Row at Ridgway Park (Smith's Island) - Inquirer 18 July 1882

ROW AT RIDGWAY. 

A Fight on the Island Renewed on the Boat 

—Blackjacks Used. 

Chief among the attractions of Ridgway Park this week is the bicycling of Miss Louise Amainda and Miss Elsa Bluman. In the afternoons they are matched against each other, in five races of two miles each. At night the exhibition is a very singular one. Both girls drive the tameless bicycle, one succeeding the other, against a trotting horse ridden by H. F. RusselL These attractions drew to the Island yesterday a large number of people. Order was well maintained up to about ten o'clock, when the special police of the place caused the arrest of Frank Crawford living at No. 505 North Front street: Edward Conway, of No. 1030 South Tenth street; William Whitman, of No. 2012 North Twelfth street; Alfred Crawford, of No. 137 Noble street, and Michael Nill, of No . 505 Diamond street. These men and several others went over to Ridgway Park early in the evening, and, it is said partook rather freely of beer, and became rather lively from its effects. One of the party in a jovial manner threw a chair, which struck Crawford. This made the latter angry, and he remonstrated with the man in rather sharp terms.

 An officer, hearing the angry words, rushed upon the men and grasped Crawford by the coat. The latter declined to go with the officer, when he drew a blackjack and began pounding Crawford over the head with it. His friends interfered and tried to rescue him from the officer, who called for assistance. Several officers responding a general row ensued, and blackjacks were freely used All of Crawford's friends were severely handled 

Crawford was badly cut about the face and received several ugly scalp wounds. The five men were taken to the Central Station, where, at eleven o'clock last night, they were given a hearing before Magistrate Ladner, who held them for another hearing. Bail being furnished they were released about midnight. The affair caused considerable excitement.



( Inquirer 18 July 1949 )

RIDGWAY PARK 

Where tn the Delaware River was Ridgway Park situated? When was it removed? 
T. C. 

Park was located on originally part of Windmill Island, on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River opposite the area of Spruce and Pine st., this city. John Smith acquired the island In 1817 and when, in 1838, a canal was cut through the Island to permit passage of ferryboats, the lower half retained the name Windmill Island and the upper half was named Smith's Island. The Smith family sold Smith's Island to Jacob E. Ridgway and it became known as Ridgway Park. Transferred to the U. S. Government May 29, 1890, the islands were removed between 1891 and 1897 to improve navigation in the Delaware River.




( Inquirer 27 Inquirer 1945 )

RIDGWAY PARK 

Please print a brief history of Ridgway Park, one-time resort on an island in the Delaware River. 
G. H. K. 

Ridgway Park was located on Smith's Island, formerly Windmill Island, on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River opposite Philadelphia's business section. John Harding, a miller, built a wharf and windmill on the island in 1746; in 1817 John Smith purchased part of it and the property remained in the Smith family until 1879 when purchased by Jacob E. Ridgway, thus the origin of the three names attached to the place. In 1826 a bathing resort was established on the northern end of the island and from then until about 1890 the island remained a summer resort. During its heyday the place was known as Smith's Island but with Ridgway's acquisition of the property, it became Ridgway Park. In addition to bathing the resort also boasted a restaurant, beer garden, musical entertainment and occasionally even a balloon ascension or a tightrope performance was offered. The island's willow trees, planted in 1840, were among its well known features. Between the years 1891 and 1897 the island was removed to improve the navigation of the Delaware River.


( Inquirer 3 June 1879 )


Deed Recorded.—The deed by which Mr. Thomas G. Smith transfers to Mr. Jacob E. Ridgway the property known as Smith's Island has been recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds in this city. As described, the property transferred consists of what is known as Smith's Island wharf at Delaware avenue, between Chestnut and Walnut streets; also, part of Smith's Island running south of a line running east and west across the island, which would be parallel and of the same coarse as the south line of Chestnut street. Also, part of Windmill Island, bound on the south by a lot which is situated partly in the range of Walnut street, containing two and a-half acres. $55,000 was the consideration.


.