Dec 25
Tags: Community,Culture,Elmira,Life in these Twin Tiers
Jasper Is Back (Almost)
In Eldridge Park official tells WETM exclusively that a brand new Jasper the Dragon Boat has made his way to Elmira all the way from Detroit.
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is that an actual picture of the new Jasper? He’s beautiful! Fun just looking at him! He doesn’t look like he needs a lot of carving on his head. Looks to me like he’s chomping at the air just rearing to go!
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Not of Jasper because, actually, Jasper is a Johnny-Come-Lately as far as old Eldridge Park is concerned. But I do have a card showing one of the ‘excursion’ boats they used to have.
Unfortunately, I can’t scan it as I haven’t downloaded the drivers for my scanner yet.
I need to do that and get 5those scans to you. You’ll rend your hair when you see all the statuary that was there and is now gone with the wind. Absolutely divine fountains. Some were in Brand Park, too.
Eldridge park originally had hills and dales with many pavilions, a spring house, drive ways. It was one beautiful place.
In the 60s it became an amusement park with the tilt-a-whirl and such. But originally it was used more as a Sunday afternoon picnicking area, a place to take a ride on the lake, walk and enjoy the scenery, have a meal, enjoy the quiet, the birds, the trees. Not a tree in sight now. No little hills, either.
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What happened?
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Evidently the City of Elmira decided to ‘new and improve’ it.
You KNOW how that goes! Look what has happened to any other number of Elmira areas and buildings. Some call that ‘progress’.
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As a park, not so much.
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This is a project by Bob Lyon , not the City of Elmira. And from someone who rode the ” Dragon Boat ” Jasper in the 40’s and 50’s I can attest to the fact that its been an Eldridge Park ride for years. Heres a link to a site that has a picture of the original Jasper that I rode on and so did many others who grew up in Elmira….. http://www.eldridgepark.us/burhyte/jasper2-burhyte_page.html
Riding Jasper on a ‘bottomless’ Lake was a thrill for all…..
As for Elmira and progress we can all thank a Councilman who has since gone to the County Legislature for bull dozing the Hills and Dales of Eldridge to create the empty softball fields and dog / goose feces laden walking paths of today. And to think, now ( the city ) is planting trees to replace those that were taken down .
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That’s some people’s idea of progress for you.
What can I say?
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Progress for the people of Elmira? Not so much.
Progress for the politician who made a few dollars by funneling the contract to a specific contracting company? That was real progress, well worth fighting for.
And now we get to have more progress in rebuilding Eldridge to how it was, I trust Bob Lyons to do the right thing, unfortunately, the city council, not so much.
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And the only time you see City Council or the Mayor at Eldridge Park is when the true heroes ( Dr. Lyons and his Volunteers ) are dedicating another upgrade to the Park. I can say with all honesty that Bob Lyons has done more for this City in a short period of time then the entire City Council past and present has in well over a Decade. And he hasn’t cost the taxpayer a dime of tax $$$. And Nina, you don’t have to say a word because that my comment about that particular councilman wasn’t meant as a compliment in the first place. The good thing about it though is the County is Republican controlled and will remain that way. So the damage will remain within the City limits……
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Herb, you’ve lost me. What are you talking about? Please enlighten me.
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After reading the entire thread I may have taken your comment about ‘progress’ out of its original context nina. ( for that I apoligize ). What I meant was that the City leadership has done nothing in Eldridge Park and is quick to take credit for the things that are done by Bob Lyon and Volunteers. Hell, the City can’t even keep the walking path clear of snow and ice ,or , for that matter, goose droppings. The Lake just flooded the entire Park because of a screw up with the Pumps that empty the Lakes water into Newtown Creek. Thank God it didn’t reach the Carousel and the newly remodeled Whip Building. As for the comment on the Councilman who brought about the demise of a once beautiful and family oriented setting I stick to that one. But he now holds a seat with the County and can’t do much damage there because of the Republican majority that has made this County into a shining star of progress in New York State. Rolling Hills and Tree lined picnic areas are now flat , treeless fields that are used only once in a while .
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Herb, I have over 20 old postcards featuring Eldridge Park in the early part of the 20th century so I probably know how it looked then more than most folks. I haven’t found any cards yet featuring EP in the 50s and 60s when it turned into an amusement park.
Bob Lyon and his Eldridge Park Preservation Society are doing a stupendous job with the renovations. Unfortunately there isn’t much to preserve. Thankfully, the City isn’t in charge of the rebuilding as we all know where that might end!
Someone at sometime got it into their head that the land was too hilly or beautiful or something and went in and took out several small lakes, made off with a LOT of exquisite statuary, tore down the spring house, pavilions and Casino, ripped up the trees, took out the driveways and foot trails and removed the little hills. In short, they converted a wonderful park into something that resembled an abandoned football field without the lines. WHO KNOWS WHY? Like I said, some call that ‘progress’.
I don’t consider anything that involves the destruction of history progress myself and I certainly don’t consider the rape of old Eldridge Park progress.
Your apology is accepted. This isn’t the first time you’ve misunderstood some post I’ve made and jumped me for it.
Herb, I am not the enemy here. I plan to spend the remainder of my days in Elmira and that makes me vested in its future. I’ve studied its past and look forward to assisting with improvements of its future.
Please reread my comments before you jump on me next time and keep repeating to yourself: Nina is not the enemy. Nina is not the enemy. Nina is NOT the enemy.
I hope you and Brenda had a nice Christmas and that in 2008 we can all work together for the betterment of our little community.
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