Ocean Wave
| Other Name(s) | Witch's Hat |
|---|---|
| Type | Rotating ride Swinging Ride |
| Park Section | North West |
| Built | 1909 |
| Opened | 1909 |
| Closed | 1910 (collapsed) |
| Replaced By | Swimming Pool |
The Ocean Wave was a mechanical swinging ride at Olentangy Park installed in 1909,[1][2] similar to the Hoop-La or Razzle Dazzle. Built just south of the Ferris Wheel and Whirlwind, it was an amusement device that was made to imitate the motion of a boat in the water.[3] It collapsed in May 1910.[4]
Description
An Ocean Wave in Baraboo, Wisconsin, was described in a local newspaper in 1903 as being "in the nature of a circle swing, somewhat like a merry-go-round, and carries 28 double chairs. While it is "goin' roun'" a large street piano operated by the engine is made to dispense all the late popular tunes."[5] An ad in The Billboard described a version of a "Aerial Revolving Ocean Wave Swing" that carried 65 people, ran by hand power, and weighed three tons. It was able to be erected, removed, and operated by only two men.[6]
Injuries
In July 1909, Earl Sands, 14, suffered a badly crushed leg after his leg became caught beneath the platform. It took three stitches to close a gash in the leg below the knee.[3]
During the North Side Chamber of Commerce outing in May 1910, the Ocean Wave collapsed from the weight of a hundred children. James Higgins [or Wiggins], 13, suffered from four broken ribs, and Forest Huston suffered an amputation of his right thumb.[4] The parents of Huston sued the Olentangy Park Company for $3,000$97,414 in 2025 dollars in damages. The park company demurred to the petition, claiming they were not responsible, but Judge Kinkead overruled the demurrer. This made amusement parks responsible for passengers who purchased tickets for rides on pleasure devices.[7]
References
- ↑ "Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 11, 1909. Page 5.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Opens April 25th." The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio). April 22, 1909. Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-olentangy-park/152965546/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Boy Injured at Buckeye Outing." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 19, 1909. Page 2.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Mechanical Swing Collapses with Hundred Children." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 25, 1910. Page 8.
- ↑ "Ocean Wave Starts." Baraboo News Republic (Baraboo, Wisconsin). July 24, 1903. Page 4. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/baraboo-news-republic-ocean-wave-starts/152822204/
- ↑ Advertisement. The Billboard. Vol. 21. Issue 6. Feb. 6, 1909. Page 32.
- ↑ Waddell, Doc. "Amusement Company Liable When Patrons are Injured." The Show World. Oct. 15, 1910. Page 14.