figure Eight Roller Toboggan- talk about a mouth full! This coaster was much more similar in design to the modern day roller coasters, featuring an out and back design. The coaster was made in such a way that man power was not needed to drag the cars back up a hill- they came back on their own. The style, out and back, is still used today, though the designs and thrills have matured quite a bit.

During this time, the swampy inner area of the peninsula was dredged out to form the lagoons. While we look at them as a pretty addition, they were much more functional back then. The clearing of the swamp helped to alleviate a bug problem, as well as to deliver logs to the inner part of the peninsula for work. Today, the lagoons are home to the Paddlewheel Excursions, and you can ride around under some of the coasters and see old wild west shoot out scenes. 

One of the next additions is one that is both still standing and still being used for its original intention- the famous Hotel Breakers. This hotel was one of the largest hotels found in the entire Midwest, sporting 500 rooms.

During the 1905 season, the park debuted a silent movie, "The Great Train Robbery", which was an added draw to the already growing attractions of Cedar Point. In the following years, the first primitive version of the midway was added, allowing for shops, a skating rink, and much more to be added.

Another historic building added during these early 1900 years was the Coliseum, which in it's original purpose, included a ballroom, a drinking hole of sorts called the Rathskeller, and more. The Coliseum boasted 90,000 square feet. This building is still standing today, right on the stretch of path called the Main Midway.

The main floor contains the largest arcade found on Cedar Point property, while the upper floors hold mostly administrative offices, supplies, and the such. At one point in time, the Coliseum was home to many famous jazz concerts, which were also broadcast over the radio to those who were at home.

In the 1908 season, the third roller coaster was built, called the Scenic Railway. It was the tallest of the coasters at Cedar Point with an impressive height of 53 feet. The Scenic Railway was to last only 10 seasons, and was replaced in the 1918 season.

Near the Coliseum, a grove of trees were opened up to provide the Coliseum with a coat check room. This building is also still standing, and anyone who has ever been to Cedar Point would recognize it today as the Pagoda Gift Shop. This building's exterior has changed very little over the last 100 years, and is still a unique looking building to add to the Cedar Point architecture.

The 1910's brought many more additions to Cedar Point, and during the 1913 season, they had the famous Knute Rockne as a lifeguard. Knute Rockne would later become a football coach for Notre Dame, after spending some time as a college football legend. He, and fellow Notre Dame football player Gus Dorgais would spend free time playing football on the long stretch of sand at Cedar Point during their summer working there.

In 1914, the most impressive addition was the Chaussee, which runs 7 miles long, and connects the peninsula to the mainland with a road. This is not the same Chaussee we see today when arriving at Cedar Point. In the 1920 season, severe storms caused massive damage, and the Chaussee was moved to the current location.

In 1915, the White House Hotel was expanded upon, and renamed the Cedars Hotel, and provided many more rooms using the three existing White House Hotel structures. As mentioned before, this is now used as an employee dormitory.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle Cedar Point had to overcome was first the Prohibition, which caused all alcohol drinks to be banned, and the following Great Depression. Some changes were added in the 20's, but few remain today.

Most prominently is the Bon Air wing to the Hotel Breakers, which added 160 more rooms to the already impressive hotel. Several small rides were added. In the 1925 season, the LIONS club held their national convention at Cedar Point. To this day, the results of that convention are felt and seen around the United States.

A remarkable young lady named Helen Keller, whom was blind and deaf. She made many speeches at many times during her life, but this one was made in front of the LIONS club. Her impassioned speech was what lead the LIONS club to make assisting the blind it's main charity, a charity it still serves faithfully today.

In 1929, one of the infamous Cyclone coasters was brought to Cedar Point. Harry Traver's legendary coasters could be found in Coney Island as well as Crystal Beach, and Revere Beach. The Cyclone is one of the world's most famous roller coasters of old.

That same year, George A. Boeckling fell ill, and was unable to see the unveiling of his newest addition. After the end of the season, on October 24th, 1929, the stock market crashed. The entire country fell into a deep depression, which Cedar Point almost did not survive.

Many of Cedar Points guests were working class people with little extra money to spend now that the world was changing. Less people visited, and the park lost a great deal of money over the next decade. Several of the shops and businesses found on Cedar Point were closed, and rides fell into disrepair.

With no money coming in, many wonderful rides were lost forever to decay and damage, as few were repaired. In 1931, Cedar Point suffered another great loss as George A. Boeckling died of Uremia. He was mourned by the entire staff, and was buried in Sandusky, not far from Cedar Point.

In 1933, a roller coaster called Leap Frog Railway was renovated. This coaster was 74 feet tall, and refurbished, and renamed. It opened to the public in 1934 as the High Frolics. A single ride, Tumble Bug, was added to the dwindling midway in the same year.The next year, Leap the Dips roller coaster was closed, though the structure would remain standing for several more years to come. It was finally razed to the ground after becoming dangerously decayed.

For a short, dark time, the resort looked as though it might close its doors forever, and even considered selling to the state of Ohio for three million dollars. To the newest president of Cedar Point, Edward Smith, the park was operating at a loss. Gone were the days when people spent money care free.

Part 1: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976896083
Part 2: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976896549 
Part 3: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976898000
Part 4: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976899504

End, Part 2