~ ALL ABOARD FOR CHAUNCY ~

Submitted by Ray Shoop

The trolley companies needed to increase their business especially on Sunday. In 1901, the Worcester Consolidated Railway Company bought Lake Chauncy Park in Westborough, Ma. The trolley company greatly increased its traffic usage by transporting city folks out into the country.

Quickly people from Marlborough, Worcester, Milford and even Boston were enjoying the games and refreshments that the park offered. On June 22, 1901, the Worcester Consolidated had opened a dance pavilion, restaurant and theater at the park. Dances were held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights.

“Every day and evening during the week there has been a good deal of life at the Park. Picnic parties have come from Worcester, and the theater has been occupied every afternoon. E.W. Sawtelle gives exhibits of moving pictures every evening.” reported by the June 22, 1901 Chronotype newspaper.

In 1904, the trolley company leased the park to Michael J. Cominsky, who ran the amusement park for the next twenty years. During this time candlepin bowling alleys, refreshment stands and baseball fields were developed. For those who weren’t so energetic could swing on the lawn swings or walk through the gardens.

Lake Chauncy Park offered dancing, bowling, picnics, boating and roller-skating until 1949. On May 29 1949, a fire started in the kitchen and destroyed most of the buildings.
The magic of Lake Chauncy, however, was captured forever in this 1908 song entitled “All Aboard for Chauncy”:
 

“When you want a good time, with a charmer divine
Tis the one place you’re longing to go.
When you get tired of dancing to music entrancing
Then take in the vaudeville show.
You can sit at your ease, in the shade of the trees
With your Mabel or sweet Kittie Clancy.
There is only one place to be found on the map
Tis the place that they call dear old Chauncy.”

Bibliography

The information collected for this ‘snapshot history’ is only a tiny part of the knowledge contained in these listed reference books. Much more detailed information on the facts; people and history are available within their pages. They are available thru the Marlborough Public Library.

Sources:

Images of America: Northborough – Northborough Historical Society - 2000
On The Beaten Path: Westborough, Ma. – Allen, Kristian Nilson - 1984

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