Eldridge Park
Dr. Edwin Eldridge opened Eldridge Park in 1870 as a place for recreation and for the community to gather. Early popular attractions included a frog and turtle pond, Lake Eldridge, and the Casino. This casino had no gambling, but instead featured a restaurant, ice cream parlor, and an observation deck. After Dr. Eldridge's death in 1876, his family cared for the park until the city of Elmira purchased it in 1889.
The Gilded Ideal
Eldridge Park was a commercial success. A railroad station was built in Eldridge Park, allowing people from across the region to arrive directly by train. Eldridge Park became a popular destination for people who wished to spend their leisure time outdoors and escape city life. The park also became a popular meeting place.
The Tarnished Reality
There were different ways that people used the park. More sophisticated uses of the park were promenading around Lake Eldridge and viewing the statues. Other attractions, like the bear pit, were a more lowbrow form of entertainment. Bear fights were popular events for spectators. One 4th of July, a group of men harassed the bears by throwing firecrackers at them and had to be stopped by the police.
