By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
June 1, 2016

Electric Park was named for the 100,000 electric light bulbs outlining its buildings and rides. After dark, they turned night into day. Writers of the day termed it, “the great white city of Brush Creek Valley.”

Maps of 1908 show this amusement park was located at what was then the southern city limits, from 46th Street and The Paseo extending east to Woodland Avenue.

The original park, however, was located at the foot of Chestnut Avenue, near the Guinotte ramp.

Admittance to the park was 10 cents. Heim Brewing Company opened Electric Park May 19, 1907, to a crowd of 53,000. No beer was served in the park, as the city fathers refused to issue a license to the brothers for the park. Soon, there proved to be such good returns from popcorn, hot dogs, peanuts, ice cream, rollercoasters, shooting galleries, a swimming pool and dance pavilion that nobody worried about beer. There was a slight retaliatory action by the brothers, however, when they instated a 1-cent charge on each glass of water. There was a charge for swimming, but none for the famous night spectacle of “Living Statuary” at the fountain in the lake.

Here, beautiful, shapely young women on a pedestal emerged from the fountain every hour of the evening, as if by magic, and held the crowd spellbound with their graceful poses while flooded with colored lights that merged, blended and changed shades over their lovely forms.

Much of the park burned May 28, 1925, and it was not rebuilt. Part of the park continued to operate for years after the fire, but the spell was broken. Times were changing, and radio, motorcar and movies were all competing for leisure hours. The Village Green Apartments and a shopping center were built on the site in 1948. Today, there is no hint Brush Creek’s great white way even existed.

The card was mailed to Mrs. S. W.  Palmer of Route 1, Milo, Mo., on May 13, 1913. The typewritten message reads, “Dear Mother, I must write this card, for I know you think I have forgotten you, but that is not the case. I have so much work to do. I worked tonight and Edith came down and stayed here and wrote letters. She got home alright. I guess you are all pretty busy now. When are you coming up? I am feeling fine, only a little tired. I would sure like to see you all. Give Lucille a kiss for me. I will try and write a letter soon. Tell Nell I will write another letter to her too. With much love, Harry.”