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Norumbega Park attracted hundreds of thousands of patrons each season. Its location on the
Charles River meant that the park was accessible by water as well as via steam train, electric trolley, and (more so as the decades went on) automobile. Like other so-called
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The popularity of
Norumbega Park and the Totem Pole Ballroom declined after the war years. Millions of automobiles, along with new and better roads, signaled the end of many local amusement parks. The Charles River became
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In the early 1900s, the "Lakes
District" of the Charles was the most heavily canoed stretch of water on earth. More than 5000 canoes were berthed along its 5.8-mile (9.3 km) length. Norumbega Park, along with
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In 2011 the
Wurlitzer band organ from the Norumbega Park carousel was completely restored and is playing again for the enjoyment of the public in a variety of parades and events.
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and ill-suited for swimming or even small-craft boating. Area residents were increasingly attracted to the mountains or the seashore on summer weekends.
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in an attempt to increase patronage and revenues on the trolley line running between Boston and
Auburndale. The park's name was taken from the
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By the 1905 season, the outdoor theater at
Norumbega Park was replaced by a luxurious enclosed facility called the
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acts, plays (dramas, comedies, and musicals) as well as moving pictures shown on a novel device called a "
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replaced
Norumbega Park as the most popular Boston-area location for swimming and amusement rides.
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Norumbega Park's success continued through the 1920s and beyond. In addition to the original
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The park’s "Pavilion
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company was stationed at
Norumbega Park's restaurant. Then-owner Roy Gill organized
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radio networks. Famous acts that appeared at the Totem Pole
Ballroom include:
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1963. The Totem Pole Ballroom closed a few months later, on February 8, 1964.
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As mentioned, the park and ballroom closed in 1963 and 1964, respectively.
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population who sought affordable recreation outside the city environment.
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Norumbega Park opened in June 1897 and was built by the directors of the
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in Weston and more than a dozen other local recreational facilities in
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600:"Norumbega Park: Its Legacy and Its Wurlitzer Style 146-B Band Organ"
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estimates that 90% of the length of the river is safe for swimming.
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events. The park’s ballfield became home to a women’s professional
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View of the Charles River from Norumbega Park Conservation Area
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Marriott Hotel and boat rental facility on the site of the park
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era. Music from the ballroom was nationally broadcast over the
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became a well-known dancing and entertainment venue for
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Advertisement for Norumbega Park and Totem Pole Ballroom
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In 1930, as buses replaced the trolleys that ran along
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Today, part of the site has been redeveloped as the
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42:42.34616°N 71.26022°W
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151:Eben Norton Horsford
99:and food vendors, a
521:. NorumbegaPark.com
519:"NorumbegaPark.com"
279:Commonwealth Avenue
273:Totem Pole Ballroom
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584:. Today the
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523:. Retrieved
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365:Lester Lanin
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578:Dirty Water
406:drives and
404:scrap metal
356:Harry James
327:Dinah Shore
244:and a huge
238:bumper cars
216:New England
97:restaurants
45: /
710:Categories
525:2013-03-02
414:team, the
317:Artie Shaw
208:vaudeville
33:71°15′37″W
30:42°20′46″N
212:Komograph
193:urbanized
163:Norumbega
117:Labor Day
107:areas, a
78:big bands
429:polluted
412:softball
400:war bond
234:carousel
85:canoeing
678:3 March
634:25 June
613:25 June
558:25 June
422:Decline
408:charity
267:Waltham
123:History
91:on the
68:" near
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263:Newton
155:Weston
105:picnic
603:(PDF)
287:swing
172:from
170:slave
159:Norse
680:2019
658:2020
636:2021
615:2021
560:2021
547:ISBN
435:and
297:and
265:and
240:, a
111:and
87:and
582:EPA
299:NBC
295:CBS
291:ABC
220:zoo
109:zoo
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