Smyrna times., 1924-02-13
ANOTHER AMUSEMENT PARK TO
co UP NEAR STATE RIFLE RANGE
S. S. DEEMER BUYS RIVERSIDE
FARM AND WILL EXPEND $4,000
New Park is Between Rifle Range and
New Castle and Was Formerly
Owned by Late J. E. Addicks

Owned by Late ]. E. Addicks
What is destined to be one of the
biggest undertakings of the kind in
this section, with the ultimate idea of
establishing one of the most modern
pleasure and amusement resorts any
where along the Delaware river is be-
ing plannd for the site just below the
plant of the Bethlehem Corporations |
shell loading plant south of New Cas-
tie, according to the announcement !
Friday by Selden S. Deemer, former
president of the S. S. Deemer Steel |
Casting Company, now retired, of New
Castle, the prime mover in the under
taking and the man who is supplying |
the money for the work. Operations
have actually been started and by
next summer it is hoped to have at
least part of the new resort in oper-
alton.
There will be bathing beach, a
dance pavilion, hotel Accommodations,
private cottages, amusements of var
ious kinds, a golf course and other
features calculated to make the park
| one of the finest in this section of the
country. The name for the place has
not been determined, neither have the
final plans been worked out but Mr..
Deemer said he hopes to have all the
details ready by the middle of March.
He himself plans to spend at least
| $4,000 in the undertaking and even
tually it may be decided to extend the
scope of the work with the aid of adj
ditional capital some of his friends
may wish to invest.
Mr.. Deemer has purchased tract
of land from the late ]. Edward Ad-
dicks estate, known as Riverside Farm
and he is also negotiating for addi-
tional property to add to this. He
hopes to eventually have possession
of all that tract south of the Bethle-
hem plant and extending to the line
of the McCOmbs' farm just north Of
the State Rifle Range along the river
road. The entire property, when
everything desired has been acquired
will total about $50 acres. The amount
of cash to be expended in the whole
project has not been determined, Mr..
Deemer said, because the full extent
of his plans has not been agreed upon.
, Mr.. .Deemer is now negotiating, he
admitted, for the purchase of a big
steamer which the government has fo1
sale. This boat, if bought, will be rur
to the site and beached. There it will
be extensively remodeled, converting
the upper deck into a dance pavilion
and the more than one hundred state
g rooms into hotel rooms. This, how
q ever, will be one of the many attrac
tions to be installed at the proposed
park.
Mr.. Deemer said he has not decld
ed as yet whether the resort Will b.
a private amusement park for hln
and his friends or whether it will b.
a public riverside park where the peo
- ple in general may have the Oppor
tunity to benefit by the pleasures !
will afford. He said some of nj
friends to whom he has talked abou
- the project have suggested that h
make it a private park with a gOl
course and other amusements. Other
of his friends, he said, are of the opir
ion that he should throw the entir
reservation open to the public fo
their accommodation and this, in a
probability, is what eventually will
done.
At any rate the site is to be mao
one of the most beautiful along tf
river. Mr.. Deemer said he intends
plant many trees of different variet
and he now has a force Of men
work on the ground clearing away Il
underbrush, tearing down the buil
10 ings he will not desire, preparing
ter remodel and improve what structur
BOD he intends to retain and doing the pr
liminary work necessary for the lar
ove er undertaking to come later. He
tends to build a bulkhead along t
od- water front of the entire site and tf
TO- work is now under way. At least
'es 600 tons of stone will be used in IL
part of the job and it is now bel
s1 90 hauled to the farm preparatory to
ing placed along the river. The grou
5gr 1yr- is some feet higher than high wal
ash. mark and the bulkhead is intended
prevent the river during storms fir
encroaching on the high bank.
\ The lowlands and marshes are to
filled in and the whole prope
brought to a habitable and healt
he level above high water mark.
Deemer said he will put up colt;
for himself and similar buildings
some of his friends. There may g
be buildings for various kinds
amusements should he eventually
eide to convert the park to public !
He declared they are going ahead
3 intend to do big things at any ]
" and he admitted he himself will sp
probably $4,000 on the undertak