120 years ago in 1903

Taken directly from the pages of The Youngstown Vindicator:

“Important improvements to be made at Idora Park the coming season. Pleasure of patrons will be greatly enhanced by the management — compliment to Manager Ivory.

“At the annual meeting of the Youngstown Park and Falls Electric Railway Company on Saturday at which the old board of officers were re-elected, a number of important improvements were decided upon to add to the pleasure and comfort of patrons the coming year.

“The directors voted to enlarge the dancing pavilion at Idora Park the coming spring. It was also decided to build a new refreshment hall as the extension to the dancing pavilion, which will utilize the present dining hall south of the same. The improvements to be made at the theater will do away with the noise of the toboggan. It has not been settled as yet whether the theater will be enclosed or an open air arrangement as at present.

“It was also voted to build a maze, or laughing gallery, at the park this spring. This feature will be one of the main attractions of the popular resort the coming summer. The directors also discussed the advisability of enclosing the space around the car enclosure to the merry-go-round building, so as to afford shelter to patrons in inclement weather while waiting to board the cars. It will make a roofed enclosure about 200 x 150 feet in dimensions. It will serve the purpose of a large waiting room, and will be equipped with benches and other conveniences for patrons of the park. This improvement was finally decided upon, and will be carried forward just as soon as the weather permits.

“Two more cars, trailers, have been added to the equipment of the line. These cars are in service at noon and from 4 to 6 every day of the week except Saturday, when they run as long as business warrants. On Sunday, extra cars are run for the accommodation of the church-going people both morning and evening.

“The election of Manager Ivory to his old position is very pleasing to the patrons of the road, who appreciate the excellent service he has given them in the past, and who want a continuance of the same in the future. [Outgoing] Director Murphy called upon his old friend, Chief of Police W. W. McDowell, before he returned home Saturday night. Mr. Murphy is now the recorder of Allegheny, and was formerly the chief of police and of detective of the same city.

• Compiled from the Youngstown Vindicator by Traci Manning, Mahoning Valley Historical Society curator of education.