The Fun House: Difference between revisions

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[[The Fun House]] was an attraction at Olentangy Park, built just north of the [[Dancing Pavilion (2)|second Dancing Pavilion]] by [[C. Rarick]]. Opening on May 18, 1913,<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' May 18, 1913. Page 5.</ref> it included a human roulette wheel, bull-moose glide, rolling waves, funny stairs, an electric floor, a rainstorm, a wire maze, comic slides, and more.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' April 13, 1913. Page 5.</ref><ref>"Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' April 23, 1913. Page 18.</ref><ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' April 27, 1913. Page 5.</ref><ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' May 18, 1913. Page 41.</ref><ref>"Summer Opening of Olentangy Park." ''Marysville Journal-Tribune (Marysville, Ohio).'' April 15, 1913. Page 4. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/marysville-journal-tribune-summer-openin/123751335/</ref> The contract with the Dusenbury Brothers was for five years.<ref>"Olentangy Park Company to C. Rarick." ''Franklin County, Ohio Recorder.'' 191304215640275. April 21, 1913. Accessed on Feb. 15, 2022.</ref> The building was enlarged and renamed the [[Joy Mill]] in 1922,<ref>"New Amusement Devices." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' April 30, 1922. Page 8.</ref> sometimes called "The Fun House and Joy Mill".<ref>"State Fair Week Amusements." ''The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio).'' Aug. 26, 1921. Page 7. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-state-fair-week/161669507/</ref>
[[The Fun House]] was an attraction at Olentangy Park, built just north of the [[Dancing Pavilion (2)|second Dancing Pavilion]] by [[C. Rarick]]. Opening on May 18, 1913,<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' May 18, 1913. Page 5.</ref> it included a human roulette wheel, bull-moose glide, rolling waves, funny stairs, an electric floor, a rainstorm, a wire maze, comic slides, and more.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' April 13, 1913. Page 5.</ref><ref>"Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' April 23, 1913. Page 18.</ref><ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' April 27, 1913. Page 5.</ref><ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' May 18, 1913. Page 41.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/marysville-journal-tribune-summer-openin/123751335/ "Summer Opening of Olentangy Park."] ''Marysville Journal-Tribune (Marysville, Ohio).'' April 15, 1913. Page 4. Accessed through Newspapers.com.</ref>
 
Robert Ohaver (1920-2009), Clintonville resident, described the Fun House as "where after you went in, you didn't know what was up and what was down. Coke bottles rolled uphill. They had these funny mirrors&mdash;curved mirrors&mdash;that you were in all different shapes from the top of your head to your feet."<ref>Hyatt, Shirley. "[https://clintonvillehistory.com/robert-ohaver-1937-2009/ Robert Ohaver (1937-2009)]." ''Cintonville History.'' Blog post with audio. Published Sept. 20, 2008. Last updated Feb. 18, 2026. Accessed April 10, 2026. From an audio file on an interview with Robert Ohaver (1920-2009) by Clintonville Community members on Sept. 12, 2003.</ref>
 
The building contract with the Dusenbury Brothers was for five years.<ref>"Olentangy Park Company to C. Rarick." ''Franklin County, Ohio Recorder.'' 191304215640275. April 21, 1913. Accessed on Feb. 15, 2022.</ref>
 
The building was enlarged and renamed the [[Joy Mill]] in 1922,<ref>"New Amusement Devices." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' April 30, 1922. Page 8.</ref> sometimes called "The Fun House and Joy Mill"<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-state-fair-week/161669507/ State Fair Week Amusements."] ''The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio).'' Aug. 26, 1921. Page 7. Accessed through Newspapers.com.</ref> and even "The Joy House."<ref>''The Columbus Dispatch.'' April 25, 1924, Page 48.</ref>
 


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
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[[Category:Closed in 1921]]
[[Category:Closed in 1921]]


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Latest revision as of 03:58, 30 August 2026

The Fun House
Type Funhouse
Park Section Midway
Built 1913
Opened May 18, 1913
Closed 1921 (Renamed)
Manufacturer C. Rarick
Designer C. Rarick
Length 75 feet (23 meters)
Width 50 feet (15.2 meters)
Number of Stories 2
Replaced Crazy House
Replaced By Joy Mill

The Fun House was an attraction at Olentangy Park, built just north of the second Dancing Pavilion by C. Rarick. Opening on May 18, 1913,[1] it included a human roulette wheel, bull-moose glide, rolling waves, funny stairs, an electric floor, a rainstorm, a wire maze, comic slides, and more.[2][3][4][5][6]

Robert Ohaver (1920-2009), Clintonville resident, described the Fun House as "where after you went in, you didn't know what was up and what was down. Coke bottles rolled uphill. They had these funny mirrors—curved mirrors—that you were in all different shapes from the top of your head to your feet."[7]

The building contract with the Dusenbury Brothers was for five years.[8]

The building was enlarged and renamed the Joy Mill in 1922,[9] sometimes called "The Fun House and Joy Mill"[10] and even "The Joy House."[11]


See Also

References

  1. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 18, 1913. Page 5.
  2. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 13, 1913. Page 5.
  3. ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 23, 1913. Page 18.
  4. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. April 27, 1913. Page 5.
  5. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 18, 1913. Page 41.
  6. ↑ "Summer Opening of Olentangy Park." Marysville Journal-Tribune (Marysville, Ohio). April 15, 1913. Page 4. Accessed through Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Hyatt, Shirley. "Robert Ohaver (1937-2009)." Cintonville History. Blog post with audio. Published Sept. 20, 2008. Last updated Feb. 18, 2026. Accessed April 10, 2026. From an audio file on an interview with Robert Ohaver (1920-2009) by Clintonville Community members on Sept. 12, 2003.
  8. ↑ "Olentangy Park Company to C. Rarick." Franklin County, Ohio Recorder. 191304215640275. April 21, 1913. Accessed on Feb. 15, 2022.
  9. ↑ "New Amusement Devices." The Columbus Dispatch. April 30, 1922. Page 8.
  10. ↑ State Fair Week Amusements." The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio). Aug. 26, 1921. Page 7. Accessed through Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ The Columbus Dispatch. April 25, 1924, Page 48.


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