Haugh - Riverview Amusement Park

The groves provided shade and a picture-perfect picnic area to spend time with friends and neighbors. The fee was minimal and band concerts provided a taste of culture to those attending. The land was purchased by William Schmidt and George Goldman and was known as Sharpshooters Park. When Riverview opened on July 3, 1904, the gates consisted of two towers and a wooden front fence plastered with life-sized billboards hawking the marvels of the park. The attendance on opening day was 32,000. Riverviews owners were famous for sending out free passes700,000 a year. One old-time concessionaire said, The philosophy was Get em inside the park and take all their money out of their jeans. (Courtesy of Schmidt Collection.)

These happy kiddies are anxiously waiting for the picnic to begin. Remember they did not have a radio, television, or computer games. They played with marbles or jumped rope. A picnic was a very special event. Like many children, their moan at Sharpshooters Park was Theres nothing to do. (Courtesy of Cleary Collection.)

The owners of the groves listened to the children and opened a free playground. There were many things to doslide, teeter-totter, wade in the pool. For a while everyone was content. But not for long. They wanted more! (Courtesy of Riverview Archives.)

The woods offered shade and space but as time went on other attractions were added. There was one large restaurant, a large band stand, the Rhine wine bar, five other bars, a large 100-foot by 50-foot dance hall (the largest in Cook County), ice houses, and chairs and benches. The latter are shown here. (Courtesy of Riverview Archives.)

People came to the groves in droves. They had fun saving up for a special treat or packing a picnic basket. In 1904, there were 25 major picnics held, ranging in attendance from 5,000 to 35,000 people. The park was the most popular place in Chicago, used by almost every German society in the city. (Courtesy of Riverview Archives.)

Regardless of the many added attractions, children still enjoyed the wading pool. In the background, people are shown eating at picnic tables. Other children are at the playground equipment. There was only a playground-type Merry-go-round in the groves. Here, a few mothers, fully clothed, join their children in the wading pool. (Courtesy of Riverview Archives.)

Music at the park was the main attraction for young and old. Bands of good reputation played in the groves where 5,000 free chairs welcomed patrons. A population of 100,000 people lived near the park, most of whom were from Germany. Song fests were very popular, as you can see from this photo. Almost every well-known bandmaster of the time played at the groves. (Courtesy of Riverview Archives.)