Norumbega Park
| Company type | Amusement park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Leisure, entertainment |
| Founded | June 13, 1897 |
| Defunct | September 1, 1963 |
| Headquarters | Newton (Auburndale), Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Amusement rides, boating, theater, ballroom events, zoo |
Norumbega Park was a leisure destination and amusement park located in the area known as "Auburndale-on-the-Charles" near Boston, Massachusetts. The adjoining Totem Pole Ballroom gained prominence as a key venue for touring big band performances throughout the 1940s.
The park offered a variety of activities including canoeing and pedal boating on the Charles River, along with amenities such as a theater, landscaped gardens, restaurants, a penny arcade, picnic spots, a zoo, and multiple amusement rides. Norumbega Park ceased operations on Labor Day 1963, with the Totem Pole Ballroom closing soon after in February 1964.
History
Established on June 13, 1897, Norumbega Park was created by the leadership of the Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway to increase trolley traffic between Boston and Auburndale. Its name was inspired by the nearby Norumbega Tower, erected by Eben Norton Horsford to commemorate an alleged Norse settlement.
The park’s "Pavilion Restaurant" was run by Joseph Lee, a talented chef and former slave from South Carolina who had previously managed the upscale Woodland Park Hotel in Auburndale.
Drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, Norumbega Park was reachable via watercraft, steam trains, electric trolleys, and eventually automobiles. As a traditional "trolley park," it served the urban middle class seeking affordable outdoor entertainment beyond Boston’s city limits.
By 1905, the outdoor theater had been replaced by the Great Steel Theater, an enclosed venue that showcased vaudeville performances, plays, and early films through the "Komograph". This theater was New England’s largest at the time, while the park’s zoo also held the distinction of being the biggest in the area.
Throughout the 1920s and later years, Norumbega Park broadened its offerings with new attractions such as bumper cars, a Caterpillar ride, and a sizable Ferris wheel alongside its original carousel.
Riverside Recreation Grounds
During the early 20th century, the "Lakes District" along the Charles River was recognized as the most heavily canoed waterway worldwide, hosting over 5,000 canoes moored along its stretch. Norumbega Park, Riverside Recreation Grounds in Weston, and several other recreational sites in Newton and Waltham contributed to this region’s reputation for leisure activities and sporting events.
Totem Pole Ballroom
In 1930, with buses replacing trolleys on Commonwealth Avenue, the Great Steel Theater was transformed into the Totem Pole Ballroom. This venue became one of Boston’s premier ballrooms among more than one hundred advertising in the city. Over three decades, it welcomed leading entertainers across the United States, particularly during the height of the swing era. Many shows were broadcast nationally via radio networks such as ABC, CBS, and NBC. Distinguished performers included:
World War II period
During the Second World War, a unit from the United States Army Ordnance Corps was based at the restaurant located within Norumbega Park. The park’s proprietor, Roy Gill, actively led initiatives such as war bond campaigns, scrap metal collections, and various charitable activities. Additionally, the park’s baseball field served as the home ground for a professional women’s softball team known as the Totem Pole Belles.
Decline
Following the war, increased automobile ownership combined with enhanced road infrastructure contributed to a drop in visitor numbers at both Norumbega Park and the Totem Pole Ballroom. Contamination of the Charles River made it unfit for swimming and boating activities. Residents gradually preferred destinations like Nantasket Beach and Paragon Park, which became more popular than Norumbega for aquatic recreation and amusement rides in the Boston area.
The amusement park ceased operations in 1963, with the ballroom closing a year later in 1964.
In 2011, the Wurlitzer band organ originally from Norumbega Park’s carousel underwent complete restoration and now performs publicly at various parades and events.
Site reuse
A portion of the original site has been transformed into the Newton Marriott-on-the-Charles Hotel. The area east of this hotel is preserved as the Norumbega Park Conservation Area, a city-owned green space in Newton. This park is well-frequented for leisure activities and includes features such as rolling hills, open meadows, wooded areas, and access to the Charles River. Although most physical structures from the former amusement park have vanished, several remnants still exist:
- Vintage street lamps nestled among trees
- A water fountain situated near Commonwealth Avenue
- Stone retaining walls that once belonged to the zoological gardens
- The original well marking the carousel’s former location
References and notes