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By: Tyler Ginn
Chalfont Borough
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 Population

828
 Population

of 1950’s Chalfont:
Chalfont Seal
of 1950’s New Britain:
581
New Britain Covered Bridge
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 Philadelphia
 Homes

became overpopulated
in Philadelphia became scarce
Therefore, suburbs were created
 Suburb:

A small residential community surrounding a city
 Chalfont
& New Britain (Chal-Brit) were a
perfect destination for migrating families.
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 Chal-Brit
is located in Bucks County which is
southeast of Philadelphia
 Outstanding destination for new families
because…



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Safe
Small/rural (Not crowded like a city)
Higher education
Forest Park (Chalfont)
Excellent farms (New Britain)

Over 50 operating farms
Chal-Brit
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Amusement park in Chalfont
 Survived the Great Depression
 After WWII business started to boom again
 A victory parade was held there



President Truman was at closing ceremonies
8/1/50, Swiss Day

Featured Swiss Ambassador
Early 1950’s, big bands & Hollywood stars
 Had beautiful illuminations



Only park in the world
Closed because of…

School Board Tax, spending, no advertising, poor
management
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 Childhood

Humpty Dumpty, Little Red Riding Hood, Uncle
Sam, etc.
 Most

popular ride in 1950’s:
Swan Ride across Pine Run Creek


Themes:
All ages adored it
1953, opened railroad ride across Pine Run Creek
 Wild West Style

Indian Chief taught kids how to identify trees & animal
footprints
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More Rides
Auto Scooters
 Mangels Whip
 Traver Octopus Ride
 Rocket Spaceship
 Plane Ride
 Ferris Wheel

Concessions






Novelty Booths
Trading Post
Shooting Gallery
Skee Ball Alley
Chief Tamenend Exhibit
Ten Pavillons


Swimming Pools



Refreshment Stands
75 x 100
Pony Rides
Athletic Events
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 The
general store of Chalfont
 Was owned buy Bob Schaffer in the late 50’searly 60’s
 You could buy…





Candy
Cigarettes
Groceries
Newspaper
Magazines
Schaffer’s Market looked somewhat like this
general store
 May
31, 1958 (Memorial weekend)
 20,000 people in attendance + several string
bands
 Unauthorized train car, 372 members of
Delta Phi Tau
 Fight started in dining hall, lead to full-on
riot
 30 minute riot, 20 injured and train badly
damaged
 Hundreds of people fled to woods or to cars
to evade riot
 Local & state police arrested rioters
 Forest
Park closed during 1958-59 season
 Park was sold to new owners
 A new swimming hole was designated to
blacks


A grimy hole with a dirty “beach”
Named “Lake Suzanne”
 “Lake
Suzanne” was closed, because of
unhealthy conditions
 Many problems led to the closing of the park
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Remains of some picnic groves
Remains of some picnic tables
Forest Park condos are all named honoring
the once glorious amusement park
 Chalfont

Chalfont was once a booming suburban
community attracting people all around
Pennsylvania. However, once Forest Park closed
down in 1964 Chalfont slowly died down, and is
now the quiet community it is today.
 New

Fact:
Britain Fact:
New Britain was once a rural area with over 50
operating farms in the township. However, now
only 4 of the many farms in the 1950’s are
operating.
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all_fig01b.jpg
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ment.jpeg
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
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 http://www.amusementparknostalgia.com/f
phistory.html
 http://www.creepypa.info/ForestPark.htm
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalfont,_Pen
nsylvania
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Britain,_
Pennsylvania
 http://www.newbritainboro.com/history.htm
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