GC1Y39D Chester Park - Tribute to Big Mama K (Traditional Cache) in Ohio, United States created by Cincinnati Cache Collectors

GC1Y39D ▼

A cache by Cincinnati Cache Collectors Message this owner

Hidden : 9/1/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

First part is this is a tribute to Big Mama K. Her caches typically
are not of the difficult but are more about the informing the
cacher about the location. I have found most of her caches and
lucky for us she is still hiding them. This is a small container
and requires you to bring a pen.

Chester Park was located on the northwest corner of Spring Grove Avenue and Mitchell. The Cincinnati Waterworks offices now partially occupy the spot. The area first opened as a horse racing club. The President of the club was a gentleman by the name of George Stone and one of the horses he owned was called Lady Chester. Need I say more? During the 70's and 80's it was the headquarters of The Queen City Jockey Club.The track was a 1/2 mile oval on which, in 1876, the first Ohio Derby was held. On August 29,1885 15,000 people gathered to watch John L. Sullivan fight Dominick(Dan) McCaffrey in one of the first boxing matches held under the Marquis of Queensbury rules. This was the first championship fight held in Cincinnati. Fighting a seven rounder Sullivan won the decision although it took several days to decide it. In 1895 The Cincinnati Street Railway Company bought the park and used part of the land as a streetcar maintenance complex and the park became an "amusement resort". In 1886 bicycle racing was added, concerts and operas were held and then rides and picnic grounds were built. A large lake was constructed with a midway bisecting it. On one side was boating and on the other side swimming. Circling the lake was a boardwalk and a miniature train. Hilarity Hall was a 5 story fun house. There were times when up to 30,000 people a day swam in the lake.The name was changed to Rainbow Park from 1929 to 1932 as a result of a public naming contest, but by popular demand the name was restored.The decline of Chester started with the combination of the Great Depression plus the loss of revenue from selling beer due to Prohibition. The park was closed and dismantled because the city of Cincinnati shut of the park's water in Augustof 1932 because of a $1800 unpaid water bill. The next year only the pool and skating rink stayed open. Another reason for its shutdown was the serious competition from Coney Island. After WWII it was called the Arena Pool. It closed for good in 1954.

Chester_Park_Enterance

Chester Park Club House

Chester Park Lake

Chester Park Statue of Liberty

Chester Park Roller Coaster

Chester Park Mini Railroad