IT STARTED TO GROW……AND GROW…
As we leave the mid 1880’s with transportation limited to the "horse
and buggy", the entire Roton Point area was a quiet enclave used
mainly for picnics and bathing by local residents.
Soon thereafter, however, all the surrounding land was
consolidated under one ownership, and thanks to the introduction of
the trolley car -- first horse-drawn, then electrified -- the park
quickly started to expand. The trolley line was extended from South
Norwalk, and then linked to Darien in the west, thus allowing many
more local communities to have easy access to the area. Trolleys
came into the park through the present entrance and made a sweeping
loop close to today’s tennis building where they would discharge
their passengers and wait for the mass exodus at the end of the day.
The fare was five cents, and one arrived about every 20 minutes.
A pier was extended into the Sound on the east side to allow
excursion boats to dock. And activity was extremely brisk by the
turn of the century. At one time, four large boats were at the dock,
and five more were off shore waiting to discharge their passengers.
With an average capacity well over 1,200 people, some 12,000
visitors were able to arrive in one day by boat alone….
As a family park, Roton Point attracted church and fraternal
groups, lodge outings, conventions and Sunday school picnickers from
all over, with many coming from as far away as New York City and New
Jersey for a fun-packed, leisurely day. At one point, there were
dozens and dozens of picnic tables laid out, row upon row in the
grove area. But soon the area so began to grow well beyond just
picnics and bathing into a full-fledged amusement park, with a
variety of attractions. A small dance platform was placed on the
side of the grove, which was soon replaced by a much larger dance
pavilion down by the water’s edge.
Many small concession stands were concentrated in the area behind
the "hotel", and they extended along the border by Bayley Beach. In
addition to refreshment stands, these included a shooting gallery,
penny arcade, "crazy house", palm reader, skeet ball and many other
games of chance. One of the most popular attractions was the glass
blower’s booth. As beautiful, small glass pieces were shaped in
front of them, fascinated by-standers would crowd in front of the
skilled craftsman. Many of his objects are still treasured by local
residents, and his grandson still lives in Rowayton in a house
filled with memorabilia from this era. The walkways, both around and
inside the park area, were surrounded by beautiful flower plantings
that made Roton Point the prettiest amusement park on the entire
Sound.
The park’s first rollercoaster extended down along the side of
Bayley Beach, along with other simple rides of that time, such as an
automated circular swing. The first carousal was located near the
north west corner of the "hotel". And circling around the Park was a
miniature steam train that gave a pleasant and thrilling ride to
children….and adults.
The present day circular bath house was built to house the first
carousal but was actually used as a vaudeville theater and then as a
skate rink. The two rectangular bathhouses that are now on both
sides of it were originally one large, long structure that extended
parallel down the full length of the present beach. This structure
was cut in half and moved to its present locations around the turn
of the century.
Roton Point evolved slowly during the years up to
the 1920’s. At that time, Neville Bayley, an astute and successful
entrepreneur, took over ownership of the park and expanded it with
more rides, chance booths and a variety of other attractions…but
more about this phase later on in the
next issue.
Please note that most of what has been discussed
here can be seen in pictures by
clicking
here.
The above information was submitted by the History Committee,
with specific references to "Rowayton On The Half Shell", Frank E.
Raymond, Phoenix Publishing, 1990
