Lincoln Park Remembered, 1894-1987 [Paperback]

Jim Grasela (Editor), Ruth J. Caswell (Editor), Tracy A. Furtado (Editor), Joseph D. Thomas (Editor), Jay Avila (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1999

This photo-acked book captures 93 years of good times at Lincoln Park in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts - one of the oldest amusement parks in existence when it closed in 1987.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The editors have done their job admirably, taking the reader on a magical mystery tour that begins with the park's founding in 1894 as a destination for street railway riders, to it's demise in 1987.

Along the way, there are marvelous detours that prevent the book from being merely a recitation of dates and events.

The book also examines the cultural aspects of Lincoln Park, a place where regionalism flowered - was never forced - between residents of the Whaling City and the Spindle City. After all, it was the sacred grounds where they rode the Ferris wheel in childhood, roller skated in adolescence, courted in their teens, took in Golden Gloves bouts during young adulthood, danced at the annual Bishop's Ball and swayed to the sounds of the big bands as seniors in later years.

"[The book] makes you ride the roller coaster again," says editor Tracy Furtado. -- The Herald News, 9/1999

When the Spinner Publications staff set out earlier this year to create their latest book, Lincoln Park Remembered, they knew they would be able to find local people with memories of their experiences at the amusement park.

What they didn't expect, however, was the degree of sentiment remembering the park would evoke.

"We thought it would be a much smaller book, but people called in with hundreds of stories and sent us about 2,000 photographs. Our phone was ringing off the hook," said Tracey A. Furtado, who co-edited the book with Joseph D. Thomas and Marsha L. McCabe. "The book really became a great community project."

Lincoln Park began providing people with memories on July 4, 1894, and continued to do so until it closed in September 1987. The book captures the history and nostalgia of that time span, giving readers a feeling of the experiences of each generation of park visitors. About 450 photographs and movie stills were used in the book, many from private collection.

"Lincoln Park's memory is being well-served. People have really put their hearts into this," said Ms. Furtado. -- The Standard-Times, 9/23/99

From the Inside Flap

Spinner Publications, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit publishing house that preserves the history and culture of southeastern New England by gathering and publishing a wide variety of materials such as oral and narrative history, creative nonfiction, prose, poetry, biography, documentary and pictorial works. Spinner also develops programs in the community and schools, including art and photography exhibits and local curricula.

Spinner books tell the story of the individual, families, neighborhoods, the city, industry and the land. Spinner promotes the humanities and arts of the region by collaborating with artists and humanists to present history in an accurate, dramatic and entertaining way.

Spinner also maintains an archive of over 250,000 photographs representing historical and contemporary images of the region. These images are commercially available.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 199 pages
• Publisher: Spinner Publications (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932027490
• ISBN-13: 978-0932027498
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,553,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes you can go home, August 28, 2000

By 

James W Shaw (Pocasset, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lincoln Park Remembered, 1894-1987 (Paperback)

Lincoln Park Remembered is one of those special books that from the moment you receive it you just know you will never part with it. The publisher was able to obtain hundreds of remarkable photographs from members of the community who wanted very much to see that very special place honored and remembered. I remember long Summer days spent there as a child with my parents and grand parents and how everyone was able to find things to do that suited them to a T. This book is like a personal photo album and I look forward to introducing and sharing Lincoln Park with my daughter, who will just have to trust me when I tell her the place was holy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet stroll down memory lane!, July 3, 2000

By 

Steven Manchester (Westport, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lincoln Park Remembered, 1894-1987 (Paperback)

My grandfather, Alphonse Guillmette, ran the roller coaster for many years at Lincoln Park, so when this book was released- it made for a great gift. Needless to say, it went over big! What I didn't expect, however, was the surfacing of my own childhood giddiness: As I read the book, I returned back to a muggy night where flashing lights pierced the dark skies and distant sounds of children's cries enticed us toward the midway. To where the smells of popcorn and fried dough and vomit filled the air. To where a grinning man heckled all the passer-byes until a bell went off- another prize! To where the roller coaster, tilt-a-whirl and Ferris wheel made our stomachs do back flips. To where there was no need for anything but laughter.

Spinner- thank you for allowing me to remember a kinder time!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Much I Didnt Know, January 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Lincoln Park Remembered, 1894-1987 (Paperback)

I have missed Lincoln Park so much since it's demise. I was so afraid this wonderful place would be lost forever. To see it come to life again in this book brought back so many happy memories. My grandfather used to take my brother and I every Wednesday during the summer. The pictures and stories stirred memories,smells,sounds, and smiles long forgotten. If you ever had the privilege of going you would also enjoy locating the video "Lincoln Park Remembered", with photographs and film clips. How nice to be able to step through the gates again!