Memories

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Hello, I enjoy your website so much.  When I was a kid, we only went to Fontaine Ferry once a year on Washington County, Indiana day.  1st Sunday in June.  I lived for that day.

I have some photos in a scrapbook and an original "Admit One -Mirror Maze" ticket.  Not sure what else I may have.  I have not looked through that scrapbook for years.

Maybe I can get pics of them to you some how.  Would you be interested in anything I have in the way of photos or other items?

Thanks.

Ron Albertson



Hi My name is Myra ,

I lived in Louisville all my life, went to fountain ferry as a young child. (1960's)  I now live in Atlanta , Ga.  Lot of good memories, rode the wooden coaster, devils slide, sugar Bowl, big ferris wheel, got stuck on top many times.  Fourth of July, roller skating, swimming pool, train rides around the park, cupid dolls, weight guesser, picnics.  Being with my parents is the most and best time of my life.  God bless them gone now!.  We didn't do much but we went to Fountain ferry for fun!  My cousin lived down the street on northwestern pkwy. and we made sure that we went there.  She sent me the pictures of old park, I remember when it turned into Gun town on the river!  Didn't care for that.  I used to play softball at Shawnee park as a 13 year old.  Moved away to suburbs, Valley Station in 1962.  Never was the same.  Thanks so much for thinking and bringing back such fond memories.




Thank you for posting such a pleasant site--and pictures.   I read all of the memory section in your guest book.  In 1958 I was 20 years old and had just married.   My husband worked for the Illinois Central Railroad so we were transferred to Louisville--and we went to Fontaine Ferry our first weekend there.  I got initiated on my first trip to Hilarity Hall.....That was my only time to wear a dress to that park.  I was standing over by the barrel watching people stagger through when the air was turned on me.   I did not feel the air but I heard the hissing noise and men were  yelling and whistling.  I remember like it was yesterday--I turned around and the back of my skirt was up over my head.  I felt terrible because so many men saw my underwear--and I did not realize what the whistles were about until I had put on a 15 to 20 second show for them.  Anyway the embarrassment  was over three weeks later when I went back and saw it happen to someone else (while I was wearing slacks)--Sandra  - PS Did you ever hear of this happening to anyone else?


Jen, My mother sent me an email with a link to your site, and I need to spend more time visiting it.  We lived around the corner on Shawnee Drive and visited the park nearly every day for years.  Several siblings and I swam on the swim team for years.  We skated, rode the rides as often as possible, and generally grew up in the park.  My oldest brother even worked there, and his paper route, often delivered by me, included the park.  I would deliver for him sometimes, and always got a thrill jumping on the merry go round (carousel) while it was still moving under the pretense of rushing to deliver papers!  I often thought about writing down my memories, and I will do that and send periodic updates to you.  One suggestion on your web design: provide additional links to the other pages on each page so that visitors do not have to go "Home" after visiting each page.  I'll be back soon, I appreciate your efforts, and will be in touch.

Thanks, David


Hello,

I enjoy this website so very much.  I look at the pictures and I can smell the aromas of cotton candy, the scent of the wood in the Barrel Roll and Hilarity Hall.  My mother, Aunt and Grandma would take me, my cousin, my sister and brother often in the summertime.  We would have a picnic, (when forced to eat instead of riding on the rides all day) :-)  It was a wonderful place to be.  We lived in New Albany Indiana at the time and moved to Alabama when I was 6 years old in 1963.  I was so sad to hear what had happened in 1969, such a shame!  I live outside of Chicago and have been to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee many times.  Believe it or not I didn't realize that the carousel was from Fontaine Ferry, that was my favorite ride as a child.  I was so happy to hear that it wasn't destroyed and is providing joy for many others (young and old).  Of course Hilarity Hall came in as a close second.  Keep up the wonderful website, it brought a very big smile to my face.  I'm only sorry that you couldn't have experienced it yourself as a child.

Sincerely,

Barbara Mehl


I MET MY HUSBAND ON APRIL 1ST 1953 AT THE OLD 4TH AVE SKATING RINK.  I ACCIDENTLY FELL DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM WHILE SKATING.  HE LIVED AT 222 SOUTHWESTERN PKWY WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARK.  DURING THOSE YEARS, THE RINK ON 4TH STREET WAS OPEN TILL THE PARK WOULD OPEN IN THE SPRING TIME.  LAURA PLAYED THE ORGAN MUSIC AT 4TH AVE.  WHEN THAT RINK CLOSED WE WENT TO THE FOUNTAIN FERRY RINK.  WE SKATED FROM 8 TO 11 EACH AND EVERY NITE AND THEN WENT INTO THE PARK AND RODE THE ROLLER COASTER TILL THE PARK CLOSED.  WHAT A TIME WE HAD.  MY HUSBAND, FREDS, FATHER WAS THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PARK AND I MET THE SINGHISERS SEVERAL TIMES, THE LAST SOMETIME IN THE 90'S.  AT THAT TIME I MET THE SISTER OF JACK SINGHIESER.  ALSO AT THAT TIME I MET THE LADY THAT OWNED THE DAIRY DEL AT THE CORNER OF MARKET AND SOUTHWESTERN PKWY.  I WAS A SOUTHEND GAL AND MET MY HUSBAND AT THE RINK.  MY MEMORIES OF THE PARK ARE VARIOUS.  BEFORE I MET MY HUSBAND, MY FAMILY WOULD COME IN FROM NEON, KY FOR A SUMMER VISIT AND WE ALWAYS WENT TO THE PARK.  THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE FOUNTAIN FERRY.  WE SPENT THE DAY THERE WITH A PICNIC LUNCH.  THEN I MET FRED AND HE WOULD PICK ME UP FROM WORK AT THE NENGEL CO AT 4TH AND COLORADO, AND HIS FAMILY WOULD TAKE US TO THE RESTAURANT IN THE PARK FOR DINNER AND WE WOULD SKATE TILL THE RINK CLOSED AND THEN RIDE THE COASTER.  7 NITES EACH WEEK.  THIS WENT ON TILL HE FINALLY ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM ON NOV 6TH 1953.  WE WERE MARRIED FOR 49 YEARS AND THEN HE DIED.  BUT THOSE DAYS AT THE PARK LASTED TILL IT CLOSED AND THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY PLACE TO REPLACE IT.  

"LEE" POLSGROVE

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