Situated in the coal regions of northeast Pennsylvania, Lakewood
Park was established in 1916 by the Guinan family as a place to
bathe, picnic, and camp. It became known as a nature retreat for the
nearby miners and their families, and it developed into the
destination for swimming, amusement rides, skating, big band dances,
boxing matches, ethnic celebrations, summer stock plays, and
political banquets. The park boasted a 150-yard cement pool,
hand-carved Spillman carousel, and grand ballroom. It was the host
of the longest-running ethnic festival in Pennsylvania, Lithuanian
Day, from 1914 to 1984. Using vintage images, Lakewood Park recalls
the various festivals and celebrations, amusements rides, and
celebrity performers, such as Dick Clark and Doris Day, that made
the park an entertainment mecca for 68 years.
About the author
Peggy Grigalonis and cousins Janet Cunningham and Kathy
Connolly spent their summers at Lakewood near their Guinan
grandparents' bungalow. Their recollections, along with stories from
their 90-year-old uncle Larry Guinan, youngest son of the founder,
recapture the magic and retrace the history of this beloved park.
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