Kiddieland, 1721 N. Henderson St., Galesburg, Illinois. (ca.1950-1972)

Legend has it that in the early ’50s a traveling carnival, whose owner went belly up financially while setting up in Galesburg, abandoned the rides and flew the coop. Robert L. Green, known as the Traveling Welder, assumed ownership with his father and operated the amusement park for nearly 10 years. He designed many of the rides. The answer to hundreds of area children’s dreams included a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round (operated by Martha M. Morrison), flying swings and the very popular bumper cars.

In 1962 Saylor Conard, his entire family and a multitude of his friends took over the operation of Kiddieland. Conard’s daughter remembered that her father’s love for children was his motivation to keep the park alive. No child was ever left out, as free tickets were always available to those who couldn’t afford them. Conard considered Kiddieland the vacation spot for those who couldn’t afford the traditional vacation. The price per ride was maintained at 10¢ until much later.

The main marketing tool of Kiddieland was a giant beacon or searchlight that streamed a beam of light that circled the area skies. Many area youngsters would bug their parents to take them to the park when the giant searchlight roamed the skies. Although it has not been confirmed, the legend is that the searchlight was the beacon from the Galesburg Airport south of Kiddieland on Henderson Street.

Kiddieland was a family endeavor with Saylor’s wife, father, and children selling tickets, running the train, repairing rides and selling delicious concession food. Concession fare included hot popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy, Green Rivers and whatever graveyard ingredients included.

Much to both owners’ credit, many middle-aged folks and teenagers were afforded needed jobs at the local amusement park. Jim Spellman and Ralph Plympton were two full-time employees who remained loyal until the very end. Other employees included Tom Hinton, Ted Gregory, Kenny Wixforth, Sharon Bainter, Christine Barton, Mary Louise Hinton, Cindy Dama, and the Magnuson guys.

Unfortunately, in mid-August 1972 the nearly 20-year reign of Kiddieland came to a screeching halt. Soaring maintenance and rental costs forced Saylor Conard to turn out the lights for the final time. It was estimated that more than a hundred cars, carrying an average three kids, visited the park daily, however, the effort to maintain the low ticket price of 10 to 15 cents made it impossible to cover expenses.

Many attempts were made to move the operation to the Lake Storey area and partnership with the city of Galesburg. Although city officials were sympathetic to the cause, the City Council repeatedly voted down the requested relocation. It was reported that a local bank had agreed to extend a loan if the city agreed to move the rides to Lake Storey. More than 5,000 residents signed petitions urging the council to jump aboard. Members of the local Army Reserve Unit volunteered to disassemble, move and reconstruct the rides if the new location was approved.

The soul of Kiddieland is long gone. The voices of joy from area children, the light in the sky and spinning rides are nowhere to be seen, but will long be remembered.

By Tom Wilson, local historian, May 14, 2005.
Edited by Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Fun Valley Amusement Park, Springfield, Illinois. (1922-1959)

Fun Valley Amusement Park opened in 1922 in Springfield, Illinois.

The park was located at 2900 East Clear Lake Avenue (Rt 97), Springfield, at the intersection of South Dirksen Parkway. It featured a Ferris wheel, a miniature train, a teacup-style ride, pony rides, and other kiddie-type carnival rides. The park was popular with families and children. It was a popular destination for Day Camp field trips.

This photo is a visual aid.

The park closed in 1959 when City Water, Light & Power (CWLP) opened a dam on June 1, 1959, on the Sangamon River. The dam, 125 feet high and 1,200 feet long, flooded about 1,200 acres, and Fun Valley was submerged, destroying the park's rides and buildings. 

The park never recovered.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Elliott’s Amusement Park, Matteson, Illinois. (1890-1913)

Elliott's Amusement Park was on the corner of Lincoln Highway and Olympian Way. Four hundred acres were purchased by James Elliott. He was in the lumber business and this was public timber. Loads were taken by horses to the Illinois Central Railroad for shipping. The primary trees were not cut down, only the secondary ones.  He planted a row of evergreens along the highway (Route 30). These are all gone, but the Arbor Vitae trees are still there and are over 150 years old.

From 1890 to 1913, Moses and Freeman Elliott operated an amusement park, which included a merry-go-round with wooden horses, dance pavilion with a wooden floor (also used for roller skating), a polka band, miniature golf course, restaurant, ice cream tent, beer garden, horseshoes, a 30 count deer farm and a very large picnic grove. There were wagon races in the open areas. To attract children, Elliott’s Park had an animal enclosure with goats, chickens, etc..

Crowds of up to 30,000 people rode special Illinois Central trains from Chicago on the weekends to attend gatherings for various union organizations, including the Swedish-American union and the Chicago Scottish union. Kids got a free banana from the IC. There were four special picnic trains a day on the Illinois Central for special events and an open area for group meetings and forums.

There was a gateway entrance to the park with a bridge over the ravine to gain admission. There were little paths that were used by the railroad leading to the park. The park employed about 20 people, for Matteson that was a lot. Farmers came in to trade and barter. Grain was among the items traded.

Beer was bought in kegs. People would come over and buy a whole barrel of beer. The park served beer in violet glass mugs, which was evidently expensive for the area, so people would leave the park to go to the local tavern, Dettmering's, to get their tin containers (1 pt., with a handle) filled with beer and go back to Elliott’s Park. The violet beer mugs used at the park were molded with a raised bottom. The beer sold for 5¢ from 1890-1913. This was at a time when a man earned 10¢ an hour for a 10-hour workday.

A log cabin was built for ice fishing and ice skating in the winters.

Taxi service was operated from the park taking the park visitors by wagons into the Matteson business district patronizing local stores, adding to Matteson’s prosperity.  The park was a major source of employment for the local residents on Matteson at the time.

The Elliott’s raised horses. There was a considerable fire which destroyed the stables and killed many horses.

James Elliott had the Illinois State Legislature designate part of the Elliott property as a cemetery. The Lutheran Cemetery was also a part of the Elliott property. Six generations of Elliotts are buried in the cemetery. According to family member Dana Elliott, the only non-family person buried in the cemetery was a Negro Union soldier.  He happened upon the Elliott farm as he walked northward from the war looking for work. The Elliott’s hired him and he worked there for many years. He was treated as part of the family. When he died, Mrs. Elliott wanted him to be buried in the family cemetery, but all the other family members objected. He is buried there but does not have a headstone. A peony bush was planted to mark his gravesite.

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.
*A special thanks to the Matteson Historical Society.