June 4 - 6, 1915

Wildwood Amusement Park where grandpa had his Senior picnic

Fri. June 4, 1915

Alternate sun and cloudy, warm

Went to school reg. time and ordered eats for our Hist. picnic. Left for our Senior picnic about 77 or 8. Filled up the car so it was as good as chartered. To Wildwood, had eats and a good time. Lots of fun on car going and coming. Got home about 7:30 or 8. Sleepy - went to bed 8:30.

Author note: For more than three decades, men, women, and children could catch a streetcar in St. Paul, pay ten to fifteen cents, and ride to White Bear Lake from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Traveling at speeds greater than sixty miles per hour, they arrived at Wildwood about forty-five minutes after they left the city. After exiting the streetcar, guests took steps down from the depot, went through a tunnel, and emerged at the entrance to Wildwood Amusement Park.

Once there, visitors found a roller coaster, fun house, Katzenjammer Castle (a children's play house), penny arcade, shooting gallery, and other carnival games. Also on the amusement park grounds was a beach with large bathhouses where park goers could rent bathing suits. From there, they could swim in the lake or, if they were more adventurous, take a toboggan slide that deposited swimmers out into the lake. Also available for small fees were fishing boats, fishing gear, motor boat rides around the lake, and, occasionally, hot air balloon rides. Nearby were picnic grounds and concession stands where visitors could purchase refreshments. Companies from the Twin Cities often held employee picnics out at Wildwood.

Sat. June 5, 1915

Warm - rain in aft.

I sawed out boards for sewer nearly all day. Helped Hovelman fix up his car late in aft. and evening. In, read, and to bed.



Sun. June 6, 1915

Nice day

Went down to Hennepin Ave Methodist-Episcopal church and heard Baccalaureate sermon by Dr. Gillies on "Religion as an Investment." It was fine. Home, read, "etc", little ride on bike and to bed.

Methodist Episcopal Church