1930s

Louis Pellessier, the head of the Holyoke Street Railway Company at the time, embarked upon an ambitious expansion of the Mountain Park midway in 1929, just as the Great Depression hit.  Even so, Pellissier was able to shepherd the park through the ensuing twenty years and keep the park's reputation as a prime leisure destination in the Pioneer Valley.

Parking lot, 1929
Even with a decline in trolley ridership and the demise of the Summit House, Louis Pellissier was undeterred.  To accomodate the new mode of travel, he tore down sections of the beautiful picnic groves and turned them into automobile parking lots.

The new midway, 1929
Pellissier created what we now recognize as a tradition amusement park midway, filled with rides and games of chance.  Clockwise from the upper left is the Aeroplane, a Traver Engineering Circle Swing; the PTC-built Mountain Wildcat rollercoaster; various concession stands.  At the bottom of the image is the ballroom/Tap Room complex.  Next to the Aeroplane is the building for the former dance hall and arcade, converted into a carousel pavilion.

Midway, 1941
This is how the midway looked in 1941.  Not a lot had changed in ten years.  The center of the midway is still fairly open, with just a few shade trees.  In the foreground is a stage for light musical acts and circus-style performers.  On the right is the pavilion for the Whip, a popular Mangels ride.  The carousel pavilion is just beyond it.  Visible in the far center background is the ballroom and Tap Room.


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