In 1977, an English teacher named James Toman finished reading the book Euclid Beach Park is Closed for the Season and had an epiphany: why aren’t there more books about Cleveland history?
He had had such fond memories of his days at Euclid Beach Park as a child, and he loved the book, which helped bring back so many of those memories. That’s when he thought – I know how to write, I love Cleveland history, and I have a friend in publishing. The idea for Cleveland Landmarks Press (CLP) was hatched that day, and three years later, Toman and his friend Dan Cook started CLP. Nearly 50 titles and sales of almost a quarter million books later, Clevelanders interested in learning more about the city’s history can turn to CLP, which is now a division of Teaching Cleveland.
It was fitting that Toman in his later years chose to return to Euclid Beach Park for the last book he ever wrote, A Euclid Beach Park Album. The book is the story of the park and a compendium of never-before-seen images taken by Harry Christiansen, the long-time reporter for the old Cleveland News. When the Humphrey family, which owned the park, announced that 1969 would be the last year of operation for the park, Christiansen shot some 700 photos during its final year.
Most of Christiansen’s images sat in his basement, and when a flood ruined a good portion of them, his children donated the rest to the Special Collections Department of Cleveland State University’s Michael Schwartz Library. Enter Toman, who in his retirement years volunteered in the special collections department. He came across the images and realized they had to see the light of day.
A Euclid Beach Park Album captures in 80 pages and 120 images the magic of the park, which opened in 1895 and came to dominate the amusement park scene in Cleveland for almost 75 years. There were other parks in the Cleveland area, such as Puritas Springs or Luna Park, but they didn’t last nearly as long. Puritas Spring lasted from 1900-1958, and Luna Park only lasted from 1905-1929. There was Geauga Lake, but most people would say its heyday took place after Euclid Beach closed. And of course Cedar Point still lives on.
Euclid Beach had it all, and for a long time. Readers of A Euclid Beach Park Album can capture the attraction of the beach and the dance hall, stroll through the midway, revisit the arcade, and feel the thrills of all the rides. From the Flying Scooters to the Flying Turns, from the Racing Coaster to the Rocket Ships and everything in between, the scenes of Euclid Beach Park are captured in black and white and color photographs. The book is a heartwarming return visit to the place which holds wonderful memories for so many Clevelanders.
It’s a fun read. It’s a fast read. And it takes readers back to a unique, popular park that drew tens of thousands of families, corporate communities, and thrill seekers. While you can still stroll the grounds of Euclid Beach, or walk under the famous welcoming archway, or ride the restored carousel at the Cleveland History Center in University Circle, nothing takes you back there quite like a photo album capturing all the excitement.
