125 Years Ago, 1901transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“At Idora. The program for the Fourth of July has been announced. A record breaker in point of attendance and the number of people who will go there is promised.”

“Manager Robert T. Ivory, manager of the Park & Falls company, has made ample arrangements to handle the big crowd that will go to Idora Park, tomorrow. Every car owned by the company will be in service, and will be in operation from early morning until late at night.

“President Greer and Secretary Dahlinger, of the Park & Falls company, arrived in the city Today, and they were joined by Director Hastings, of Allegheny. They are here looking over the property and seeing how things are moving.

“Idora Park will be the scene of the only Fourth of July celebration in this part of the country. A vast amount of money has been expended for an elaborate display of fireworks and the exhibition will be something marvelous.

“Besides the firework display, Professor Smith has engaged a wonderful outside attraction in the person of a man who gives a performance in mid-air. Trapeze are used and two iron bars, and it is said that he will give a show that will go away ahead of Professor Gay the high diver, who held the boards at the park last week. This attraction does not cost a penny, as it will take place out in the open, both afternoon and evening. Besides this attraction, Manager Stanley will give afternoon and evening shows at the Casino, and this week’s bill is said to be a good one.

“The improvements at the sulphur spring have been progressing nicely and the drinking fountain promises to be in excellent condition. The dancing platform will be open all day and the Mahoning orchestra will furnish the music, and Colonel Frank Sourbeck will be the master of ceremonies.

“Provided the weather holds out good, the company will doubtless establish a record in the matter of the number of people hauled in a single day. Many private picnics have been arranged, and the pleasure seekers with well filled baskets, will start for the park early in the day, and remain from morning until night, so that they will miss none of the good things.

“All arrangements for the mammoth display of fireworks have been perfected and the show will be given at night during a time when no other attraction is on, so that all may be able to witness the spectacular event. A program has been arranged as follows:

“Grand illumination. / Air salute bomb shells. / Electric revolving wheel, six feet in diameter. / Heavy cannon report wheel. / Six one pound rockets. / Six two pound rockets. / Shower, Idora. / Tree of hope, 20 feet high, 15 feet wide. / Six one pound rockets. / Ground battery, heavy report. / Three balloons. / Washington bust, 5 feet high. / Two electric four pound bomb shells. / Revolving wheels, six different colors. / Revolving cross. / July 4th, 1901. / Six four pound shells. / Revolving transparent, four feet wide. / Five four pound colored bomb shells. / Six six-pound Japanese bomb shells. / Grand final mine explosion. / Good night.

“Superintendent Ivory announces that cars will run from the Diamond every three minutes to the park and his entire quota of cars and men will be on hand.”

— Compiled by Dante Bernard, museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society