Aquarama Co.: Difference between revisions

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Aquarama Co. built the first [[Ye Olde Mill (1)|Ye Olde Mill]] at Olentangy Park in 1904.<ref name="sue">"Sue Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' Sept. 10, 1905. Page 1.</ref> The company was formed in September 1900 and incorporated in November 1901 by George W. Scofield [or Schofield], of New York, Merle J. Wightman, and E. W. Thompson "for the purpose of operating pleasure railroads, merry-go-rounds, and other amusement devices." Edward C. Boyce held stock in the company in 1902.<ref>''[https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/8764001/aquarama-co-v-old-mill-co/ Aquarama Co. v. Old Mill Co.]'' 124 F. 229. United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1903. Accessed through CourtListener.</ref> Schofield improved previous designs for "old mill" rides by replacing the propellers in the canal with a large paddle wheel similar to a water wheel of a mill that was operated by a motor concealed behind the scenery. This kept the water flowing steadily. He also added dark tunnels with weird scenery to startle riders.<ref>Mangels, William F. ''[https://archive.org/details/outdooramusement00mang/page/122/mode/2up The Outdoor Amusement Industry: From Earliest Times to the Present.]'' New York: Vantage Press. 1952. Accessed through the Internet Archive.</ref>
Aquarama Co. built the first [[Ye Olde Mill (1)|Ye Olde Mill]] at Olentangy Park in 1904.<ref name="sue">"Sue Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' Sept. 10, 1905. Page 1.</ref> The company was formed in September 1900 and incorporated in November 1901 by George W. Scofield [or Schofield], of New York, Merle J. Wightman, and E. W. Thompson "for the purpose of operating pleasure railroads, merry-go-rounds, and other amusement devices." Edward C. Boyce held stock in the company in 1902.<ref>''[https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/8764001/aquarama-co-v-old-mill-co/ Aquarama Co. v. Old Mill Co.]'' 124 F. 229. United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1903. Accessed through CourtListener.</ref> Schofield improved previous designs for "old mill" rides by replacing the propellers in the canal with a large paddle wheel similar to a water wheel of a mill that was operated by a motor concealed behind the scenery. This kept the water flowing steadily. He also added dark tunnels with weird scenery to startle riders.<ref>Mangels, William F. ''[https://archive.org/details/outdooramusement00mang/page/122/mode/2up The Outdoor Amusement Industry: From Earliest Times to the Present.]'' New York: Vantage Press. 1952. Accessed through the Internet Archive. The publication said the company's name was the Aquarium Company.</ref>


The company sued Olentangy Park president J. W. Dusenbury a year later for not paying the agreed-upon percentages derived from the operation of the ride.<ref name="sue" />
The company sued Olentangy Park president J. W. Dusenbury a year later for not paying the agreed-upon percentages derived from the operation of the ride.<ref name="sue" />

Latest revision as of 06:22, 15 November 2025

Aquarama Co. built the first Ye Olde Mill at Olentangy Park in 1904.[1] The company was formed in September 1900 and incorporated in November 1901 by George W. Scofield [or Schofield], of New York, Merle J. Wightman, and E. W. Thompson "for the purpose of operating pleasure railroads, merry-go-rounds, and other amusement devices." Edward C. Boyce held stock in the company in 1902.[2] Schofield improved previous designs for "old mill" rides by replacing the propellers in the canal with a large paddle wheel similar to a water wheel of a mill that was operated by a motor concealed behind the scenery. This kept the water flowing steadily. He also added dark tunnels with weird scenery to startle riders.[3]

The company sued Olentangy Park president J. W. Dusenbury a year later for not paying the agreed-upon percentages derived from the operation of the ride.[1]

Around February 1911, the Riding Device Co. bought the patents of the Aquarama Co. and threatened to sue any park operating an Old Mill ride without a new license.[4]

The Old Mill ride had two fires in 1911, in May[5] and July, with the July fire starting in the Old Mill and destroying the Midway.[6][7][8][9]

Rides

  • Pleasure canal. (Jan. 2, 1900) U.S. Patent No. 640,439 PDF[10]
  • Pleasure canal. (Dec. 18, 1900) U.S. Patent No. 664,179 PDF[11]
  • Canal boat operating mechanism. (Jan. 8, 1901) U.S. Patent No. 665,765 PDF[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sue Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch, Sept. 10, 1905. Page 1.
  2. ↑ Aquarama Co. v. Old Mill Co. 124 F. 229. United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1903. Accessed through CourtListener.
  3. ↑ Mangels, William F. The Outdoor Amusement Industry: From Earliest Times to the Present. New York: Vantage Press. 1952. Accessed through the Internet Archive. The publication said the company's name was the Aquarium Company.
  4. ↑ Advertisement. The Billboard. Feb. 18, 1911. Page 25. Accessed through the Internet Archive.
  5. ↑ "Fire at Columbus Park." The Billboard. June 10, 1911. Vol. 23. Issue 23. Page 20. Accessed through the Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ "Fire at Olentangy Park." The News-Herald (Hillsboro, Ohio). July 27, 1911. Page 1. Accessed through Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 17, 1911. Page 1.
  8. ↑ Photographs, The Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 17, 1911. Page 1.
  9. ↑ "Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 17, 1911. Page 1.
  10. ↑ Boyton, P. 1900. "Pleasure canal." U.S. Patent No. 640,439. Accessed through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office PDF
  11. ↑ Schofield, G. W. 1900. "Pleasure canal." U.S. Patent No. 664,179. Accessed through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office PDF Note: Also spelled Scofield.
  12. ↑ Thompson, La Marcus A. 1901. "Canal boat operating mechanism." U.S. Patent No. 665,765. Accessed through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office PDF
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