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The [[Figure Eight Toboggan]] was the first track-based roller coaster built at Olentangy Park and the first mechanical ride built after the Dusenbury Brothers bought the park in 1899.<ref>"Olentangy Then and Now." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' 3 May 1914. Pg. 46.</ref> It cost $15,000 ($519,788 in 2022) to build.<ref>Ad. ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' 27 July 1902. Pg. 17.</ref> Opening in July [[1902 Season|1902]],<ref name="aug1">"Olentangy Park—Tassin's New Comedy." ''Friday Columbus Dispatch.'' 1 August 1902. Pg. 7.</ref> "roller coaster" was a new term for rides where riders coasted on rollers inside their toboggan "cars."<ref name=":0">"Brevities." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 18 August 1902. Pg. 8.</ref><ref>''Clay Record.'' United States: Clay Record Publishing Company, 1903. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0</ref> The ride was in the shape of a figure-eight and was located on the north plateau south of the location of [[Fair Japan]], the original [[Miniature Railway]], and [[Swimming Pool]].<ref>"Geisha Girls are to be Attraction." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 2 January 1905. Pg. 5.</ref><ref name=":1">"Columbus Railway & Light Co." ''Street Railway Review. Vol. XVI. No. 2.'' Pg. 70. </ref> The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916,<ref>"Park in Full Operation." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 1 May 1916. Pg. 16.</ref> appears damaged sometime after the Band Shell was built in 1919,<ref>"Olentangy Park swimming pool." ''Ohio History Connection Selections.'' Photo. William Roy Lawrence Collection. AV 55; Box 2, Folder 18. Entry created 3 August 2011. Entry last modified 2 May 2012. https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/11697</ref><ref>"Swimming Pool at Olentangy Park, photograph." ''Columbus Metropolitan Library.'' Photo. Clintonville Historical Society Collection. ClHS00031. https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/memory/id/12923</ref> and was operational until it was partially removed 1928 to make way for the [[Tumble Bug]].<ref>"Figure Eight Gives Way to a 'Bug'." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' 5 April 1929. Pg. 5.</ref><ref>"Bathrooms and Rink." ''The Columbus Dispatch''. 14 April 1929. Pg. 85.</ref><ref name="historian">Barret, Richard E. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." ''Columbus and Central Ohio Historian.'' Vol. 1. April 1984. Pg. 11.</ref> Despite its unusable state, the structure remained standing and is visible in a photo about the park's closure in 1937.<ref>"$2,000,000 Housing Project to Replace Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 1 April 1938. Pg. 1.</ref>
The [[Figure Eight Toboggan]] was the first track-based roller coaster built at Olentangy Park and the first mechanical ride built after the Dusenbury Brothers bought the park in 1899.<ref>"Olentangy Then and Now." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch,'' May 3, 1914. Page 46.</ref> It cost $15,000 ($561,680 in 2024) to build.<ref>Advertisement, ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch,'' July 27, 1902. Page 17.</ref> Opening in July [[1902 Season|1902]],<ref name="aug1">"Olentangy Park—Tassin's New Comedy." ''Friday Columbus Dispatch,'' August 1, 1902. Page 7.</ref> "roller coaster" was a new term for rides where riders coasted on rollers inside their toboggan "cars."<ref name=":0">"Brevities." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' August 18, 1902. Page 8.</ref><ref>''Clay Record,'' 1903. Clay Record Publishing Company. Accessed through Google Books https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0</ref> The ride was in the shape of a figure-eight and was located on the north plateau south of the location of [[Fair Japan]], the original [[Miniature Railway]], and [[Swimming Pool]].<ref>"Geisha Girls are to be Attraction." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' January 2, 1905. Page 5.</ref><ref name=":1">"Columbus Railway & Light Co." ''Street Railway Review.,'' 26 (2): 70. </ref> The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916,<ref>"Park in Full Operation." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' May 1, 1916. Page 16.</ref> appears damaged sometime after the Band Shell was built in 1919,<ref>"Olentangy Park swimming pool." ''Ohio History Connection Selections,'' Photograph. Published August 3, 2011. Last modified May 2, 2012. Accessed through OhioMemory.org https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/11697</ref><ref>"Swimming Pool at Olentangy Park, photograph." ''Columbus Metropolitan Library,'' Photograph. ClHS00031. Accessed through the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Digital Collections https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/memory/id/12923</ref> and was operational until it was partially removed 1928 to make way for the [[Tumble Bug]].<ref>"Figure Eight Gives Way to a 'Bug'." ''The Columbus Dispatch,'' April 5, 1929. Page 5.</ref><ref>"Bathrooms and Rink." ''The Columbus Dispatch,'' April 14, 1929. Page 85.</ref><ref name="historian">Barret, Richard E. 1984. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." ''Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1,'' April 1984. Page 11.</ref> Despite its unusable state, the structure remained standing and is visible in a photo about the park's closure in 1937.<ref>"$2,000,000 Housing Project to Replace Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' April 1, 1938. Page 1.</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
The ride had a wooden frame and was described as a "figure-eight" design<ref>"Olentangy Parks' Figure Eight roller coaster, postcard." ''Columbus Metropolitan Library.'' My History. Image. 708O450002. Columbus Metropolitan Library Collection. Date Modified: 6 January 2021. https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/ohio/id/11430/.</ref> and, at times, a "three-way figure eight toboggan slide."<ref name=":1" /> This described how the riders go around the loops three times. The cars would travel freely on a multi-level track, and wooden side rails were included to keep them on track.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' 10 May 1903. Pg. 6.</ref>
The ride had a wooden frame and was described as a "figure-eight" design<ref>Postcard, "Olentangy Parks' Figure Eight roller coaster, postcard." ''Columbus Metropolitan Library,'' 708O450002. Last modified on January 6, 2021. Accessed through the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Digital Collections https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/ohio/id/11430/</ref> and, at times, a "three-way figure eight toboggan slide."<ref name=":1" /> This described how the riders go around the loops three times. The cars would travel freely on a multi-level track, and wooden side rails were included to keep them on track.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch,'' May 10, 1903. Page 6.</ref>


The Roller Coaster Database says it was designed by [[Henry B. Auchy]] and manufactured by [[Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)]].<ref>"Forest Toboggan." ''Roller Coaster Database.'' https://rcdb.com/3156.htm</ref> The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus made the Spur Haul Up Chain used to power the ride.<ref>"Jeffrey Chain Used in Amusement Park Ride." ''Ohio History Connection Selections.'' Photo. Published 14 September 1910. [https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/9127/rec/381]</ref>
The Roller Coaster Database says it was designed by [[Henry B. Auchy]] and manufactured by [[Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)]].<ref>"Forest Toboggan." ''Roller Coaster Database,'' https://rcdb.com/3156.htm</ref> The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus made the Spur Haul Up Chain used to power the ride.<ref>"Jeffrey Chain Used in Amusement Park Ride." ''Ohio History Connection Selections,'' Photograph. Published on September 14, 1910. Accessed through OhioMemory.com https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/9127/rec/381</ref>


== Injuries ==
== Injuries ==
A person fainted on the ride in August 1902, landing the term "roller coaster" in quotation marks in its reporting in the ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.''<ref name=":0" />
A person fainted on the ride in August 1902, landing the term "roller coaster" in quotation marks in its reporting in the ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.''<ref name=":0" />


On September 21, 1902, Albert Jenkins received several broken ribs and a broken leg on the ride. He was released from the hospital on October 30.<ref>"Jenkins Leaves Hospital." ''Thursday Columbus Dispatch.'' 30 October 1902. Pg. 6.</ref>
On September 21, 1902, Albert Jenkins received several broken ribs and a broken leg on the ride. He was released from the hospital on October 30.<ref>"Jenkins Leaves Hospital." ''Thursday Columbus Dispatch,'' October 30, 1902. Page 6.</ref>


In May 1906, Thomas Callis, a pipe organist and insurance salesman, was spooked by the flashing lights and accidentally stepped off a nearby platform and injured his right ankle bad enough that amputation was considered. He was sent to Grant Hospital for treatment.<ref>"Peculiar Accident." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch''. 20 May 1906. Pg. 6.</ref>
In May 1906, Thomas Callis, a pipe organist and insurance salesman, was spooked by the flashing lights and accidentally stepped off a nearby platform and injured his right ankle bad enough that amputation was considered. He was sent to Grant Hospital for treatment.<ref>"Peculiar Accident." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch,'' May 20, 1906. Page 6.</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:29, 22 August 2024

Figure Eight Toboggan
Other Name(s) Figure Eight Toboggan
Figure 8
Type Roller Coaster
Track Rides
Park Section North
Built 1902
Opened 1902
Closed 1928
Manufacturer Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)
Designer Henry B. Auchy
Materials Wood
Vehicle Type Car

The Figure Eight Toboggan was the first track-based roller coaster built at Olentangy Park and the first mechanical ride built after the Dusenbury Brothers bought the park in 1899.[1] It cost $15,000 ($561,680 in 2024) to build.[2] Opening in July 1902,[3] "roller coaster" was a new term for rides where riders coasted on rollers inside their toboggan "cars."[4][5] The ride was in the shape of a figure-eight and was located on the north plateau south of the location of Fair Japan, the original Miniature Railway, and Swimming Pool.[6][7] The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916,[8] appears damaged sometime after the Band Shell was built in 1919,[9][10] and was operational until it was partially removed 1928 to make way for the Tumble Bug.[11][12][13] Despite its unusable state, the structure remained standing and is visible in a photo about the park's closure in 1937.[14]

Description

The ride had a wooden frame and was described as a "figure-eight" design[15] and, at times, a "three-way figure eight toboggan slide."[7] This described how the riders go around the loops three times. The cars would travel freely on a multi-level track, and wooden side rails were included to keep them on track.[16]

The Roller Coaster Database says it was designed by Henry B. Auchy and manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC).[17] The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus made the Spur Haul Up Chain used to power the ride.[18]

Injuries

A person fainted on the ride in August 1902, landing the term "roller coaster" in quotation marks in its reporting in the Columbus Evening Dispatch.[4]

On September 21, 1902, Albert Jenkins received several broken ribs and a broken leg on the ride. He was released from the hospital on October 30.[19]

In May 1906, Thomas Callis, a pipe organist and insurance salesman, was spooked by the flashing lights and accidentally stepped off a nearby platform and injured his right ankle bad enough that amputation was considered. He was sent to Grant Hospital for treatment.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Olentangy Then and Now." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 3, 1914. Page 46.
  2. ↑ Advertisement, Sunday Columbus Dispatch, July 27, 1902. Page 17.
  3. ↑ "Olentangy Park—Tassin's New Comedy." Friday Columbus Dispatch, August 1, 1902. Page 7.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch, August 18, 1902. Page 8.
  5. ↑ Clay Record, 1903. Clay Record Publishing Company. Accessed through Google Books https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
  6. ↑ "Geisha Girls are to be Attraction." Columbus Evening Dispatch, January 2, 1905. Page 5.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Columbus Railway & Light Co." Street Railway Review., 26 (2): 70.
  8. ↑ "Park in Full Operation." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 1, 1916. Page 16.
  9. ↑ "Olentangy Park swimming pool." Ohio History Connection Selections, Photograph. Published August 3, 2011. Last modified May 2, 2012. Accessed through OhioMemory.org https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/11697
  10. ↑ "Swimming Pool at Olentangy Park, photograph." Columbus Metropolitan Library, Photograph. ClHS00031. Accessed through the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Digital Collections https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/memory/id/12923
  11. ↑ "Figure Eight Gives Way to a 'Bug'." The Columbus Dispatch, April 5, 1929. Page 5.
  12. ↑ "Bathrooms and Rink." The Columbus Dispatch, April 14, 1929. Page 85.
  13. ↑ Barret, Richard E. 1984. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1, April 1984. Page 11.
  14. ↑ "$2,000,000 Housing Project to Replace Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch, April 1, 1938. Page 1.
  15. ↑ Postcard, "Olentangy Parks' Figure Eight roller coaster, postcard." Columbus Metropolitan Library, 708O450002. Last modified on January 6, 2021. Accessed through the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Digital Collections https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/ohio/id/11430/
  16. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Sunday Columbus Dispatch, May 10, 1903. Page 6.
  17. ↑ "Forest Toboggan." Roller Coaster Database, https://rcdb.com/3156.htm
  18. ↑ "Jeffrey Chain Used in Amusement Park Ride." Ohio History Connection Selections, Photograph. Published on September 14, 1910. Accessed through OhioMemory.com https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/9127/rec/381
  19. ↑ "Jenkins Leaves Hospital." Thursday Columbus Dispatch, October 30, 1902. Page 6.
  20. ↑ "Peculiar Accident." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 20, 1906. Page 6.


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