Ye Olde Mill
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| Other Name(s) | The Old Mill Old Mill Ye Olde Mill Aquarama |
|---|---|
| Type | Water ride |
| Built | 1904 (original) |
| Opened | 1904 (original) 1918 (rebuilt) |
| Closed | July 1911 (original destroyed by fire) 1937 (park closure) |
| Fires | 1911 |
| Manufacturer | Aquarama Company |
| Vehicle Type | Boat |
Ye Olde Mill, stylized also as Old Mill, The Old Mill, and Ye Old Mill, was a water ride installed at Olentangy Park in 1904. A fire destroyed the original building in July 1911 and the ride was rebuilt for the 1918 season[1] further north with the Joy Mill being built on the original site. It was a mainstay until the park's final season in 1937 and the park was sold the following year. It was created by the Aquarama Company[2] and was first called "Aquarama" before becoming The Old Mill.
Although the word "Ye" appears and sometimes is pronounced with a "Y" sound, the original pronunciation of the Y-like symbol is a "Th" sound, so "Ye" sounds like "The."
Description
The original ride had a water wheel in front and the boats had upholstered seats. Riders would "drift through gloomy caverns, fantastic grottoes, and unsurpassed scenery."[3] The rebuilt version ran on new lines and there were electrically lighted ways throughout the ride where riders encountered weird scenes.[1]
Fires
Although the water was used from the mill ride to protect the Dancing Pavilion in July 1907[4], a fire started in the ride on July 16, 1911, destroyed the building along with four other structures: Johnstown Flood, Coney Island, Temple of Mirth, and the Penny Arcade. The buildings were wood-frame structures and most lined with burlap. According to the park manager at the time, J.W. Dusenbury, the buildings were not insured[5].
Controversies
In 1907, ride managers John H. Leonard and William Manning were arrested for embezzlement. They were charged with having embezzled about $15-$20 ($450-$600 in 2021) by taking the riders' tickets and then selling them back to the cashier, who divided the money. The cashier, an unnamed woman, provided witness testimony and avoided prosecution[6]. Manning plead guilty to embezzling $10 ($300) and was fined $25 ($740) and court costs. Leonard plead not guilty and was given a bond fixed at $15 ($450)[7].
Gallery
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Part of the Ye Old Mill ride at Olentangy Park. -
The Midway at Olentangy Park showing Ye Old Mill, Castle Mystic, and Laughing Gallery. -
A panoramic photo of new rides nearing completion in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch on March 28, 1909. Rides and attractions shown: Whirl Wind, Shoot-the-Chutes, the midway including the Ye Olde Mill and Dancing Pavilion. -
The Midway at Olentangy Park with the Ye Olde Mill, Mysterious Sensation, Joy Mill, and Dancing Pavilion. -
Cannon Ball Express miniature railway and the Midway with the Ye Old Mill, Mysterious Sensation, Rifle Range, and the Joy Mill. (c. 1929-1930s)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lavish Park Plans." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 23 September 1917. Pg. 56.
- ↑ "Sue Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 10 September 1905. Pg. 1. Retrieved from the Columbus Dispatch Digital Archives.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Democrat-Sentinel (Logan, Ohio). 14 June 1906. Pg.2. Retrieved from Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1634143/olentangy-park-part-1/ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1634148/olentangy-park-part-2/
- ↑ "Boy Leads His Two Sisters Out of a Fire at Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 5 July 1907. Pg. 13. Retrieved from the Columbus Dispatch Digital Archives.
- ↑ "Suspect Arson in Destructive Fire at Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 17 July 1911. Pg. 1. Retrieved from the Columbus Dispatch Digital Archives.
- ↑ "Managers of 'Old Mill' Arrested." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 27 May 1907. Pg. 9. Retrieved from Columbus Dispatch Digital Archives.
- ↑ "Makes a Confession." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 29 May 1907. Pg. 6. Retrieved from the Columbus Dispatch Digital Archives.