CENTRAL PARK -- written by Jim Hartman on The Clairton History Page.
Similar to other amusement parks in this section of the state, especially in Allegheny County, Central Park on the Wylie farm in the area where the blast and open-hearth furnaces now stand, provided pleasure and recreation in the early nineties for the contiguous communities for two or more years. The park included the old Union Grove. There was a dancing pavilion. open dining roo...m, and refreshment stands, and, possibly, a merry-go-round.
Balloon ascensions, featuring a daring balloonist named Patsy Trainer, afforded thrills and chills for the assembled crowds. The balloon was in¬flated by gas produced from wood and coal near the spot from which the ascensions were made. The balloon, while being inflated, was held in place by men and boys standing around the balloon with their feet on the edge of the canvas of the open end, and at the signal, “let her go,” from the balloonist, the gas-filled bag ascended high into the air with Patsy Trainer dangling from the balloon, ready to cut loose at the proper time for his parachute descent to earth. In one of his descents, Trainer is believed to have landed in the river,but near enough to shore to avert serious consequences.
Similar to other amusement parks in this section of the state, especially in Allegheny County, Central Park on the Wylie farm in the area where the blast and open-hearth furnaces now stand, provided pleasure and recreation in the early nineties for the contiguous communities for two or more years. The park included the old Union Grove. There was a dancing pavilion. open dining roo...m, and refreshment stands, and, possibly, a merry-go-round.
Balloon ascensions, featuring a daring balloonist named Patsy Trainer, afforded thrills and chills for the assembled crowds. The balloon was in¬flated by gas produced from wood and coal near the spot from which the ascensions were made. The balloon, while being inflated, was held in place by men and boys standing around the balloon with their feet on the edge of the canvas of the open end, and at the signal, “let her go,” from the balloonist, the gas-filled bag ascended high into the air with Patsy Trainer dangling from the balloon, ready to cut loose at the proper time for his parachute descent to earth. In one of his descents, Trainer is believed to have landed in the river,but near enough to shore to avert serious consequences.
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