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bruce
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| 02/01/2008 2:46 PM |
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Published February 01, 2008 11:53 am -
CL Park fire cause is undetermined so far
Feb. 1, 2008 —
****Readers interested in viewing Friday morning's destructive Conneaut Lake Park fire and its aftermath can find a slide show of photos (by clicking on the fire photo that cycles through the picture window on the main site) or by clicking on the video prompt below that window.****
The cause of the fire that destroyed Conneaut Lake Park’s historic Dreamland Ballroom and part of the amusement park’s midway is being listed as undetermined so far, according to George Deshner, the park’s general manager.
Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Dana Beckwith is on the scene and told Deshner the cause is undetermined at this time, Deshner said. Beckwith indicated he won’t make a final ruling until at least Monday because the fire scene is still smoldering today, Deshner said.
The fire at the 115-year-old amusement park was discovered about 2 a.m. by emergency medical technicians en route back to Conneaut Lake from a car accident at Conneautville, according to George Deshner, the park’s general manager.
More than a dozen fire departments from the area were called to battle the blaze.
He said the initial call indicated the fire was at Hotel Conneaut, but that turned out not to be true.
The fire spread Dreamland Ballroom and the maintenance building down the amusement park’s midway, stopping at the Skee Ball stand, Deshner said. He said the Skee Ball stand will be demolished today.
The midway is a row of connected, more than century-old, wood-frame structures that house many of the park's games and food stands. Behind the midway facades are important storage areas for rides, as well as repair shops where amusement-ride cars are fixed, maintained and stored.
Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of trustees which oversees the park operations, said there was no fire insurance on the building.
Deshner said the loss included maintenance equipment, parts, some ride motors, food service equipment and other materials.
Moyers praised the work of the fire departments who battled the breeze in freezing rain.
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admin
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| 02/04/2008 11:50 AM |
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The following post was moved here: Subject existed.
bruce
Posts:519
02/02/2008 10:54 AM
Park manager Deshner sees flames en route to fire scene
By Jean Shanley and Jane Smith
02/02/08— CONNEAUT LAKE — Small groups of people stood in stunned silence at Conneaut Lake Park late Friday morning, watching smoke and smoldering embers from a fire that just hours before had destroyed the historic Dreamland Ballroom. The 116-year-old amusement park’s ballroom and some nearby midway buildings fell victim to the blaze that had begun in the middle of the night.
George Glancy, a 16-year-employee of the park who lives in a home inside its boundaries, heard about the fire on an emergency radio scanner and immediately went the short distance to help. He said while he smelled the smoke and saw a small fire, the scene seemed quiet — but “all of sudden she (the fire) just took off.”
The fire was discovered about 2:15 a.m. by two emergency medical technicians on their way home to Conneautville.
Park manager George Deshner was home when he received a pre-dawn call Friday, with the caller indicating Hotel Conneaut, also in the park, was on fire. Deshner called Crawford County’s 911 center to verify the information and was advised it was true.
But while driving to the park from his Meadville home, Deshner received another call saying it was Dreamland Ballroom, not the hotel, that was on fire.
He said when he drove through Conneaut Lake Borough, three miles south of the park, he could see the flames shooting 50 to 60 feet in the air.
Nobody knows for certain what started the fire. It’s under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Dana Beckwith. Although he did preliminary inspections Friday, Beckwith’s probe was hampered by smoke and by some “hot spots,” said Deshner. Beckwith is to return to the scene Monday morning for further investigation before making a ruling on the cause.
“At this point, it’s undetermined,” said Deshner.
The fire spread through Dreamland Ballroom, into a maintenance building, and down one side of the amusement park’s midway games area, stopping at the Skee Ball stand about halfway down before it was brought under control, said Deshner.
The midway is a row of connected, more-than-century-old, wood-frame structures that house many of the park’s games and food stands. Behind the midway facades are storage areas for rides, as well as repair shops where amusement-ride cars are fixed, stored and receive maintenance.
The Skee Ball building was destroyed, but the games inside were saved. Deshner said the fire department planned to knock down the Skee Ball stand Friday, but that was delayed until the fire marshal’s investigation is complete.
Also destroyed were restrooms, a former jail area, and storage places with equipment for such things as pizza, taffy, cotton candy, soft pretzels and the funnel cake operations.
Also in the building were personal tools of some employees, including those of Jerry Smith, a park maintenance worker. Smith said Friday he hopes to salvage some of them when all the debris is cleared. Smith, who lives in nearby Harmonsburg, is a volunteer firefighter and joined others to fight the blaze.
Gig King, chief of Summit Township Volunteer Fire Department, the lead department, said 10 other departments were called to assist. He believes the fire was smoldering for about an hour and a half before it was noticed.
“I think it all started on the second floor,” said King, noting firefighters were pleased with the initial attack. However, about 15 minutes later, “all of a sudden it flew up,” he said of the fire.
He was pleased that the firefighters were able to save several nearby buildings.
“Look at it as an opportunity for a new beginning,” said Steve Felik of Conneaut Lake, another spectator at the after-fire scene late Friday morning.
“What a tragedy,” said Greg Sutterlin, who coordinated a campaign last summer to raise $60,000 to allow the Beach Club to open; the financially-troubled park itself didn’t open last season. “What a terrible loss. It was a piece of history that can never be rebuilt,” he said, referring to the Dreamland Ballroom.
Sutterlin, who lives on the east side of Conneaut Lake, said a friend called him and told him about the fire. “I saw the flames from across the lake. I drove over to see if I could help out (when the fire was burning),” he said. He soon realized that he, like others, couldn’t do much.
Glancy recalled vivid memories of the school dances he attended in the huge ballroom as he joined about five others who stood under the roof of the nearby office facing the ballroom. All shared similar memories. One even recalled a night he spent in the “corner” of the bottom of the building — the former park jail.
By noon Friday most of the more than 60 firefighters from 10 departments who battled the blaze had left, with only a few keeping watch at the scene and putting up bright yellow police tape to keep intruders from getting too close.
It was just more than 100 years ago that a fire at Conneaut Lake Park destroyed the park’s first dance hall — in December 1908, a fact mentioned by several others gathered at the site Friday.
It’s unknown what it may cost to rebuild the structure; however, there was no fire insurance on the buildings so, at this point, park officials said there is no money to rebuild it.
Deshner said fire insurance was in effect in 2006 and until mid- or later summer of 2007. Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, agreed, saying the trustees had no money and so allowed the policy to lapse. The trustees assumed control of daily operations in July of last year.
Deshner said the premium would have been an initial installment of between $6,000 and $7,000 and then monthly payments of between $1,700 and $1,800.
“I hope this is not the fatal blow,” said Dick Chaney, who lives near the park.
Joining Summit VFD were firefighters from Conneaut Lake Park, Conneaut Lake Borough, Linesville, Vernon Central, Vernon Volunteers, East Fallowfield, North Shenango, Greenwood, Springboro and Conneautville, as well as Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service.
Moyers praised the work of the fire departments who battled windy weather in freezing rain. He said the building only had enough of an electrical supply to maintain the phone system.
Nobody was in any of the buildings at the time of the fire. Deshner said Bob Morrow of the park’s maintenance staff was in the building daily and had been there on Thursday.
Jean Shanley and Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370.
Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
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admin
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| 02/04/2008 11:56 AM |
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Post moved here:
coastin
Posts:333
02/02/2008 1:02 PM
The 1909 Dreamland Ballroom ablaze. :( (from the Meadville Tribune)
JimA
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admin
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| 02/04/2008 12:30 PM |
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The following post came from NAPHA Member Tom Keefe:
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 12:02 PM
Subject: Conneaut fire
Letty and I are depressed over the fire at Conneaut lake. Knoebels and Conneaut are our favorite traditional parks. We have been to Conneaut on Labor day weekend just about every year. We love the Do-wop festival and have seen several concerts in the Dreamland ballroom. Who can forget the night ride time at the 1992 N.A.P.H.A. outing. We all waited in the ballroom during a downpour and they came and told us the ride time was a go, we all ran down to the Bluestreak and rode in the rain. And remember our midnight flashlight tour of the park. I question why no insurance. They could have raised the insurance money easily. It was not a lot of money. I guess just an oversight, but fires are common in unused or abandoned amusement parks. I have seen the storage in the building and they lost more then you can imagine. Probably the nail in the coffin. I would rather the hotel burn then the ballroom. It needed to be replaced, although it is a landmark itself and we always stayed there if the nights were cool enough.. Here is recent picture of the Dreamland ballroom "enjoy".
Tom
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admin
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| 02/04/2008 7:59 PM |
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bruce
Posts:521
02/04/2008 7:51 PM
Dreamland Ballroom fire cause is ruled undetermined
Feb. 4, 2008 —
The fire which destroyed Dreamland Ballroom and part of the midway at Conneaut Lake Park Friday was ruled of “undetermined origin” by a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal at the scene Monday morning at 11 o’clock.
The ruling was made after a 90-minute inspection of the ruins by the fire marshal.
The fire marshal said He can’t rule out accidental nor could he rule out arson, but there was no evidence to determine either.
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admin
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| 02/04/2008 8:03 PM |
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LOCAL COLUMN: Dreamland is gone ... but not the memories
- By Jean Shanley and Jane Smith
He was only 14 and it was 1961, so the dances were much tamer then.
But he seemed a little too wild and so our 14-year-old brother was "thrown out" of Dreamland Ballroom for "dirty dancing."
Despite all the memories we have of the historic Dreamland Ballroom, that is what came to our mind immediately Friday morning when we got a phone call that the ballroom had collapsed and the midway was on fire.
Our brother (who died in an accident the following year) got thrown out of the place for what someone thought was not appropriate dancing. Today it would totally pale by comparison - we think. We never saw the dance, but couldn't imagine it would be that "dirty."
But, of course, that was only one of the memories of Dreamland Ballroom and the midway at Conneaut Lake Park.
Conneaut Lake Park used to be known as "Pennsylvania's Perfect Playground" - a slogan designed to bring families to the amusement park which once attracted hundreds of thousands of people - and which raised more than $2 million the last year it was in operation.
In reality, it was "our playground," the place where the "park kids" played
- during the summer as well as during the winter when the visitors went back to their world, leaving behind the park for the ones who treasured it most.
We played on the roof of the log cabin and the midway which burned Friday morning. It was not a good thing, according to the park supervisor at the time, although we did have fun. And we're still not convinced we could have caused the thousands of dollars of damage he said we might have.
We also played on the verandah of Hotel Conneaut - and on the midway itself
- when the park was closed.
But Dreamland Ballroom was not available for kids to play in during the off season. It was locked up - waiting for the guests to arrive the following year.
But when they did, we got to enter the ballroom along with them.
We danced the innocent teen dances of the 1950s, then taking breaks to go on the balcony to cool off and breathe in the fresh air.
We stood on the midway, watching the kids mesmerized by the "talking cow"
during "Sanida Days," when the ice cream company held its annual picnic.
The visitors had no idea how Elsie (the cow) could describe them so well, down to the color of their shirt. They had no idea that on the balcony of Dreamland Ballroom was a person with a microphone somehow connected to the "cow." It absolutely stumped the visitors - and left the "park kids"
feeling very intelligent because we knew cows couldn't talk - but these city kids thought they could.
But Dreamland Ballroom was far more than teen dances and summer fun.
It was the place a then-unknown entertainer named Perry Como would get his start on his path to stardom. We weren't born then, but it was definitely an historic time.
Dreamland was the place we watched as young and old alike enjoyed polka festivals, Do-Wopp music and other music of the day. We sang along as we heard the familiar tunes, content in our innocence and memories of special times.
During one of our later visits to Dreamland we watched as a couple literally hauled the man's mother up the stairway so she could enjoy the music. She was in a wheelchair, but she was determined to be in Dreamland Ballroom to listen to the music. It was a touching moment - realizing she could have heard the music from the midway, but her family wanted her to have the total experience.
The ballroom was where the park's last private owner, Gary Harris, introduced guests to his vision of the facility - and where others had indoor picnics.
It wasn't just the ballroom, though, that burned Friday morning.
It also was a major part of the midway - the old doughnut stand where freshly made doughnuts tempted us every day, the taffy stand where teens earned money making taffy for the tourists and the ice cream stand.
Friday's fire also damaged the Skee Ball stand. When we were growing up, that stand was across the midway from its current location. We spent a nickel every night playing that game, trying to score points to get tickets for a prize that cost far less than what we spent.
As an adult, several visits to the ballroom resulted in realizing that many others in Crawford County shared our memories. A concert brought many friends from Meadville, who recalled dancing there many evenings and cooling off on the verandah as well.
Then several years ago, another trip was made up the steps for a news conference. The Conneaut Lake Area Historical Society had set up a historic display of many photographs of the park to show off to visiting news media.
It was there that Dr. Abe Finton, who was president of the former Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park; and Don Kaltenbaugh, former park manager, announced a campaign to raise $2 million to get the park open.
Several years later, for the first time ever, a high-ranking state official came to Conneaut Lake Park on an official visit. Democratic Lt. Gov.
Catherine Baker Knoll, invited by the park's then court-appointed manager LeRoy Stearns, was guest of honor at a special tour. The invitation was to show off the importance of the park as Stearns sought state funding. Local Republican state Sen. Bob Robbins joined the entourage.
The midway and Dreamland Ballroom were a rich part of our heritage - a reminder of happy days and youths enjoying the park, which was created to be a place for families to make memories.
It is as much a part of our history as a courthouse, a market house, a school.
It may be gone, destroyed by a fire, but history shows the midway was destroyed 100 years ago, too.
That time the owners simply reinvested their money and built a new ballroom, a new midway, a new playground.
That ballroom and midway stood for 100 years until the fire destroyed them Friday morning. It destroyed the buildings, but memories last forever.
Especially when they're memories of good times and wonderful dance music.
Twin sisters Jean Shanley and Jane Smith grew up in a home a block away from Conneaut Lake Park's merry-go-round.
Copyright C 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
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admin
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| 02/05/2008 6:05 PM |
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Further Updates:
Here are two more articles from the Meadville paper and a photo Don Schanz sent of his tools
Gone: the rides' motors ... 'the heart of the park'
02/05/08 - Friday's Conneaut lake Park fire destroyed not only several buildings, but their contents, too, which included "the heart of the park,"
said George Deshner, manager of the park. He was referring to spare parts and all motors for every ride, as well as other equipment. However, no rides were housed in the burned buildings.
Also destroyed were all the records from the park's water company as well as diagrams and measurements of the many rides. Deshner agreed that while some of the records destroyed are "irreplaceable," others can be recreated. For example, rides can be measured to determine specifications.
While all the records, including some financial documents, were destroyed, duplicates of financial records for the past several years are stored off-site, said Deshner. He noted when former court-appointed manager LeRoy Stearns was named several years ago, Stearns had duplicate financial information stored away from the park. That practice has continued under the new board, said Deshner.
Trustees had no preliminary plans to open the midway or the rides this year, but they were working toward possible activities at Dreamland Ballroom, said Deshner. They had recently announced plans for the probable opening of the Beach Club, the boat docks and Camperland.
Copyright C 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
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Fire Marshall: No evidence of arson
By Jane Smith
02/05/08 - CONNEAUT LAKE PARK - Even though "arson" is the word most often heard on the street, Friday's fire at Conneaut Lake Park was so large, so hot and so destructive that even a point of origin for the blaze is impossible to detect. So, after a detailed investigation - and conceding that indeed it might have been the work of an arsonist - officials had to settle for "undetermined" as the cause on Monday morning.
A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal, along with Peter Albaugh, assistant chief of Summit Township Volunteer Fire Department who also serves as a local fire marshal, sifted through the ashes and debris of Dreamland Ballroom, attempting to determine what caused the catastrophic fire that claimed the historic building and a number of midway stands at the 116-year-old amusement park.
"The ruling is undetermined (cause)," said the state police fire marshal.
"I can't rule out accidental and I can't rule out arson, but I can't rule it
(in) either," he said. "It's a big structure and the fire was well advanced before it was discovered."
Albaugh said although many people have told him "we think this is arson," he said no evidence was found to make that ruling. He asks anyone with information or evidence suggesting arson as the cause to provide it; "we will share it with the state and pursue it."
The fire was discovered about 2 a.m. Friday by two members of Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service, who were on their way home from a medical call in Conneautville, said Albaugh.
A smoky scene
Albaugh, whose Summit company was first on the scene, said the "smoke was so thick on (Route) 618, it was like fog. The wind was coming from the southeast and blowing all the smoke right up Reed Avenue. (The ambulance
crew) came into the park to determine what was producing all the smoke and saw the flames. They could not see them from the (main) road."
"When the first engine arrived, the smoke was so thick they (firefighters) could barely see the end of the road," said Albaugh describing the conditions the morning of the fire. As soon as firefighters got around the north side of the building, the smoke "was all cleared up" (on that side)."
Pointing to the remains of the building, he explained that the wind was the main reason one side of the buildings suffered more damage than the other.
Noting the large open space inside the ballroom, Albaugh said gases and smoke collected in the rafters for some time. Firefighters were using thermal imaging equipment inside the building when temperatures reached "1,500-plus degrees," and "less than minutes later the building started to collapse," said Albaugh.
The result of all this is that investigators "don't have a point of origin (of the fire)," he said, noting they have "to rely on eyewitnesses."
A potential problem
"It's pretty upsetting," Albaugh said of the fire. "We have been watching it (the building) for a number of years," he said of its potential to burn, noting that 15 years ago there was a fire in a small restaurant behind the ballroom. "The building was so old," he said. It was built in 1909 and a lot of wiring and plumbing was added over the years to complicate the structure even further.
Investigators said there was a single electrical wire running from a garage, which supplied electricity for a telephone system in the maintenance building under Dreamland Ballroom. "It was only a 110 (volt line)," said Albaugh of that line's low power. The fire marshal said there were no indications of problems with that, after inspecting the electric meter in the garage area where the line originated.
In the meantime, a yellow "fire scene" tape still surrounds the structure as a warning for spectators not to cross. However, the fire marshal released the structure to the park officials on Monday, noting that part of his investigation is complete and he doesn't need to preserve the scene any more.
George Deshner, manager of the park, said the board of Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park now will decide the next step. The board was to meet Monday afternoon.
He said many of the regular volunteers were at the park over the weekend, offering their help to clean up, but Deshner and Jerry Smith, a furloughed CLP maintenance employee, agreed that the removal work is going to require more expertise than volunteers have.
Park employees volunteered Monday afternoon to help remove some of the dangling pieces of the burned roof and verandah as a safety precaution, said Deshner.
Costly cleanup
In the meantime, the next step for the board is coming up with money to remove the remainder of the debris. Deshner said early estimates are that process could run as high as $100,000. One reason for that is the need for heavy construction equipment to dismantle the steel.
Deshner said the board will have to decide what - if anything - is able to be salvaged and sold.
Also lost in the fire were personal tools of at least three furloughed maintenance employees, Smith, Don Schanz and David Hoogstad. Smith estimated his loss at between $6,000 and $7,000 and said he expects Hoogstad's would be about the same. "Don's would probably be double that,"
said Smith, noting Schanz's collection was much larger than the others.
George Glancy, another CLP maintenance employee, said he didn't lose any tools, as he took his home when he was furloughed. Smith said Schanz believes his losses will be covered by his homeowner's insurance and said his and others may be as well.
The trustees had no fire insurance on any of the buildings.
Copyright C 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.
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bruce
Posts:807
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| 02/10/2008 12:08 AM |
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Tragedy vs. Opportunity: C.L. Park fire has not stalled plans or goals of trustees
While I am sure no one would wish for the demise of Dreamland Ballroom, the fact is that it is gone as we knew it. Insurance coverage doesn’t prevent a fire; it only eases the financial difficulty of cleanup and possible rebuild. While I don’t want to be callus about this terrible loss, this is but one more hurdle placed before the Trustees of Conneaut Lake park.
The fire has not stalled the ongoing plans of the trustees in working toward their goals for the park. We remain focused and stand united in our vision and mission. They say it takes a village to raise a child. It will certainly take a region to raise our park. The hard work of the firefighters on the night of fire and the concern of the community are just two examples of the commitment to keep the park alive.
This situation has now brought about several opportunities. First, let me update you on some of the accomplishments of the trustees.
The trustees completed the financial reporting for the 2006 season, and the 2007 financials up until the time the current board was appointed. All of the data has been entered into a properly arranged accounting system to allow for convenient, accurate retrieval of the data. This board has completed the 2005 tax return and is finalizing the 2006 federal income tax returns that were not filed. We will request an extension to file the 2007 tax return.
In 2004, Sen. Bob Robbins assisted Conneaut Lake Park in obtaining a state grant, however, the paperwork was never properly completed. The board has successfully closed on this outstanding grant. We have done our best to reign in the costs of the park as it sits closed, reducing the daily cost by a little over half (from almost $2,000 per day to a little under $1,000 per day). The trustees feel it is also important to acknowledge the assistance of Lora Harvey and Martha Hill, both employees of McGill, Power, Bell and Associates, LLP, who have volunteered their time in assisting us with bookkeeping and payroll. (We have transferred the payroll duties back to the park, versus paying a service to do it.)
Opening the Beach Club and the hotel, and hosting Pumpkin Fest should be included in the list of duties performed by the trustees in 2007.
Let us also take the opportunity for an insurance lesson. When the current board of trustees was appointed, these members found that the insurance coverage was not adequate. The current board of trustees was left with an insurance crisis that had to be solved in a short period of time. We were faced with an $83,184 bill due Aug. 15, 2007, and a large increase in the property insurance from $19,000 to $32,000. After much work, the board was able to reduce the liability premium to $37,000 with a new insurance company but with less coverage. These two policies required a down payment of $18,796 and ongoing monthly payments of $5,915. These premiums were in addition to workmen’s comp, and directors and officers insurance. In a short time it became evident that the board could not afford to keep both the liability and property/fire coverage. Because the property/fire coverage had a standard co-insurance clause and a $10,000 deductible it became evident that the liability coverage had to be a priority. A large lawsuit against the park with no liability coverage would put an end to the park forever. The damage or loss of a building was an event we were sure we could survive. And, for now, we have.
Tragedy builds community. In the event of the death of a loved one, all of your friends and acquaintances express condolences and extend their hands. Conneaut Lake Park and Dreamland Ballroom are no exception. As we meet people on the street, in passing, in stores, or by phone, they express their feelings and express condolences for the ballroom much like an old friend. They reminisce about their high school dance, or seeing a famous performer or a special band. Offers and suggestions proliferate on how to raise funds to save what is left of Conneaut Lake Park, pay insurance costs, etc. There are as many opinions on how to save Conneaut Lake Park as there are jelly beans in a gallon jar. These opinions and ideas do not fall on what are perceived to be deaf ears. However, the trustees must weigh the probability of success against the overall package, looking at the big picture, and decide what is in the best interest of maintaining the charitable trust and preserving the public access.
Myriad plans and contingencies abound in an effort to stave off foreclosure of the park. Negotiations continue and build on a daily basis in both long- and short-term solutions. As plans are finalized we will make them known. In the meantime, we ask for your support, patience and prayers.
As working volunteers, the board does its best to balance and prioritize what needs to be done to ensure that Conneaut Lake Park survives. We need to maintain the focus on the real goal: to restore the economic engine and place of leisure known as Pennsylvania’s Perfect Playground, Conneaut Lake Park Resort. Moyers is chairman of The Conneaut Lake Park Board of Trustees.
IMPACT ON COUNTY ECONOMY
With Conneaut Lake Park not open, Crawford County’s economy loses as much as $16.5 million a year
The figure is based on statistics released in 2007 by the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The amusement park’s gross revenue of $2.36 million in 2006, but each dollar spent by tourists recirculates in the community up to seven times, according to the bureau.
It moves through the economy as businesses buy supplies and goods from other local firms, and pay their employees and taxes. Those firms, in turn, buy supplies and goods, pay their employees and taxes. If a factor of seven is used, it pushes the $2.36 million gross revenue figure to as much as $16.52 million that recirculates in the area.
If a factor of three is used, it still raises the figure significantly, to $7.08 million pumped in the local economy.
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admin
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| 02/10/2008 2:16 PM |
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GregVanG
Posts:553
02/08/2008 5:25 PM
http://www.meadvilletribune.com/local/local_story_038231512.html
Majority of rides' motors not destroyed in fire
By Jane Smith
02/08/08 —
Although the historic Dreamland Ballroom, maintenance building and seven adjacent midway buildings at Conneaut Lake Park were destroyed a week ago, the fire didn’t destroy all of the 116-year-old amusement park’s ride motors, as previously believed.
Only three of the motors were destroyed in last Friday’s blaze. The rest weren’t in the maintenance building, weren’t affected by the fire and are in other locations, according to a source who asked not to be identified.
George Deshner, manager of Conneaut Lake Park, said there were motors in the building, but he was uncertain how many. Some were spares, he said. The motor for the Blue Streak roller coaster wasn’t affected as it’s too heavy to be moved into the maintenance building.
That means if the board had the money and chose to open the rides, the motors for nearly all of the approximately 30 rides are available.
In the meantime, the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park are proceeding with plans for demolition of the fire debris, according to Jack Moyers, chairman of the trustees. He said the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal released the property after completing his inspection Monday and ruling the cause as undetermined.
Moyers said trustees are moving ahead with plans for cleanup of the remaining debris. Initial cost was estimated at $100,000, but now Deshner and Moyers believe it may only be about $60,000. The trustees had no fire insurance on the buildings or their contents.
Moyers said the board continues to work toward opening some of the financially-troubled park, with initial plans to open the Beach Club, Camperland and the docks.
However, he said, those are preliminary plans, and the board needs to find funding to do that. The park’s current debt is more than $2.7 million.
Although the value of Dreamland Ballroom and the midway stands is priceless in terms of memories, the actual assessed value, according to county records, is only $25,687. That translates to a tax bill of $1,759.04 for those parcels, a cost that would not be due next year.
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bruce
Posts:807
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| 03/04/2008 2:08 PM |
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FBI joins investigation of Conneaut Lake Park fire
By Jane Smith
03/04/08 —
CONNEAUT LAKE — When the historic Dreamland Ballroom was destroyed by fire last month, many rumors of arson being the cause were heard throughout the community.
A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal ruled the cause of the fire at Conneaut Lake Park was “undetermined,” but the investigation didn’t end there.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms of the FBI now has joined forces with state police to determine whether the early-February fire — as well as two other fires in the park, the former Flynn House and a cottage behind the McClure House — were acts of arson.
The Flynn House, owned by the park, went up in flames in October of 2005. The cottage wasn’t owned by the park, but by a private person. It was destroyed in 2006 and, after that, the owner had the debris removed and a lease on the land was sold to another person.
The McClure House, which is the oldest building in the park, wasn’t affected by the fire, but it’s in a deteriorating condition.
Officials from the ATF confirmed Monday that an agent and a dog have spent time at the Dreamland Ballroom scene for hours and days over the past “two or three weeks.”
The ATF’s involvement was a result of a combination of factors, including a request by the state police and park officials to assist, as well as public concern. Officials said sometimes insurance companies request the ATF, but noted that wasn’t true in this request.
Although the federal agents are involved, officials cautioned the public not to expect rulings immediately. “We have just started. It takes time,” said one official, who asked not to be identified. “We just want to see if we can resolve what this is all about,” he said of the cause of the fire.
He agreed that the PSP’s official ruling of the cause of the fire at Dreamland remains undetermined, saying that will remain until — or unless —something different can be determined.
In the meantime, the debris hasn’t been cleaned up and won’t be immediately pending further investigation.
Causes of the fires at the former Flynn House and the cottage also were ruled undetermined.
Anyone from the public who may believe he or she has information about any of the three fires may call (814) 327-6892 or (412) 395-0540. The latter is the Pittsburgh office, which handles calls when there is nobody in the Erie office.
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admin
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| 04/05/2008 9:04 AM |
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The following post was moved here:
GregVanG
Posts:633
04/05/2008 1:19 AM
Posted on Fri, Apr. 4, 2008
Man accused of setting fire to church, amusement park ballroom
The Associated Press
LINESVILLE, Pa. - A Crawford County man has been charged with setting fire to a historic building at Conneaut Lake Park and a church this year.
State police on Friday arraigned 19-year-old Nickolas Dean Pope of Hartstown on charges of arson, burglary and criminal trespass.
Police accuse Pope of setting the Feb. 1 fire that destroyed the 99-year-old Dreamland Ballroom at the 116-year-old amusement park. Damages are estimated at $1.5 million.
Pope also is accused of setting fire to the 160-year-old Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church on Jan. 13, causing $180,000 in damages.
Pope was in the county jail on $100,000 bail. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.
Conneaut Lake Park is more than $2 million in debt.
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admin
Posts:1517
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| 04/05/2008 9:10 AM |
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The following item was forwarded by Rick Davis:
This reported in Meadville Tribune 4-5-08
LINESVILLE — A Hartstown man has been charged with arson in connection with fires destroying Conneaut Lake Park’s historic Dreamland Ballroom and the Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church earlier this year, causing more than $1.5 million in damage.
Nickolas Dean Pope, 19, of 9740 Linesville Road, Hartstown, was arraigned late Friday afternoon on Pennsylvania State Police charges of two counts each of arson endangering persons, arson endangering property, burglary and criminal trespass.
Authorities allege Pope burned the Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church on Jan. 13, causing an estimated $180,000 in damages to the more than 160-year-old building; and the Dreamland Ballroom on Feb. 1, causing an estimated $1.5 million in damages.
Pope’s arrest was the result of a joint investigation between Pennsylvania State Police and agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
The news that a suspect was in custody was bittersweet for Conneaut Lake Park officials.
George Deshner, general manager of the park, said he’s relieved an arrest was made in the Dreamland Ballroom fire, but saddened as well. “I’m happy they determined what happened and there’s a suspect in custody,” he said. “At the same time, it leaves you with a horrible, sick feeling inside that these things happen.”
“It took a lot of cooperation of a lot of people to make this happen,” he continued. “There are a lot of people to thank in this investigation.”
Jack Moyers, chairman of the board of Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park, which owns the amusement park, agreed with Deshner’s assessment.
“We’re appreciative of all the people involved in the investigation,” Moyers said. “They handled it in a very expedient manner. I’m glad they were able to find a suspect.
“It (the arrest) takes away the question of how it happened, but not why,” Moyers said.
Both Deshner and Moyers said they knew the investigation into the fire was ongoing, but they both were unaware it was arson until Friday’s arrest. Fire debris from Dreamland Ballroom hasn’t been removed as yet, Deshner said. That work is expected to be completed by the middle of May, he said.
Attempts to contact the Rev. Bryan Powell of Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church were unsuccessful. The small congregation with less than 50 members has been holding services at the Harmonsburg Community Building since the fire in January.
“It was a lot of field work (by authorities) ,” said Trooper Dana Beckwith, a state police fire marshal, who would offer no details of how authorities were led to Pope.
“His name kept surfacing,” Beckwith said, referring to the process of tracking down leads in the case. “Information (as it developed) implicated him.”
Pope was placed under arrest Friday, following an interview at the state police barracks in Vernon Township.
Beckwith declined to comment if there were any additional suspects in the case.
“We’re grateful to the ATF for their assistance,” Beckwith said. “They were an integral part of the investigation.”
Pope didn’t say anything as he was taken into the courtroom of Magisterial District Judge Rita Marwood of Linesville for arraignment.
Although several of Pope’s family members attempted to block a Tribune photographer and reporter from taking pictures of Pope entering the building, family members apologized for their actions following the hearing. Dressed in a black T-shirt and black jeans, Pope was in handcuffs and legcuffs as he was taken into the building.
Pope said little at his arraignment before Marwood other than answering basic questions. He told Marwood he had dropped out of Linesville High School after 11th grade and had been working at Molded Fiber Glass Co. in Linesville since last August.
Pope told Marwood he had no prior record and had no history of drug, alcohol or mental health problems.
When asked by a reporter, police confirmed Pope is not a fireman.
On Thursday, two former volunteer firemen entered guilty pleas in Crawford County Court to nine counts of arson each in connection with a series of fires in the Saegertown area between August and December 2007.
If convicted on all charges, Pope faces a maximum 110 years in jail and $200,000 in fines. Marwood set bond Pope’s bond at $100,000; he was committed to Crawford County jail in Saegertown.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Marwood on April 11.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvillet ribune.com.
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admin
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| 04/24/2008 3:23 PM |
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Another Update:
Dreamland arsonist 'wanted to cause mischief'
By Keith Gushard
04/24/08- LINESVILLE - The teenager who has confessed to burning down Conneaut Lake Park's Dreamland Ballroom and Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church claims he tried but failed to put out the fires he started before they destroyed both buildings.
Nineteen-year-old Hartstown resident Nickolas Pope admitted he was out "to cause mischief" when he left a party and ended up causing $180,000 in damage to the historic 160-year-old church. The $1.5 million Dreamland Ballroom blaze appears to be little more than an act of aimless boredom.
The never-before-public details of both fires emerged Wednesday at a preliminary hearing for Pope in testimony by Special Agent Jason Wick of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Pope was ordered held for trial on two counts each of arson endangering persons, arson endangering property, burglary and criminal trespass following the nearly 90-minute hearing before Magisterial District Judge Rita Marwood.
Pope is accused by Pennsylvania State Police of setting fires that destroyed the church Jan. 13 and Dreamland Ballroom Feb. 1.
Pope was arrested April 4 after an investigation by state police and agents from the federal ATFE.
Pope's name kept surfacing during interviews with associates and friends of Pope's on April 3, Wick testified.
Pope agreed to meet with ATFE agents April 4 at Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department, Wick said.
During an interview in which Pope was advised he wasn't under arrest, Pope admitted to setting the church fire and as well as the fire at Dreamland Ballroom, Wick testified. Pope was then questioned again with the interview videotaped, Wick said.
Pope told investigators he was at a party in Harmonsburg Jan. 13 and left with two other individuals "to cause mischief," Wick testified.
Pope said he went to the rear of the church building, removed a window pane and went inside the church while the two others stayed outside, Wick testified.
Pope told investigators he used a butane lighter to try to ignite a Bible at the pulpit, but it didn't catch fire, Wick said. Pope said he then ignited a flag in the sanctuary, tried to extinguish the blaze, but couldn't, Wick testified.
Pope stated he and the two others then went back to the party, though later one or two others left the party to watch firemen put out the blaze, Wick said.
With regard to Conneaut Lake Park's Dreamland Ballroom fire Feb. 1, Pope told investigators he had driven to the amusement park with another friend early that morning and they walked through the park, Wick said.
Wick testified Pope said he entered the Dreamland Ballroom/maintenance building through an unlocked door. Pope said made a torch out of wood, rags and cooking oil he found in the building and walked around inside it, Wick testified.
Pope said he tossed the torch inside the building after awhile, which caused a fire and Pope left, Wick said. Pope said he re-entered the building in an attempt to extinguish that fire, but wasn't able, Wick said. Pope told investigators he and his companion then left the park, but Pope returned later to watch firefighters battle the blaze, Wick said.
In a later interview with Wick and Trooper Dana Beckwith, a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal, Pope changed his story slightly, Wick said. Pope said he ignited debris inside the Dreamland Ballroom before departing the building, rather than just tossing the torch, Wick said.
Cross-examined by Pope's attorney, John (Jamie) Mead, Wick said Jesse McGrath and Gordon Hopkins were with Pope at the Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church, but didn't go inside. Wick said Julie Garrubba was with Pope at the Dreamland Ballroom, but didn't enter the building with Pope.
Wick said none of those people have been charged.
Paula DiGiacomo, Crawford County first assistant district attorney, declined comment on whether any additional persons may be charged in the case.
Beckwith testified his investigation of the Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church fire scene found the pulpit area of the church was the apparent origin of that fire, but the exact origin and cause weren't able to be determined.
However, he said the fire was suspicious because the church's electrical system, heating units and water heater were ruled out as causes.
Beckwith said the Dreamland Ballroom fire was considered suspicious because of the way the fire had progressed through the building and statements of firemen at the scene. Firemen from three different vantage points had noticed heavy smoke from the center of the interior of the building, Beckwith said.
Following Wednesday's hearing, Pope was recommitted to Crawford County jail in lieu of $300,000 bond.
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bruce
Posts:807
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| 05/06/2008 5:41 PM |
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MORE NEWS FROM CONNEAUT LAKE PARK
Published May 04, 2008 10:18 pm - SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — Police are investigating after a gas generator was stolen from the set of a major motion picture being shot at Conneaut Lake Park recently.
Burglar hits movie set at Conneaut Lake Park
05/05/08 —
SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — Police are investigating after a gas generator was stolen from the set of a major motion picture being shot at Conneaut Lake Park recently.
Pennsylvania State Police reported someone entered the park sometime between 5 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday and stole the generator, which was being used by the production group for “The Road.”
A few scenes for the cinematic adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel were shot Friday and Saturday at the park. Following a nearly two-week stint in Erie County (chiefly at Presque Isle State Park), the production group of about 100 briefly set up shop at the 116-year-old park, using the midway, the Beach Club, the boardwalk and behind Hotel Conneaut.
Park officials said a few onlookers were seen outside the closed set and an early incident of a boat traveling up and down the lake had to be addressed, but security was in place and there were no other incidents apparent during the hours of the filming.
A father-and-son tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic world, the film — a 2929 Production directed by John Hillcoat — features stars including Viggo Mortensen (“Eastern Promises,” the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy), Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce.
Anyone with information about the theft should call state police at 332-6911.
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bruce
Posts:807
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| 06/28/2008 10:59 PM |
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Here is another ongoing article on the ups & Downs of Conneaut Lake Park......................
Trustees chairman lays out park ups and downs
By Jane Smith
June 24, 2008 11:07 pm
— CONNEAUT LAKE — If you were planning to hit the Beach Club at Conneaut Lake Park over the July 4 weekend, it’s time to make other plans.
The popular entertainment venue at the currently-closed, financially-troubled amusement park won’t be open for the holiday, according to Jack Moyers, chairman of the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park.
“We are cautiously optimistic,” he said Tuesday about the possibility of opening the public tavern before the summer is over.
Moyers, speaking at the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting at the Iroquois Boating and Fishing Club, used the analogy of riding a “thrill ride” such as the Blue Streak to discuss the many ups and downs the board has endured since it “took over a closed business” on July 2, 2007. The 116-year-old park didn’t open last summer either because the court-appointed manager didn’t have the funds to operate it.
This year, the Camperland recreational-vehicle area and the boat docks at the park are open. Hotel Conneaut remains closed; Moyers said a structural engineer survey is needed before it can be inspected for occupancy. The board reached out to three engineering companies; however, one didn’t want to become involved and the other two didn’t respond. He said the board has no idea what is needed for hotel renovations until a survey is done. “It’s a tough nut to crack until we get the answers,” he added.
The trustees do realize the importance of the amusement park to the community, Moyers said. “Many businesses rely on tourism,” he said, noting the park has a “$16 million impact” on the area’s economy. That figure is based on 2006 revenues multiplied by seven times which experts figure each dollar spent later generates throughout the community.
Moyers said even though the park was closed last summer, the lawns still had to be mowed, the roads had to be taken care of and the insurance had to be paid. “The list goes on and on,” he said.
The Beach Club was opened for about six weeks with the idea it “would break even at best,” providing activity at the park and offering some cash flow.
The park’s tax returns were filed for 2005 and 2006 and an extension was granted for filing 2007 returns.
In the meantime, the board has developed a five-year business plan designed for the park to become a vibrant destination once more. When questioned about the plan, Moyers didn’t give any specifics, except to say it would include developments which would take place two to five years into the plan and would include multi-uses of the park’s property.
“We are doing everything we can,” he said. “We are trying to come up with the finances to help the park get back to its feet.”
Asked what type of financial sources it would take to implement the five-year plan, Moyers said simply, “Big.”
Although reports have been that no assets of the park can be sold without court approval, Moyers said, “Certain assets can be sold,” but didn’t elaborate.
Asked if the board would consider leasing the hotel, Moyers said it would, adding that anyone leasing it could remodel it.
Other board members were at the head table, but didn’t address the crowd.
Weber says presentation was 'worthless'
CONNEAUT LAKE — “Worthless” is how one former board member of the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park described Tuesday’s presentation concerning the park and its future.
Tim Weber, former secretary of the previous board of Trustees, said, “It was 20 minutes of idle chatter. There were no specifics. There was no true vision of what they want to do. We have been waiting for a year now, and still there is absolutely no true vision of the future of the park.”
He was referring to the fact that the current board was appointed by the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas nearly a year ago.
However, Dennis Frampton of C&J Industries didn’t comment about the content of the speech by Jack Moyers. “I know the board has a very, very difficult task. It is not an easy problem to solve. It’s going to take time. All we can do is get behind the board,” he said.
Several others in attendance declined to comment on what they had heard.
Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
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bruce
Posts:807
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| 08/29/2008 6:36 PM |
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Pope faces 75 years for ballroom, church blazes
By Mary Spicer
08/29/08 —
Nickolas Dean Pope, the Hartstown resident who confessed to burning down Conneaut Lake Park’s
Dreamland Ballroom and Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church, faces a maximum of 75 years in prison and $30,000 in fines after pleading guilty Thursday to two second-degree felony counts of arson endangering property and one second-degree felony count of criminal trespass before Judge Anthony Vardaro in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 25 years and a $10,000 fine.
Pope, who has been held at Crawford County jail in Saegertown since his April 4 arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 7.
Pope, who was 19 at the time of his arrest, admitted during a preliminary hearing in late April that he was out to cause mischief when he left a party and ended up causing $180,000 in damage to the historic 160-year-old church on Jan. 13. Testimony given during the same proceeding indicated the $1.5 million Dreamland Ballroom blaze he set Feb. 1 had no real motive.
Following his April 4 arraignment, Pope was committed to jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. During an April 23 preliminary hearing, that amount was upped to $300,000.
The historic 116-year-old amusement park — where the ballroom was an impressive fixture on its midway — has been closed since 2006 because of financial troubles. After a brief post-blaze stint as a movie set, the devastated ballroom was demolished in mid-May and that lot now sits empty.
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bruce
Posts:807
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| 08/29/2008 6:37 PM |
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Hotel could be open as soon as this weekend
08/27/08 —
CONNEAUT LAKE — Hotel Conneaut at Conneaut Lake Park could be open for business by this weekend.
Following the recent submission of hotel plans to building inspectors, the new business group leasing the hotel is hoping to gain an occupancy permit in time to open the hotel on Friday, according to CLP board Chairman Jack Moyers.
Area businessmen Greg Sutterlin, Dick Williams, Steve Popovich and Mark Popovich announced in July they’ve agreed to terms for a 49-year lease on some parts of the park and a 30-year lease on the hotel.
The club reopened earlier this month and is now fully operating.
Along with reopening the club and hotel, the business group’s plan also calls for the construction of residential condominiums in at least one location. In guiding their proposals, the group has said they have a special interest in seeing the park not only survive, but thrive in a rejuvenated yet traditional setting.
The lease covering the hotel also includes the McClure House and some surrounding lots, and a little more than three acres from the canal area down Route 618. The agreement also includes help with construction of a water-treatment building that could potentially lead to major state funding to refurbishing the park’s aging water system.
After opening with limited food service a couple of weeks ago, the Beach Club started serving alcoholic beverages over the past weekend. The new group was “very pleased with the turnout they had,” said Moyers, but no numbers were given.
The new business group’s involvement “has been a very important first step to getting a foothold in the new park,” said Moyers. “This is definitely what could help us to start turning everything around.”
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coastin
Posts:523
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| 11/21/2008 3:30 PM |
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W.Pa. man gets 3-20 years in prison for 2 arsons
The Associated Press
MEADVILLE, Pa.—A northwestern Pennsylvania man who set fires that destroyed an amusement park ballroom and damaged a church has been sentenced to three to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution.
Twenty-year-old Nickolas Dean Pope, of Hartstown, was also placed on probation for 10 years on Friday in Crawford County Court. He pleaded guilty to two counts of arson Aug. 28.
He set fire to the 164-year-old Harmonsburg Presbyterian Church on Jan. 13, causing $180,000 in damage. He also set a Feb. 1 fire that destroyed the 99-year-old Dreamland Ballroom at Conneaut Lake Park, causing an estimated $1.5 million in damage.
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