
The accident, which provided not to be as serious as first thought, happened when a veranda on a dancing pavilion gave way under the weight of the crowd, precipitating a score or more of people into the water of an artificial lake. The victims of the accident are Miss Sarah Reagan, dislocated left shoulder Miss Catherine Connor, wrenched knee and nervous shock, and Miss Bertha Courtemache, fractured rib. July 25.–“ The three women who were injured by the collapse of a pavilion at Pine Island Park, a pleasure resort near here, last night were all reported to be rapidly recovering today. The article goes on to describe that the day before Manchester, N.H. Hurt at Pine Island Park, Rapidly Recovering. On Monday, Jthe Boston Journal touted these headlines: “PAVILION COLLAPSE VICTIMS IMPROVE–Young Women of Manchester, N.H. Used with permissionĢ5 July 1909–An accident seven years after the park’s opening appears to be the beginning of its negative events. Pine Island Park Ticket, circa 1951, Manchester Historic Society Collection.

But if you combine them, as I have here, it would seem as though the spot was haunted or cursed. At first the reports seem like isolated incidents. It had been owned by Shea-Chain Inc., and the Nashua Telegraph newspaper of announced its imminent closure.ĭespite all the fun and frolic to be had back then, the park, and the pond associated it had a dark underbelly of death and bad luck. After 58 years of operation, the park officially closed in May or June of 1963. The park opened in 1902, built by the Traction, Light and Power Company (forerunner of Public Service Company of New Hampshire) on 135 acres that it owned in the Goffs Falls section of Manchester NH. The park was located on what is now and area between the Manchester Airport, Brown Avenue and the Anthem facility on Goffs Falls Road next to the current Pine Island Pond park.

This pond did not always exist - it was formed by the placement of a dam on Cohas Brook as it flowed toward the Merrimack River. Often there were evening fireworks displays.

This amusement area was located in Manchester, New Hampshire, in the vicinity of the current Pine Island Park.ĭuring the 61 years of its existence, at varying times it hosted recreations including swimming, dancing (with live bands), skating (ice and roller), boating, bowling, a restaurant, amusements and rides, summer theater plays, a drive-in theater, and a giant Moxie bottle. There are people alive today who have fond, happy memories of Pine Island Park. Manchester Historical Association Photoprint Collection. Pine Island Park Gate, circa 1953, photograph by Peter Caikauskas.
