Written By Robert M. Jadach. Read By A.I. Voice SHARON.
In 1929, the Great
Depression ravaged the finances of everyone in the
United States and around the world. Arthur Fritz, a
builder and contractor, would not let this ruin him,
even as his own business folded.
With little money left, Arthur and his wife Ann
bought six gentle ponies.
Setting up at the
corner of Fifth and North Avenues in Melrose Park, on
the old Cook County Fairgrounds, he started offering
pony rides for ten cents. This original location is now
home to an Amazon Shipping Warehouse, but was the former
home of the Maywood Park Race Track.
Arthur
wanted families and their children to still enjoy
themselves, forget their troubles and make them smile
again. Soon, Arthur was known as “Grandpa Fritz” to
everyone that came to his park.
As the next
decade began, the small park started to expand along
with its popularity. It was known as the County Fair
Pony Track during this time.
Over the next few
years, Arthur used the success of his park to purchase
the gas powered immature cars, the Parker
Merry-Go-Round, the Roto-Whip, the Sunset Limited
Miniature Train, two Miniature Steam Locomotives named
Arlene and Shirley, and the little auto ride.
The
park was forced to move back and forth around the area
until Arthur was able to purchase the property on North
and First Avenues.
Now on his own land, Arthur
decided his growing Amusement Park needed a new name to
go along with its new home. In 1937 he officially
renamed it “Kiddieland”.
This new venue would be
geared to all children, regardless of their age or the
nature of their size.
A family owned park that
was clean and safe for families, a formula for success
that would withstand the test of time.
