Paragon Park
I dream of Hull the way I imagine my Grandmother dreamt of her homeland in Youhal, Ireland. I have a re-occurring dream of walking the length of Hull, the way we used to as kids when we would spend all our money, including our bus fare, at Paragon Park and had no way home but to walk. I think I’m the only kid in my family, or all of Hull for that matter, who grew up when Paragon was still there and never rode on the roller coaster. I always played it safe. Not like my reckless brothers. ~ “Dreaming of Beachfront Property,” excerpted from “The Jim and Dan Stories” by Colleen
Many traditional amusement parks across the country, like the one my siblings and I grew up with in Hull, Massachusetts, have gone the way of drive-inn movies, few and far between. Condos now loom where our beloved Paragon Park once stood, and there’s a shopping mall where the drive-inn theatre used to be.
We knew from an early age what cotton candy tasted like and how tall you had to be to ride on the Bumper Cars. The girls in the family all owned stuffed animals that their boyfriends won for them at the arcade games, and most of us worked at Paragon selling tickets for rides or running the games during school summer vacations… "25 cents to play, 25 cents to win" or "Don't be shy, come on over and give it a try," my sister, Tricia, remembers calling into a microphone at one of the game booths she worked at.
I personally remember riding the Bumper Cars, the Scrambler, the Wild Mouse, the Round-up, the Tilt-a whirl, the Teacups, the Congo Cruise (which was called “the Red Mill” when I first rode it at the age of 5), the Caterpillar, and the Ferris Wheel. I got stuck in the Kooky Castle once when the ride stopped short in its track, and the Rotor made me sick.
But I especially remember and am nostalgic for the “Giant Coaster” (see photo), once claimed to be the biggest in the world. Even though I never rode on it (for the same reason I don’t bungee jump) the roller coaster was a hometown landmark that I thought would always be there. I knew I was home when, coming back into Hull from the Washington Boulevard, I would see the roller coaster and smell the sea air at the same time.
Paragon Park was torn down sometime in the mid 1980s. The only thing remaining is the Paragon Carrousel that Hull residents had to fight to save, and the fundraising efforts to keep the carrousel in Hull continue to this day. Whenever I go home I like to ride on the carrousel, which we called “the merry-go-round” when we were kids (also seen in the photo with the rounded roof).
I got a comment on “Loose Leaf” from Jeanne at “Out and Back,” recently. “Colleen, I think I found your roller coaster in Maryland,” the comment read. I had heard before that the Paragon Park roller coaster ended up in Maryland and with a little internet research I discovered that, indeed, it is alive and well in its second incarnation at Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland.
It’s called the “Wild One” now, which means, I assume, that it's no where near ready for retirement.
Post Note: Special thanks the LoveLink, the email group of mostly family members and a few Redman family fans that I belong to, for helping me remember the names of Paragon Park rides.
Comments
Hi, Michele sent me!
What a wonderful post; full of nostalgia for me, too. I remember going to Paragon Park! My parents had friends in Hull, Uncle Henry and Auntie someoneorother and we loved to visit them. The mussel picking was fun, too!
Posted by: Janet | August 25, 2005 11:17 AM
Hey Colleen! We're back from CT and MA...had a great time camping with the kids!!!
Reading this brought tears to my eyes! I believe my dad used to talk about Paragon Park. This post brought back so many childhood memories for me too. We used to go to Riverside Park in Agawam, MA. It's now a Six Flags. I distinctly remember the smell of the river and the magical feeling walking through the gates...like walking into another world. I was afraid of the rollercoaster there too. It was an old wooden one that the cars were constantly getting stuck on the top and someone had to climb up the scaffolding to give the people a push. I eventually decided to confront my fears and did end up riding all the other rollercoasters in the park...but never that one!
My brother and dad got stuck inside the "Pirates Cove", which was probably similar to Kooky Castle.
I miss the drive-in! I tried to talk my husband into taking the kids while we were at The Cape, but he didn't want to go.:( He said he's never been!
Wonderful memories!!!
Posted by: TammyB | August 25, 2005 11:22 AM
Bumper cars were - and still are - the best rides. I only rode a roller coaster once when I was young and that one scared me so much that I refused to get on one ever again.
Posted by: kenju | August 25, 2005 2:56 PM
Yes, Colleen this post does bring tears to my eyes too....Oh to be young again for just ONE day.xo
Posted by: Sherry | August 25, 2005 5:10 PM
What a wonderful post! I loved reading about your memories... Paragon Park had a Rotor? Oh wow... what I would give to be made sick by one of those!! Sometime you will have to come to Allentown and I'll take you on Thunderhawk so you can have a wooden coaster experience. And don't worry, I'll teach you how to breathe! :-)
Posted by: Jeanne | August 25, 2005 8:22 PM
Coll, I loved reading this post about good old Paragon Park. It really was a magical place and I almost forgot to mention another memory. The time you sang to the crowd "T....T....T....Tricia, beautiful Tricia, you're the only G....G.....G.....Girl that I adore" when we came out on the stage area of the kooky castle! Remember? I also remember getting stuck in the congo cruise a lot and the boats would bump you and they would have this stick that they would use to help get you out. A couple of times people lost shoes on the skylark too with their feet dangling like they did. I use to ride the roller coaster no hands! Never was a big fan of the bumper cars though.....the steering never worked right for me. Probably has something to do with why I don't like driving today (LOL!) Lots of great memories. xoxo
Posted by: Trish | August 25, 2005 9:30 PM
Perhaps a trip to Largo, MD, would be like visiting an old friend....
Have you ever been to the Porter Square T-stop in Cambridge? It's got a sculpture of red twirling -- fans? sails? Whenever I see it I think of the Tilt-A-Whirl.
Posted by: Elissa Malcohn | August 26, 2005 2:40 AM
Thanks for the memories Colleen. Paragon Park; it was the place of "first dates" and "first jobs."
I've a book around here somewhere by Dr. Bergin (the town dentist) all about the history of the park. Did you know it used to be surrounded by water? (or part of it). Yup. Boats around the whole park. I can't find the book right now though...it was Dan's.
Posted by: Kathy AKA Ben | August 26, 2005 7:26 AM
Oh my god, I remember climbing inside one of those bumper cars in Paragon Park and not being able to figure out how to make it move. (I was always mechanically challenged.) For the entire duration of the ride I was rammed mercilessly.
How about the Sugar Shack? Do you remember that?
Posted by: Patry | August 30, 2005 10:26 PM
Patry, You remember Paragon?! The Sugar Shack sounds familiar. I'll have to consult with the Love Link. I have tried to post a comment at your site but the blogger host won't let me!
Posted by: colleen | August 30, 2005 10:52 PM
Being from weymouth we would ride our bikes..seeing the coaster coming down that long stretch of washington blvd. i'm looking for a photo of the coaster can you help??
thank you
Scot
Posted by: Scot | January 23, 2006 11:27 AM
I came across your posting while digging up old memories on google. I would have been five years old when Paragon Park closed in 1985. I can remember walking along a side street near the "Wild Mouse" and staring at it through the rusty chain link fence imagining what it would be like to ride. I never got to ride "the Giant Coaster" either and my last memories of the park were of the summer they systematically dismantled it piece by piece. Instead of seeing the towering tracks when we turned the corner onto Nantasket Beach we were greated with lines of flatbed trucks loaded with white timbers ready to be shipped off to this magical place called merry-land (at least that's what I thought my parents were talking about). I have so many memories of that place pouring out of me right now. It's funny how a simple phrase like "paragon park" can open up a porthole in your mind to things long forgotten.
Posted by: Chris | April 3, 2006 1:28 PM
I remember friday afternoons with my brothers, sister and cousins at Nantasket Beach and then into Paragon Park after 4 pm for the half price tickets. This was our fri treat thru the summer. I was sad when the park closed. The sights and smells of the beach and park are a big part of my childhood memories
Posted by: mary | August 10, 2006 3:48 PM
I have alot of Paragon Park memories, click onto my site for more!
Posted by: scott | August 18, 2006 8:46 AM
My parents moved from Astoria Street in Mattappan to 52 "A" Street in Hull back in 1968 when I was just about 12 years old. My father turned the once sandy grassy lawn into a virtual "Barden's Garden" through the years and has become a legend in his own time! I would ride my bike to the Penny Arcade and play as much pinball as my change would allow. Was it only a dime a game? Wow! Then as time went on and a few more friends later, walking around and around and around Paragon Park all day was the ritual and right for us teenagers. What a hangout!!! My 1st job was at "Al's Spaghetti House" washing dishes from 10pm-2am with Tim Wholley. Those days of innocense I do cherish and fondly remember. . .Hull, you're my Hometown!!
Posted by: Stuart Barden | September 11, 2006 7:27 AM
I remember Paragon Park Used to go there near the end of the park's life. My first really big coaster expirence came from there. I remember trying to get on the giant coaster even though I was an inch too small at the time. The operator seemed to be nursing a hangover and let me on without measuring my height. The Giant Coaster was much bigger than the Coment I used to ride at Lincoln park. It scared the life out of me and loved avery minute of it. Been riding the biggest and baddest coaster ever since.
Used to like the Bermuda Triangle too even though it was not as frighting as it was supposed to be. Remeber one of my sisters friends who was a few yours older that me used to get scared stiff on the triangle.. Used to laugh at her because it never done a thing to me. I found the haunted part rathe stupid really. i just liked the plunge at the end. Loved the Wild mouse too. Good Times!
Posted by: Scott | December 31, 2006 4:36 PM
I remember riding from Rockland through Hingham and waiting for that turn and THERE IT WAS. That giant coaster just waiting. I was 12 when I got to the front of the line and at the last minute chickened out. The next year I just casually walked on and from then on was hooked. I used to get off and get back in line. That was the greatest coaster.
Posted by: Rick Thurston | May 21, 2007 9:30 PM
I am on vacation in the D.C area. I had not ridden the Giant Coaster since the early 70's. I had no idea it was at this Six Flags park and had no idea what it was until I read the signs as I boarded. WOW. That's what I call going 'back in time'
It was much more enjoyable than the other coasters at the park. The newer modern ones are too fast, and too violent, to be enjoyed. Long live the old wooden coaster!
Posted by: Bob Cole | July 18, 2007 9:45 PM
Thanks Bob for sharing this story. It put a big smile on my face. It feels good to know that some things last and are honored by being used.
Now if we could just find the Weymouth drive-inn.
Posted by: colleen | July 18, 2007 10:46 PM
Paragon Park certainly was like a Right of Passage for many of us, I'm proud to have been a member of the club!!! I never did work there, but I worked at The Surf if that counts!! And I certainly did my time at Paragon, especially the Summers of 66', 67', and 68. I still remember the feeling of excitement at night....the lights, the noises, the boys !!! Man, we had some good times! But it was a much more innocent era!
Then the whole experience changed to a new one with the thrill of introducing that excitement to my own children...and I got to have it all over again.Just thinking about those times makes me feel good. I had moved from Hull by the time they tore it down...I'm really glad I didn't get to see that!!But I miss home!
Cheryl Sullivan McCormack
Posted by: Cheryl Sullivan | September 10, 2007 5:52 AM
Great to hear from you, Cheryl! I never worked at the Park but worked at the Surf for a while also. I smile but I also feel sad that it's gone. I miss seeing the roller coaster coming into Hull on the Washington Blvd. I still go home every year to visit my parents and now just my mother. I think the condo that stands where the Park was looks like an institution.
Posted by: colleen | September 10, 2007 5:12 PM
Glad to read that so many have such fond memories of the park.. I too have many. My father, Cliff White was the maintence foreman for 22 years and I had access to the place 12 months of the year. In the winter I spent many a day "helping" refurbish the rides, but in the summer it was another story.. I was on all of them! How many remember the "flying scooters" the roller-skating rink or the fun house with the "sugerbowl slide"? Left Hull in 1960-- entered service (Navy of course!)-- retired on the west coast. Will have to return at least once before I pass on. Just glad I wasn't there when it closed or was replaced.
Posted by: john white | March 25, 2008 6:35 PM
Hi, John. I think I remember the flying scooters. I'm very sad that it's gone. The house that we lived in is also gone. It was taken by the town through eminent domain and a sewage plant was built in its place. http://www.looseleafnotes.com/notes/2007/04/the_greenhouse.html
Posted by: colleen | March 25, 2008 8:04 PM