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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 22, 2006 22:35:00 GMT -5
Fred Donner, Industrialist in the early 1900's, donated the land of which we now call Donner Park.
Throughout the 1950's and 1960's, Donner Park followed the same principals as most of the elementary schools in Columbus in the summer months. Kids could go there and play knock hockey, teather ball, and other games. The teather ball poles were located just south and west of the shelter house. There were two of them. A concession stand set just south and west of the shelter, too. Besides selling cokes and candy, you could also buy one of those wooden planes with the rubber band and propellor. Wind up the rubber band and let it fly. If you were really lucky, the plane lasted a few hours before something (usually the rubber band) broke!
It seems the pool was open longer back in the 1960's. It didn't offer that fancy water slide, but there were two diving boards.
A great place to spend a hot and humid summer afternoon and evening!
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 22, 2006 23:00:11 GMT -5
Earl Hammack played a major role in the development of Columbus' Parks in the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's. He was also involved in the cleaning up of Death Valley, transforming it into Mill Race Park. Here's an article regarding Earl Hammack and Donner Park.
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mrmoosey
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Post by mrmoosey on Aug 23, 2006 19:05:52 GMT -5
Back in the 1930's they used to hold talent contests at the shelter house. My Dad won one once by whistling tunes. He was a great whistler. Dad and My Great Uncle used to be members of the Bartholomew Co drum and Bugle Corps as well. Saw a picture of it in the paper a year or two ago
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Sept 8, 2006 8:48:52 GMT -5
How many remember the playground equipment that was like a merry go round but was way up in the air? I'm sure it was not as high as I thought it was. It was all metal and clanged so loud when the bars hit the center pole ?
It sat close to the Concession stand. I don't recall the name but I watched enviously as my older sister Sheila loved to sit on it and I would push her around by her shoes. I don't believe I ever got up the courage to try it as I was sooooo afraid of heights and still am today. Would anyone by chance have a picture of it and it's name?
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marksix
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Post by marksix on Sept 9, 2006 1:35:53 GMT -5
I remember that merry go round,and also the enclosed spiral slide.As a kid I was not allowed to get on those.I bet it was pretty cool inside that slide.Never seen another one like it.
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Sept 9, 2006 9:02:11 GMT -5
WELCOME NEW MEMBER...MARK SIX !!
Thanks for confirming there was this piece of playground equipment. I vaguely have memories of the spiral slide also.
Donner Park has been a valuable part of our family for 5 generations ...My mother and her three sisters..myself and my three sisters ...my 4 daughters..my seven grandchildren ..and now my great granddaughter Mackenzie. Thank you again Mr. Donner for giving the children of Columbus access to such a wonderful area that is free for all to enjoy !!
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Sept 9, 2006 9:12:57 GMT -5
Margo, I keep trying to picture this high merry go round equipment at Donner Park but for the life of me I can't see it. I do recall a big round type thing you had to really run to get it to go and then we'd all hop on but it wasn't very high. It had metal bars that you held on to and once on it, you'd better hold on or you'd likely slide right off. Maybe this was some type of equipment they put in at Donner Park after I was a little older and didn't actually play at the park. I know once the new pool was put in, that is pretty much where we spent our time.
Also welcome marksix! Hope you will enjoy this site as much as the rest of us do.
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Sept 14, 2006 23:19:25 GMT -5
Margie It was all metal and I will try to draw a pic of it at our planning committee meeting. There was a second merry go round over by the spiral slide and I will check tommorrow to see if it is still there. That merry go round sat about a foot off the ground and you could sit on the boards running up to the center of it. I know i'm not describing either one very well. Wish I could find pictures of them
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Apr 29, 2007 17:41:59 GMT -5
In early April 2007, Harry McCawley had a column regarding Katia Hatter's (Parks and Recreation) quest to locate memories, photos, and history about the parks and recreation department in Columbus, which I am attaching here. Parks department seeking artifacts, memories of past
COLUMBUS has a great parks and recreation system — one of the best in the country. That’s not just a hometown cheerleader talking. Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Wilt has several awards from national organizations hanging around Donner Center. But it didn’t happen overnight. Fact is, it’s taken at least 60 years for it to come to pass. Later this summer, the staff of one of the best parks and recreation departments in the country will be celebrating its 60th birthday. Several events and activities are on tap later this year that use the 60th anniversary as a theme, and park staffers want to showcase that history. Problem is that none of the staff were around when things got started back in 1947 and records, photos and memorabilia from the early years are a tad scanty. That’s why the department’s Katia Hatter is reaching out to the grassroots to fill in some of the holes in the past. The short-term goal is to use the material in historical displays that will be staged at various events but the long-term goal is to ensure that the material and information is recorded on a permanent basis for future generations. Katia has tapped into the usual sources such as the Bartholomew County Historical Society and the archives of The Republic. She’s picked up quite a bit of material about the early years that began when Paul Stacker was hired as the first Parks and Recreation director but she believes there’s a lot more out there. “We’d like for residents to share with us their photos and other items from the past,” she said. “However, we’d really love to tap into their memories, to collect stories and anecdotes about how all this came to be.” There’s a lot for people to remember: ¿ The first After Prom Party in 1949. ¿ The outdoor ice arena that today is the enclosed Hamilton Center. ¿ The various programs that resulted from a partnership between the schools and the park board. ¿ The River Rats and other organizations that cleared the area that was called Death Valley and turned it into Mill Race Park. ¿ The covered bridges in Mill Race Park. ¿ The Columbus Junior Baseball program, slow-pitch softball leagues, slow-break basketball, etc. ¿ Donner Pool and programs such as the old Aqua Queen contests. ¿ And many, many more. Anyone who has memories and/or artifacts from these and other events from the department’s past is encouraged to contact Katia at the department, 376-2696. While I was in Columbus, I had the privilege to meet Katia and talk with her. You may contact Katia at the number listed above, she is usually in her office Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 AM - 5 PM, or email her with information that you might be able to add khatter@columbus.in.gov . This is a wonderful undertaking to preserve some more of Columbus history. IF you have info to share with her, I surely hope that you will take the time to add a post to the message boards, as well. Thanks, and good luck, Katia. Nanc
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Post by parkslady on May 9, 2007 13:55:34 GMT -5
Hi all:
Thanks, Nanc, for your kind post. I thought I'd better join in on the board to post a personal plea from those of us at Columbus Parks & Recreation Dept.
PLEASE email or call me with any information you have about your memories concerning Columbus parks and activities. We would really love to feature anecdotes and other memories as part of our 60th anniversary celebration, but unfortunately there isn't a lot we've received to date. Some examples:
*Was your first job with Columbus Parks and Rec? Did you help out with playground supervision? Lifeguard at Donner Pool? Work at the concession stand? If so, please tell us about it!
*Were you at the opening day or days of Donner Pool back in July 1948? Did you spend your childhood summers there?
*Were you a frequent park visitor? What were your favorite things about our parks as a child?
*Did you frequent Lincoln Center Ice Rink (now Hamilton Center Ice Arena)? If so, share your memories with us.
We would also love photos as well. You are free to email me at khatter@columbus.in.gov or call me at 812-376-2696.
Thanks so much for your help with this project.
Katia Hatter
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jdhinkle
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Post by jdhinkle on Jan 29, 2008 20:48:20 GMT -5
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I LIVED ONE BLOCK FROM MCKINLEY SCHOOL AND THREE BLOCKS FROM DONNER PARK DURING THE SUMMER DONNER PARK WAS MY DOMAIN I KNOW PEOPLE REMEMBER DOLPH BECK I KNOW I HAD A HANK AARON ROOKIE CARD BUT I FORGOT TO SAVE IT I SWAM A LOT ON THE THE DONNER SWIM TEAM AND COMPETED IN THE ANNUAL MEET
REMEMBER COACH BARROWS AND MOOSE GILBERT DOING THE CRAZY DIVES
I WAS TETHERBALL CHAMP A COUPLE OF TIMES
SOMETIMES I GOT IN TROUBLE BECAUSE I FORGOT TO GO HOME WHEN I WAS SUPPOSE TO
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jdhinkle
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Post by jdhinkle on Apr 8, 2008 8:47:42 GMT -5
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY PLAY GROUND? LOOKS DIFFERENT I WOULD RECOMMEND THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE FAR AWAY FROM COLUMBUS FIND AN INTERNET SATALLITE HOOK UP AND TAKE A TOUR OF THE CITY I USE LIVE LOCAL I WAS LOOKING DOWN ON DONNER PARK AND NOTICED A FEW CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE I SEE THE JUNIOR POOL IS CHANGED TO A ROUND SHAPE WHICH APPEARS TO TAKE IN THE BABY POOL AREA. THEY ALSO LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE A WATER SLIDE SET UP BACK BEHIND THE DIVING BOARDS OBVIOUSLY REDUCING THE SUN BATHING AREA. I ALSO SEE THEY ADDED AN ENTRANCE DRIVE TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE. THE TENNIS COURTS STILL LOOK IN GOOD SHAPE. BAD NEWS THE CROQUET COURTS AND SHUFFLEBOARD AREAS APPEAR TO BE GONE. MY MY WHAT DO KIDS HAVE TO DO IN THE SUMMERTIME. NO MORE SOFTBALL IN THE NORTH CHESNUT SECTION EITHER KIDS NOW A DAYS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY MISSED I ALSO NOTICED THEY REMOVE THE RAILROAD TRACKS THRU 14TH 15TH STREET CORRIDOR NO MORE BOX CARS TO CLIMB ON I KNOW THIS WAS DONE PERSONALLY THEY PUT A FENCE OUT SIDE THE CHESTNUT ST PART OF THE CEMETERY, THERE GOES MY SHORT CUT YOU ALL SHOULD TAKE THE OVERHEAD TRIP IT WAS INTERESTING AND A GOOD MEMORY JOGGER
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jdhinkle
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Post by jdhinkle on Apr 8, 2008 8:56:31 GMT -5
THE ONE I REMEMBER (MERRY-GO-ROUND) WAS RIGHT BE HIND DOLPH BECK CONCESSION BLDG IT WAS TILTED A LITTLE BEFORE THAT THERE WAS A GREEN WOODED ONE THAT WAS LEVEL THERE WAS A STEP UP AND THEN A LEDGE LIKE SHELF YOU COULD GET UP ON AN SIT THE TILTED ONE WAS JUST EAST OF THE SMALL SWINGS DO YOU ALL REMEMBER THE MAYPOLE SET UP NEXT TO THE BIG SLIDE WHICH WAS CHANGED TO THE SPIRAL LATER DONT FORGET THE MONKEY BARS BY TE WAY I THINK THE MAY POLE WAS THE MERRY=GO=ROUND MARGO WAS TRYING TO DESCRIBE IT HAD ROPES HANGING DOWN AND PEOPLE WOULD GRAB THE ROPE OR CABLE HAD HANDLES TO HANG ON TO YOU RAN AND THE RAISED YOU FEET AND FLEW AS LONG AS YOU COULD WHEN YOU LET GO YOU COULD TAKE A TUMBLE THE HANDLES WOULD DROP DOWN AND HIT THE MAIN POLE Margo, I keep trying to picture this high merry go round equipment at Donner Park but for the life of me I can't see it. I do recall a big round type thing you had to really run to get it to go and then we'd all hop on but it wasn't very high. It had metal bars that you held on to and once on it, you'd better hold on or you'd likely slide right off. Maybe this was some type of equipment they put in at Donner Park after I was a little older and didn't actually play at the park. I know once the new pool was put in, that is pretty much where we spent our time. Also welcome marksix! Hope you will enjoy this site as much as the rest of us do.
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jdhinkle
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Post by jdhinkle on Apr 8, 2008 9:12:14 GMT -5
I MENTIONED IN THE CENTRAL SCHOOL POSTS THAT I HELPED BUILD TWO FIRE ESCAPES FOR THE SCHOOL BACK IN THE LATE 50'S BOTH OF THOSE FIRE ESCAPES WERE THE SAME DESIGN AS THAT SPIRAL SLIDE WONDER IF ANY ONE EVER USED THEM. I remember that merry go round,and also the enclosed spiral slide.As a kid I was not allowed to get on those.I bet it was pretty cool inside that slide.Never seen another one like it.
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RER
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Post by RER on Dec 14, 2008 13:08:07 GMT -5
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jdhinkle
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Post by jdhinkle on Jan 18, 2009 15:41:05 GMT -5
I WAS LOOKING AROUND THE NET TODAY AND CAME ACROSS THIS LINK TO THE DONNER SWIMMING CLUB www.donnerswimclub.org/home.htmlI HOPE ALL THE LOCAL PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING THIS ORGANIZATION IT WAS A BIG INFLUENCE ON ME IN MY EARLY DAYS AND KNOW IT WILL BE FOR THE PEOPLE TODAY. REMINDED ME OF THE DAYS OF PAUL STACKER AND COACH BARROWS AS WELL AS DAVID HILYCORD IN THE JUNIOR POOL
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Post by Ricky_Berkey on Jun 7, 2009 14:48:40 GMT -5
I'm looking for any sources of information about the park area when it was still called Perry's Grove. Was it operated as a private picnic park? They had a number of "Chautauqua's" held there in those days with visiting lecturers and entertaintment.
John Crump's first trolley line ended on a corner of the cemetery site (with a trolley barn), did it bring people out to Perry's Grove for weekend outings and picnics?
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jdhinkle
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Post by jdhinkle on Jul 31, 2009 11:19:16 GMT -5
GOING THROUGH MY BROTHERS SCRAPBOOK I DISCOVERED THE GEM FROM HISTORY THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURE IS NOT TO GOOD BUT I'M SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE NAMES FROM THE DONNER SWIM CLUB IN THE EARLY 50S IN LOOKING THRU THE NAMES I FOUND SOME ERRORS ONE BEING JACK HINKLE IS IDENTIFIED TWICE BUT THE JACK HINKLE NEXT TO LARRY DAVIS IS JACK AND THE ONE BEHIND HIM IS BROTHER JERRY OVER TO THE LEFT IS REED TALBOTT AND WILLIAM THOSE WOULD BE REEL AND CHIP LAST I NOTICE WAS TOM SPURGEON THEY HAD ROM THE DATE AT THE TOP IS JUNE 1953 WITH A CLOSE LOOK YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE FUTURE INDIANA HALL OF FAME SWIMMERS CLAUDE AND WAYNE THOMPSON AND JOE SHEEHY FURTHER PROOF OF THE EXCELLENT FACILITY FOR THE YOUTH IN THE EARLY 50S LASTLY NOT TO FORGET THE GREAT SWIM COACH DUANE BARROWS
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jdhinkle
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Post by jdhinkle on Aug 14, 2009 12:16:37 GMT -5
I DISCOVERED SOME INTERESTING INFO THAT MAY NOT BE AS DRAMATIC AS THE LIFE PICTURES BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS I AM GOING TO ADD SOME ITEMS WHICH WILL BE INTERESTING TO A LOT OF COLUMBUS RESIDENTS FROM THE 50 S YOU WILL NOTICE THE DATE ON THIS SWIMMING MEET PROGRAM JULY 29, 1952 THERE ARE SEVERAL PAGES TO THIS PROGRAM I INTEND TO ADD THEM AS I CAN
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jdhinkle
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Post by jdhinkle on Aug 14, 2009 12:37:10 GMT -5
AS I ADD EACH OF THE PAGES I HAD GREAT MEMORIES OF THE PEOPLE FROM COLUMBUS WHO I GREW UP WITH AS WELL AS THE MANY BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORTED THE DONNER SWIMMING FACILITY IF YOU CAN SEE THE ENTRANTS IN THE 6 AND UNDER YOU NOTICE JOE SHEEHY AND RICKY ROETHKE JOHN'S YOUNGER BROTHER JOHN, JOE AND THE THOMPSON BROTHERS WERE HONORED A FEW YEARS AGO IN THE INDIANA SWIMMER HALL OF FAME HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM LOOK AT THE COLUMBUS ENTRIES AND THE AGE GROUPS
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