Fries Park facts for kids
Fries Park was a fun place for families in Marrtown, West Virginia. It was created in 1892 by a man named Gustavus Louis "Gusty" Fries. People went there to relax, have picnics, and enjoy music and dancing.
A Place for Fun
In May 1893, a newspaper in Parkersburg invited everyone to visit Fries Park. It said that Gusty Fries had worked hard to create a beautiful spot. The park was perfect for picnics, dances, and other fun outings. It was described as a pretty, cool, and welcoming place for everyone.
The park was a family business where people could relax. They enjoyed picnics and danced to music. Popular dances included square dances and round dances like the polka and schottische. These dances took place in the park's special dance pavilion.
Fries Park also offered tasty food and drinks. Fresh crabs were brought all the way from Baltimore by train. A local company, Hebrank & Rapp Lager Beer Brewery, provided drinks. This was the first brewery in the Mid-Ohio Valley area. Gusty Fries had a family connection to the brewery, as he married Katherine Hebrank in 1890. Her father, Louis Hebrank, was part of the brewery.
Why the Park Closed
Fries Park was popular for many years. However, as more people started using cars, they could travel further away. This meant people wanted to visit new places instead of just local parks. Because of this, small picnic parks like Fries Park became less popular and made less money.
The park closed its doors in 1939. This was four years before Gusty Fries passed away. The main building at the park, which was the dance hall, was later turned into a house. Gusty Fries's grandson, Lewis V. Moyers, changed it into a home. Over time, the house was sold several times and eventually taken apart.
Today, not much is left of Fries Park. You can still find a dry cistern, which is like a water tank. There are also the ruins of a bomb shelter built in 1962. This shelter was made because of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a big event in history. Even though most of the park is gone, many people still remember Fries Park as a favorite place for fun and relaxation.
