The Life and Times of Seccaium Park

Before 1971, if you rolled down Route 19 in Crawford County, Ohio, chances are you would see a tall, derelict rollercoaster towering off the highway. This coaster was many people’s only clue to the rich piece of local Ohio history, Seccaium Park. Seccaium Park was founded in 1899 by The Ohio Central Traction Company, as an amusement park and attraction for the trolley running between Bucyrus and Galion Ohio. As the park grew in popularity, so did its attractions, from a 660,000-gallon swimming pool and a rollercoaster known as Pippin, to midway games and giraffe rides. However, the rising popularity of the automobile coupled with the closing of some major attractions, spelled doom for the park, and it gave its unplanned finale in 1948. But Seccaium park is still much beloved in the hearts and minds of local residents today.

 In 1925, Seccaium Park was sold to Ralph Jolly for ten dollars. He operated the park through its golden years, and it’s decline, until its closing in 1948. At the height of its popularity, the park had everything an amusement park could ask for, a rollercoaster, pool, bandstand, dance halls, arcades, and so much more. Affordable prices kept popular during it’s golden years, the 1930’s when everyone could use some fun to keep their minds off the times. It added additional attractions during this era such as a showing movies in the baseball diamond. However, as the popularity of the automobile increased, attendance decreased for this primarily trolley-driven amusement park. In 1940 the Pippin shut down for safety concerns, and in 1942 the pool shut down for similar reasons. The park’s decline ended in 1948 when a lightning strike set fire to the park. Fireworks being held in a supply building also caught fire, and no one was there to witness

Seccaium Park’s finale. With over 100,000 dollars in damages and no insurance, Seccaium Park shut down for good.

           

While Seccaium Park’s amusement park years are firmly behind it, it fell into the hands of Ed Speece, who adored the property and opened it up whenever he could. He recently died in 2019, however his and Seccaium Park’s memory shall live on in the hearts of those who knew them.