SALEM, Ohio – The Idora Park Museum Committee was founded in the summer of 2000 to be a nonprofit organization under Conneaut Lake Park Institute’s nonprofit status.
The goal of this committee is to promote and preserve the memory of Idora Park, now defunct, in Youngstown, Ohio, through traveling displays and, eventually, a permanent museum at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, Pa.
The Salem Historical Society will be hosting a traveling display through Dec. 17. The times are 6-9 p.m. (Fridays), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Saturdays) and noon-3 p.m. (Sundays). Weekdays are by appointment only.
Idora Park was a small family-oriented amusement park that opened as a trolley park in 1899. Due to a severe fire April 26, 1984, Idora closed its doors at the end of the season.
The Idora Park committee came about after Don Schanz, operations manager at Conneaut Lake Park, introduced a couple of Idora Park enthusiasts to each other. Members are avid collectors of anything pertaining to this amusement park.
DeBence Antique Music World in Franklin, Pa., hosted the first display. This is the permanent home of the Idora carousel band organ.
For more information, check out http://idoraparkipmc.tripod.com/.
