Riding the Puritas Springs Cyclone — Fun or Folly?

Winter 2007
Issue III
Riding the Puritas Springs Cyclone — Fun or Folly?
by Gary Swilik
THE CYCLONE roller coaster at Puritas Springs was
built in 1928 and operated until a few years before the
park closed forever in 1958. The ride took advantage
of the steep hill at the edge of Cleveland Metropolitan
Park, plunging down into the valley among the trees
on a winding, twisting course variously described as
frighteningly fun or just plain terrifying!
In 1942 a man was thrown from the coaster and nearly
killed. In the course of one month during 1946 three
women were injured, their spines reportedly fractured
from the tremendous force of the first drop. At one
time the Cleveland Police Department ordered the ride
closed until the park promised to slow it down.
The author’s grandfather rode the Cyclone when he
was in his 70s to prove it was “no big deal.” He exited
the ride with bruised elbows and knees, swearing they
ought to close the thing. Most riders, however, enjoyed
the exhilarating experience.
If the Cyclone were in operation today he would still
consider it a “world-class coaster.” (Visit the American
Coaster Enthusiasts online at: www.aceonline.org).
Henry C. Kieffer, now of Lore City, Ohio, is another
Cyclone veteran. “What I remember is not only the
rugged terrain dipping into woods,” relates Henry,
“but the brief view looking out over the valley was
spectacular. Most roller coaster rides have smaller
hills as the ride progresses, but I recall the Cyclone
ended with a dip almost as deep as the start because
it plunged into the ravine at the end of the ride.”
So was the Cyclone really more dangerous than
today’s coasters? Or would height and weight
requirements, along with modern safety restraints,
have eliminated any problems? We’ll never know,
since apartment buildings replaced Puritas Springs
Park years ago. Cyclone Drive, off Grayton Road,
is named in honor of the legendary coaster but is onequarter mile southeast of the actual site.
There are rumors that parts of the Cyclone’s track lie
hidden in the wooded ravine to this day. Be assured,
segments of track do indeed survive. In fact, you can see
remnants of the track from down in the valley during the
winter, but the weathered wood is hard to distinguish
from among the trees and deteriorates further with each
passing year.
Jim Raba grew up in West Park and first rode the Cyclone
with his mother when he was five years old. “There were
no height or weight requirements in those days,” he
remembers. “You just had to have an adult with you. I
loved it. It was not scary at all,” Jim assures us. “To me
it was a fun, fast coaster. Compared to the Cyclone, the
coasters at Euclid Beach were slow motion.”
Jim, a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts, went
on to ride the Cyclone over fifty times in his life, as well
as 500 coasters in the U.S. and several other countries.
Remnants of Cyclone track on hillside above Puritas Avenue, 1979
Officers
Peggy Cecora, President
Ross E. Bassett, Vice President
Elaine Staley, Secretary
Deborah Schenk, Treasurer
Trustees
Ralph A. Pfingsten
James R. Foos, Jr.
Thomas M. McGlynn Gary Swilik
Gertie Cebulis
John S. Papay
Christine M. Rafalke
Steven D. Lorenz
Ellie Mapson
Dar McGeady
Mary E. Forrest
Newsletter Committee
Dar McGeady, Editor
Graphic Designer
Gary Swilik, Historian
Greetings from Our President —
While the West Park Historical Society began 2006 with only trustees as members, we saw the year close with
83 individual and family memberships. One of our goals for this year is to obtain 501(c)(3) status from the IRS.
Once this is obtained, contributions to WPHS will become tax-deductible and we will be eligible to seek grants to
help support our organization and produce excellent programs.
Last October several members, neighbors and their children enjoyed a brisk fall
day touring the historic Alger Cemetery. Our 2007 Images of West Park calendar was
a great success, appreciated by members and also by the West Park community and
former residents. Our trustees’ vast knowledge of West Park’s history amazes me.
Many of them have fascinating collections that we will be incorporating into future
programs. We look forward to offering seasonal events and hope you will become
active in our plans by letting us know what you are interested in learning about West Park history. Please call me at
216-941-9730 or e-mail wphsmember@sbcglobal.net with your suggestions on programming.
We look forward to this year proving as prosperous for us as last year and that you will be able to join us as we
produce events and gather resources with a glimpse into the history of West Park.
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A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Members
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President
Ruth M. Denson
Edward J. & Susan McCabe
Frederick & Dolores Ialacci
Lawrence A. Strauss
Howard “Bugs” & Jean Williams
Variety Theatre Restoration Set to Begin
Gretchen Moore, of Westown Community
Development Corporation, tells us a contractor
has been selected to restore the marquee on
the Variety Theatre. Work could be completed
by next summer.
If you have information to share, please
contact Gretchen at (216) 941-9262, or email: gmoore@westowncdc.org.
Won’t it be wonderful to see the restored
Variety marquee lighting up Lorain Avenue
once again?
If you have family members, friends, or coworkers
who might like to join WPHS, let us know and we’ll
forward membership forms to them right away.
Membership forms and information contact:
Christine M. Rafalke, Membership Chairperson
15616 Remora Blvd. • Brook Park, OH 44142-2317
Phone: (216) 267-5597
E-mail: cmr@neighborhoodprogress.org
©2007 WPHS
She is looking for photos or memories of
the original lighting of the marquee — did the
letters flash all at once or sequentially? …in
certain patterns?
“First Families” Honor Goes to Dan Weber
We’ve awarded our initial FIRST FAMILIES OF WEST PARK
certificate to Daniel R. Weber of Rancho Cordova, CA.
Dan’s family arrived in Rockport Township in 1901 and
settled in a farmhouse still standing on Triskett Road
near the intersection of West 140th Street.
The Weber home at 14209 Triskett Road, early 1900s
“I’ve been away from West Park for many years,” says Dan,
“but still have emotional ties with the neighborhood.
My mother was a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy. She
met my dad while working in a dentist’s office in the old
Cleveland Trust building at the corner of Lorain and
Rocky River Drive. We lived on Allien Avenue which
now butts up against Kamm’s Plaza.”
“Anyone interested
in the First Families
program should dig
into their files and
come up with the
documentation,”
Dan proudly displays his certificate
recommends Dan.
“You and your descendents will appreciate it. My framed
certificate will soon be over my desk.”
The FIRST FAMILIES certificate, custom printed on parchment
paper with images of Kamm’s Store, old John Marshall High
School, and the John West house, is granted to members
who document their descent from an ancestor who resided in
West Park prior to January 1, 1923. Applications are free but
require a ten-dollar fee upon submission. Request applications
from WPHS President Peggy Cecora (216) 941-9730.
E-mail: wphsmember@sbcglobal.net.
Among the materials Dan submitted is a photograph
of a Rockport Village Public Schools diploma issued to
his father, Ralph M. Weber, in 1909. His father is also
listed as a veteran of World War I on the West Park war
memorial in front of the VFW hall on West 150th.
West Park Gleanings — 1910
May 28, 1910
June 18, 1910
Mr. Schipke, of Stop 10 on the Puritas Springs line, told
us that after the comet passed through West Park an
abundance of beer and whiskey rained down. He thinks
also that the weather changed after the tail of the
(Halley’s) comet passed through the earth.
The West Park Improvement Association held a meeting
Tuesday evening in the town hall. Only six members
were present and three guests. Among the members,
Mr. Diederich, Wm. Dahm, Mr. Wagner, Mr. Sixt, and the
president, mostly people who live in the neighborhood of
the town hall. There was nothing done worth mentioning.
June 11, 1910
A very exciting, as well as interesting game between the
Rockport baseball team and the Puritas Campers was
played last Sunday morning at Puritas Springs Park. The
Puritas team, composed of some of the best amateur
players in the state, defeated the Rockports by a score
of 6 to 3.
June 25, 1910
June 18, 1910
With about twelve stables in training at the Rockport halfmile track that plant presents a very busy appearance
these days. Harvey Ernest, the Syracuse, NY reinsman,
who is acting as manager of the Rockport track, has six
head he is getting ready for the races including the two
fast pacers, Oakland Sun and Locust Boy.
Mrs. Seager, who lives at the end of the Puritas Springs
line, is very good to her mother, Mrs. Marg. Fisher of
Kamms Corners. She sends her each day butter which
she makes herself.
News in West Park from the pages of
The Ohio Correspondent
Historic Figures Collide In West Park
Considered by many to be Cleveland’s greatest mayor, Tom L. Johnson definitely visited the village
of West Park. The incident was covered in the Elyria Reporter on November 5th, 1903:
TOM L. RUNS OVER A BOY
During his trip into Lorain County on Friday, Mayor Johnson in his “red devil”
met with the first accident he has had during his campaign. While passing through
West Park, near Cleveland, a little fellow about five years old ran into the middle
of the road in front of the automobiles. The head machine, which contained the
mayor, struck the boy inflicting a slight wound on his face. The second one nearly
ran over the boy. Both machines were stopped, the boy picked up and taken to the
home of his father, Charles West, postmaster of West Park. Where he was cared for
and he was assured that he was but slightly hurt.
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The “Red Devil,” built by Cleveland-based Winton Automobile Co., was Mayor Johnson’s trademark
vehicle. Charles West, the postmaster, is son of John M. West, whose park-like front yard at Lorain
and West 137th Street gave West Park its name.
The little fellow who escaped serious harm is almost certainly Charles Peyton West, Jr. who was five
years old in 1903. The home he was taken to after the accident is, of course, the landmark West
House which still stands at 3684 West 138th Street.
— Gary Swilik
Dar McGeady, Editor
14118 Viola Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44111-4926
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
FIRST CLASS