Southington in Hartford County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Lake Compounce
America's Oldest Amusement Park
HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino, February 15, 2020
1. Lake Compounce Marker
Oldest amusement park in America
With waxed impressions as their marks, Chief John A. Compound, his wife and tribal members deeded a 28-acre lake, a mountain and a large parcel of farmland to John Norton and 83 other settlers on December 2, 1684. On October 6, 1846 Samuel Botsford, a young Bristol inventor, lured thousands of people to witness an electrifying scientific demonstration. It was a dud but the turnout inspired Gad Norton to open the area to the public as a picnic park. Its earliest attractions featured a hand-operating revolving swing, ten-pin bowling alley and southern-style barbeque. Early parkgoers came by horse and buggy. Trolley service came to the park was inaugurated in 1895 by the Bristol and Plainville Tramway Company and in 1900 by the Meriden, Southington and Compounce Tramway Co. Lake Compounce is recognized as the oldest amusement park in America.
Erected 1997 by Kennywood Entertainment Co.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1997.
Location. 41° 38.418′ N, 72° 55.374′ W. Marker is in Southington, Connecticut, in Hartford County. Marker can be reached from Lake Avenue north of Welch Road, on the left when traveling north. Located in Lake
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bristol Korean War Monument (approx. 2 miles away); Bristol Vietnam Conflict Monument (approx. 2 miles away); Come Ye To The Waters (approx. 2 miles away); Veterans Memorial Park (approx. 2 miles away); Bristol World War II - Korean War Monument (approx. 2.1 miles away); Civil War (approx. 2.1 miles away); The History of Memorial Boulevard (approx. 2.1 miles away); 1985 Bicentennial Time Capsule (approx. 2.1 miles away).
Regarding Lake Compounce. Lake Compounce (est. in 1846) is an amusement park located in Bristol and Southington, Connecticut. Opened in 1846, it is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States. It spans 332 acres, which includes a beach and a water park called Crocodile Cove, included in the price of admission. The name Lake Compounce is derived from John Compound, a Mattatuck/Tunxis Native American Chieftain.
Also see . . .
1. Lake Compounce Amusement Park. Park website (Submitted on December 17, 2020, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
via Wikipedia, 2006
2. Lake Compounce main gate
"Oldest amusement park in America".
Historic Towns of America website entry:
Lake Compounce (est. in 1846) is an amusement park located in Bristol and Southington, Connecticut. Opened in 1846, it is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States.
(Submitted by Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York; November 28, 2020)
Click for more information.
Historic Towns of America website entry:
Lake Compounce (est. in 1846) is an amusement park located in Bristol and Southington, Connecticut. Opened in 1846, it is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States.
(Submitted by Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York; November 28, 2020)
Click for more information.
2. Lake Compounce. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 17, 2020, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2020, by HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York. This page has been viewed 295 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 28, 2020, by HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York. 2. submitted on January 1, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
