The History of Riverview

A detailed Summary of The History of Riverview

Riverview Park was an amusement park that ran from 1904 to1967. It was Chicago's first amusement park. It was billed as the world's largest Amusement Park throughout its 64-year popularity. To many it was a rite of passage and their earliest child hood memories. It was a place of fabulous family outings, a magical kingdom where good friends could go for a terrific time, and eventually a romantic spot.

Riverview was located on Western and Belmont Avenues in Chicago. It was surrounded by the Chicago River and Lane Tech High School. The Der Nord Chicago Schuetzenverien, a spin-off group of the Kriegs Verein of Chicago, purchased the land bounded by the Chicago River and the above avenues in order to use it as a shooting range. They later changed their name to the North Chicago Sharpshooters Association. The 22-acre park was dubbed Schuetzen Park by the Germans, and Sharpshooters Park by the locals, who began asking the private association if their grounds could be rented for picnics .

Around the turn of the century, the Sharpshooters Association dissolved and two members purchased the land. The two members were Wilhelm (William) A. Schmidt, a baker, and his partner George Goldman. Wihelm Schmidt put in

The roaring twenties and prohibition had its effect on Riverview Park just like everything else. During prohibition, the many beer-drinking Germans patrons of Riverview found the park's picnic grounds continuing to flow freely with beer, despite some interruptions from federal agents. Also, Chicago political machines were making good use of the popularity of Riverview during the time. Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson sponsored free children's' days and paid the streetcar fare during the summer. Riverview also became the center for the developing rivalry between the O'Bannion and Cappone Gangs.

Riverview continued to roar in another aspect. For, it was booming with a inflow of cash. Thus, enabling Riverview to build five more roller coasters in this decade. Two of those were the Pippin Coaster and the famous Bobs. The Pippin was built in 1921. For twenty cents you would be able to ride The Pippin and reach the top of that 65 foot hill and down all the rest. The Pippin changed its' name after an accident in the 1930's where some of the cars of the train uncoupled and collided, injuring over 60 people. To forget the tragedy they renamed it to The Silver Flash or The Flash. The most famous and popular roller coaster ever built was The Bob's in 1926. It costs an excess of over $80,000 to carefully design and build a coaster that jostled its' riders from beginning to end. It was an eleven-car coaster with and 85-foot drop, billed as the most fearsome coaster in the country as well as the fastest. The Bob's carried 1200 passengers per hour. "It had excessive sharp curves, shortened dips, low-riding cars, and clanking gears not only rattled riders' bones, but also intensified the illusion of the rides mechanical dangers."

Today, Riverview is nothing more that woods, trees, and leafs. It is also the site of a police station and a shopping center called Riverview Plaza. If not for the sign on the mall entrance you would not have even guessed that there once was an amusement park right under your own feet. Today, Riverview still lives on in the memories that were fortunate enough to experience it and "laugh their troubles away!"

"The man had his back turned and did not see two boys approach. One of the boys "dared" the other to pick up a loaded rifle that lay on the counter and shoot at a target. The boy took the dare, and fired, but instead of the target, hit the man at the base of the brain, killing him instantly."

With the opening of the new Riverview Amusement park came three substantial rides. The thr

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1716
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History