The Immigrant and the Trolley Park in Youngstown, Ohio, 1899-1945

Abstract

In the early twentieth century, amusement parks sprang up in many American cities. This new form of mass entertainment appealed to all classes of people, including the newcomers from eastern and southern Europe. The amusement park became one of the few places that men and women of all classes and cultures could mingle freely. Idora Park, located in the industrial city of Youngstown, Ohio, was a typical example of these early amusement parks. Built as a trolley park in 1899, Idora soon drew from all classes in its region. Like many American industrial cities, Youngstown opened its doors and jobs to thousands of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe. These people were attracted by the plentiful jobs in the region's burgeoning steel mills, creating a large, immigrant working class. One of the places immigrants could go to escape the dirt, heat and smells of the steel city was Idora Park. For the cost of the nickel trolley ride, an enjoyable outing could be had at Idora. By the 1920s, many immigrant groups began celebrating their heritage at different nationality days like Polish Day, Italian Day, etc., at Idora. The nationality days were an amalgam of traditional ethnic folkways and the new American culture - often featuring ethnic music and dance coupled with the all-American baseball game. Thus, Idora, like other such parks throughout the country, were places where immigrants became 'Americanized', yet also proudly celebrated their own heritage.