Loose Leaf Notes

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!

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!!!

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.

Yes, Colleen this post does bring tears to my eyes too....Oh to be young again for just ONE day.xo

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! :-)

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

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.

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.

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?

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!

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

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.

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

I have alot of Paragon Park memories, click onto my site for more!

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!!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

I met my husband at the roller rink at the park .He was in the air force at Westover and I was 16.We were maried 54 years.He died 2 years ago.I use to love to ride the roller coster but that bullet loking ride i rode once then never again.We also went to races over there

I lived in Hull for 12 years, on Wyola Road. Our house was in postcards if you have any that show the golf course below the roller coaster at the top left corner of the picture was my home. Many fond memories of Paragon Park, school and friends. My family would come every week-end to visit and we would spend hours at the Park.

Hi Carol, My house was HERE: http://www.looseleafnotes.com/notes/2005/04/sentimental_journey_continued.html
Right where the sewage plant is now. Here is a picture of it before the town took it via eminent domain. http://www.looseleafnotes.com/notes/2007/04/the_greenhouse.html

Sorry to bother you but do you have any pictures or know where I can find some of the great ride they once had called, The Bermuda Triangle. I believe it to have been a water ride.

Thanks for your time ~ Jim

To you all who put a post on this site/blog, whatever we are calling it now a days....Thank-you for remembering!!!
I also have very fond memories of Paragon Park and still have my season pass from 1980. I had more but they got lost in the shuffle of life.
WOW What's not to remember, My grandmother used to take my sister and I to the beach during summer vacation. We would always sneak over to the park and play the arcade games and blow all of our money. Grandma always knew because we would come back like 2-3 hours later and hungry...obviously the money was for food and a snack.
Yes "The Giant Coaster is still alive in Maryland at Six Flags. I am planning on a trip next year to ride it.
I will probably close my eyes and try to picture Nantasket Beach while riding her.
When I was old enough to ride "The Giant Coaster", that very first day I rode it 17 times, and to this day still remember every one of those rides. And all of the rides there after, for that matter. How about the Conga Cruise, which was later the Bermuda Triangle?
We would have so much fun in that ride.....and get in trouble too. Actually had my first kiss on that ride. Wait...and second, third, and fourth one too...Ha Ha.!!!
I also remember doing the Cancer walk-a-thon evey year from Quincy Center to Paragon Park. We would start the walk at about 8:00 am and get to the park around 1 or 2, and ride the rides for the rest of the day and nite for free. I do remember going home just wasted and sun burnt.
I too can still remember all too vividly, hearing all of the screams coming from the rides while I was on the beach, or smelling all of the different smells looming around the park.
But when Colleen said she knew she was home when she saw the Coaster and smelled the sea air.....I got tears in my eyes, lump in my throat, and an empty space in my heart.
But in a good way. Paragon Park is in all of our hearts forever and she is that first girlfriend I'll always love.
And riding the carousel (Merry-go-Round) every time I go home just helps me to remember her more.
Its too bad the kids nowa day don't have these types of memories to look forward to.
I agree, to go back in time for a day to Paragon Park the way it was would be simply awesome.
Does anyone have a picture from Washington Blvd of the Park? Would love a copy. E-mail me if you do.
Godspeed
Jon

Hi Jon, I got all nostalgic again reading your comment. I'll have to dig out my and my mother's old photo albums and see if I can find some photos. Have you seen this webpage on Paragon Park memories? http://www.paragonparkmemories.com/

Hey Colleen,
Just check out the site...paragon park memories WOW!
Going back in time is really fun. How Times have changed.....!
Actually my Dad was a union carpenter on the new condos sitting in place of Paragon.
I agree that it looks like an institution.
I really miss the fun. I do remember the skating rink.
Good time there. I think there were only two skating rinks at that time. The one in Weymouth and Paragon's. Oh and Whitman too.
I actually called my Mom ans aked her to pull out my grandmothers photo's and see if there were any good ones of the park.
I can remember being at the beach and my grandma would dance at the Bandstand/ Pavillion. Man time goes by too fast!!
HA we used to call her a tramp because when we would get to the beach she would be flocked by all of the guys to get her to go and dance with them. Grandma was a beautiful woman.
She loved it.
Thats when you could go to the beach and stay all day long. From like 7:00 AM till like 5:00PM.
Ready for this one.....Used to love to eat at the "Clam Shack". What was the name of the Ice-cream shop that had the best homemade ice-cream? If I remember correctly it was over by the yellow water slide. Use to go there after eating at Joseph's for dinner. My friend used to be one of the chef's at Joseph's for a long time.
Fun stuff. Been going through a reminiscencing stage of life right now.
I now live in Los Angeles and there seems to be a calling every time I go home...you know with places, things, and friends/people.
But I'll be watching this blog to hear all of the memories and adding my own as well.
Thanks to Collen for putting the great blog together.
And thanks to everyone else for sharing them.
Jon

This is an old post but people who google Paragon end up here. For the latest posts, go to the front page http://looseleafnotes.com and to read the sidebar archive on Where I'm From, click here: http://www.looseleafnotes.com/notes/where_im_from/ There you'll find more posts about Hull, starting from the most recently posted ones down to some of my earliest posts.

It was the early 50's and I about was about 11. My dad worked at "The Yard" and we lived on the Fore River in North Weymouth. On many warm summer days (if the tide was out) we would bum a ride to Nantasket. On Friday's Paragon Park sold a strip of ten different ride tickets for a buck. We would purchase the strip and head for the main gate. At the entrance we could swap our Merry Go Round, the rocket and other somewhat wimpy ride tickets for Giant tickets. With a little hustle and clever horse trading you could end up with 6 or 7 Giant tickets.

The Giant was a great ride... So were the times...

Those were the days! My first memory was of the Jungle Cruise which was called the Red Mill I think in 1954 when I was 4, the one where you traveled in boats and road downhill with a splash.

Those were some pretty wonderful summer days, coming of age in the early sixties...and taking the Nantasket Boat with good friends from Rowe's Wharf to Paragon. When I drove from home in Quincy I liked taking the road next to the roller coaster. And in the years since I've never had a hot dog as good as my first one at Nantasket Beach.
Thanks for the reminder.