It’s summer! That means all the usual outdoor activities; picnics at the park, trips to the zoo, vacations to visit family and exciting places.

Well, it was no different here in New Albany in the early 1900s. People sought leisure and entertainment then, too!

One of the most popular places to go was Glenwood Park, which was on the corner of Spring Street and Beharrell Ave. Of course, there was no Brown Station Way at the time.

Ladies enjoying the view from the Glenwood Park Bridge

It all started with the Louisville and Southern Indiana Traction Company (L&SIT) and their desire to increase usage of their interurban electric railway system. They came up with the brilliant idea to create destinations that people would want to visit and thereby increase the amount of passengers using their interurban system. And, it worked like a charm.

Glenwood Park was created by the L&SIT and boasted many activities one could engage in, as the advertisement below conveys. It soon became the trending destination for families on both sides of the Ohio River as the interurban made it extremely assessable. But, that was the point, of course.

Glenwood Park had its own athletic field and even its own baseball team. It had its own orchestra that would perform concerts and play for theatrical performances.

Local artists were often seen painting in the park along Silver Creek, capturing its beauty in paintings for us to enjoy to this day.

It’s easy to imagine people strolling through the park, enjoying a boat ride on Silver Creek, taking in a baseball game and cheering for their favorite team, or watching a production of the The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan. Imaginings of an era long gone.

 

Advertisement for Glenwood Park

 

The Louisville and Southern Indiana Traction Company bridge over Silver Creek by Glenwood Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glenwood Park main entrance on the corner of Spring St. and Beharrell Ave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map of a Glenwood Park Chautauqua – See Below

 

 

Some of the many attractions at Glenwood Park:

 

Boating on Silver Creek                                                                                         Athletic Field at Glenwood Park

 

Roller Skating Rink  at Glenwood Park                                                                                     Carousel at Glenwood Park

 

 

The Glenwood Orchestra                                                               The Bohemian Girl Production given at Glenwood Park 1908

 

The Glenwood Park Chautauqua:

 

The Chautauqua was a traveling institution that flowered in the late 1800s- early 1900s. It was founded in Chautauqua, New York. It provided educational offerings, concerts, literary readings, magicians, theatrical productions, speeches and lectures by well-known people of the day.

Some notable people that spoke at Glenwood Park were Billy Sunday, William Jennings Bryan, May Wright Sewell, James Whitcomb Riley, and a variety of local, state, and national politicians.

The Chautauqua was a yearly event and lasted about a week. Families could rent a tent and camp all week at Glenwood Park. A large 3,000 person meeting tent was set up at the back of the athletic field for large meetings.

Local venders would set up tents and sell their products and wares. Joseph Renn of Renn Bottling Works on State St. was one such local business owner. He would sell his soda pop to thirsty campers and likely made decent profit.

The glory days of the Chautauqua at Glenwood Park were from about 1904 until about 1916, drawing significant crowds. It was considered the third largest Chautauqua in the country at the time. On March 23, 1917, a category F4 tornado ripped through New Albany leaving death and destruction in its wake. War was also unfolding during this time with the US declaring war on Germany on April 6, 1917. These events would put a pause on the yearly week of Chautauqua at Glenwood Park that would last for years.

An attempt to resurrect the Glenwood Park Chautauqua was made in 1922. It would only last for several years, though, the last Chautauqua happening in 1925. These last Chautauqua events were shorter and didn’t bring the attendance numbers as the earlier ones. The era of the Chautauqua was over.

Some Chautauqua campers in front of their tents.

 

In the mid 1930’s the property on which Glenwood Park and the Athletic Field resided was sold and now it is a residential area. The street Glenwood Court marks the place of the Athletic Field and the street Glenwood Park marks the spot where its namesake park was once located. For more than a quarter of a century, Glenwood Park was a favorite destination for area families on both side of the Ohio River.

Now, it is but a lovely memory recorded by those who once sought its promise of peaceful and pleasant excursions. Memories recorded for us to experience a piece of New Albany history that may be long gone, but is right under our nose if we know where to look for it.

There is more to discover about Glenwood Park, and other interesting aspects of New Albany history, in the Indiana Room at the New Albany Branch of the Floyd County Public Library.  Come visit us soon!

The current Indiana Room hours are:

Monday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM – 8 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM – 8 PM
Thursday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM