Pennsville Township Historical Society
86 Churchlanding Road
Pennsville, NJ 08070
Phone: (856) 678-4453
86 Churchlanding Road
Pennsville, NJ 08070
Phone: (856) 678-4453
Riverview Beach Park
1914-W.D. Acton inherited the Riverview Hotel from his grandfather, Jacob Acton. He enlarged the Park to include swings, movies, picnic tables, and a dance hall. The steamer Queen Anne, a steel hull sidewheeler, replaced the Adelaide and was later replaced by the Wilson Line. The Queen
Anne brought Philadelphians to Batten's Beach in Pennsville.
1917-A Dentzel merry-go-round was purchased.
1918-Alvis W. Wallace opened a novelty shop at the Park.
1922-William D. Acton purchased the Baker farm from Mrs. Hannah Baker Batten. Boats began daily excursions to the Park. On Decoration Day of 1922, the City of Camden, City of Wilmington, City of Chester and the City of Philadelphia made their first cruise down the river to Riverview Beach Park.
1923-New amusements were added to the Park. They included the Eli Ferris Wheel, Airplane Swing, Water Slide, Dry Slide, Toyland, and the Humming Bird. W.E. Hannah was Park manager and also responsible for the construction of many of the rides. Landscape crews were hired to plant rhododendrons, trees, and various types of flowers in the Park. The S.S. State of Delaware made a trial voyage on a cruise from Wilmington to Riverview Beach on June 11, 1923. The S.S. State of Pennsylvania made its trial run on June 12, 1923. Arrival times were 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. Departure times were 5:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.
1924-New amusements were added to the Park. They included: The Old Mill, The Whip, Tilt-A- Whirl, Scooters, and a small train. The fifteen acre lake, which was originally the meadow, was dug and stocked with carp.
1925-The merry-go-round building was erected. The new carousel (fifty-two feet in diameter) had four rings of hand carved and painted galloping horses. It had sixteen fixed animals in the outside row: fourteen horses, one tiger, one lion, and 2 two-bench serpent seats. In the inside, there were three rows with forty-nine horses or "jumpers." There were approximately fourteen hundred lights with eighteen clown heads on the periphery. Numerous cherub heads, oval and square mirrors surrounded the inner core. The carousel was purchased in Germantown, Pennsylvania and was built by the William Dentzel Company. It was reported that only three carousels were in the United States at that time. The smaller carousel with its rings of stationary horse continued to operate at five cents a ride or six rides for a quarter. The larger, newer carousel charged ten cents a ride. Grace Alliegro
1917-A Dentzel merry-go-round was purchased.
1918-Alvis W. Wallace opened a novelty shop at the Park.
1922-William D. Acton purchased the Baker farm from Mrs. Hannah Baker Batten. Boats began daily excursions to the Park. On Decoration Day of 1922, the City of Camden, City of Wilmington, City of Chester and the City of Philadelphia made their first cruise down the river to Riverview Beach Park.
1923-New amusements were added to the Park. They included the Eli Ferris Wheel, Airplane Swing, Water Slide, Dry Slide, Toyland, and the Humming Bird. W.E. Hannah was Park manager and also responsible for the construction of many of the rides. Landscape crews were hired to plant rhododendrons, trees, and various types of flowers in the Park. The S.S. State of Delaware made a trial voyage on a cruise from Wilmington to Riverview Beach on June 11, 1923. The S.S. State of Pennsylvania made its trial run on June 12, 1923. Arrival times were 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. Departure times were 5:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.
1924-New amusements were added to the Park. They included: The Old Mill, The Whip, Tilt-A- Whirl, Scooters, and a small train. The fifteen acre lake, which was originally the meadow, was dug and stocked with carp.
1925-The merry-go-round building was erected. The new carousel (fifty-two feet in diameter) had four rings of hand carved and painted galloping horses. It had sixteen fixed animals in the outside row: fourteen horses, one tiger, one lion, and 2 two-bench serpent seats. In the inside, there were three rows with forty-nine horses or "jumpers." There were approximately fourteen hundred lights with eighteen clown heads on the periphery. Numerous cherub heads, oval and square mirrors surrounded the inner core. The carousel was purchased in Germantown, Pennsylvania and was built by the William Dentzel Company. It was reported that only three carousels were in the United States at that time. The smaller carousel with its rings of stationary horse continued to operate at five cents a ride or six rides for a quarter. The larger, newer carousel charged ten cents a ride. Grace Alliegro
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |