Laurel Hollow Park  was the hidden treasure of Hancock County for years.   Tucked away off Washington Street in Newell near the old Wells School, its onetime beauty  for years was only known to residents of Newell and to those historians who could not believe the gem of Newell and Hancock County had become overgrown with foliage and left to disrepair.    

The WAY IT WAS!

Built in 1905, it is difficult to imagine the extended parameters of the Park at that time.  The park contained a large lake in the northern end that extended to the Ohio River.  It featured walking paths that wound around flower gardens and a zoo which featured animals such as seals, moneys, swans, raccoons, deer and bears and an impressive fountain.

    The recreational offerings were popular and representative of a slower, more gracious era.  Residents could go rowing on the lake during the summer and skating on the lake in   the winter.  The Park was the perfect place for a picnic lunch  and the amphitheater had a screen stretched across to show silent movies to crowds of between 200 to 400 every day of the summer.   It was the place to be in this small community and pictures of the day show residents in their finest attire  walking hand in hand around the walking paths.

Bear Fight?

Homer Laughlin’s leading salesman George Clark supervised the zoo and the park.  It is written that he spent much of his own money on acquiring attractions for the Zoo. Many of the Zoo’s inhabitants summered in Newell and wintered in Highland Park Zoo in Pittsburgh.

One  of the Park’s  major attractions was a pair of bears, said in some articles to be polar bears.  When one of the bears died, George Clark set about finding a replacement for the  deceased bear.  It was not as simple as it sounds and the results went horribly awry.  The bears had to be the same gender and size and placed into the bear cave at the same time so as to avoid one bear claiming the cave as his territory.                               

That didn’t happen.  One bear was placed in the cave first and the second bear (later found to be the opposite gender) was attacked.  A bear fight of epic proportions ensued and a large crowd gathered to watch.  Not only was the bear killed, but it was the end of the zoo. 

A quote in a local newspaper read “In the past year, the animals have been annoyed and abused throwing sticks and poking stones at the monkeys.  A valuable seal died of mysterious circumstances.”  Even the duck pond was emptied and the remaining animals were sent to Highland Zoo in Pittsburgh.   George Clark retired to Los Angeles and Laurel Park was no more.

 The lake was drained. Times were changing and a new road was coming and the remaining lake became a pottery dump. Without constant care Laurel Hollow Park became merely a fond memory of the past beauty and glory of the area.

REVITALIZATION

Laurel Hollow Park might have been unrecognizable to George Clark in 2008.  It was in disrepair and easy to forget, tucked away from the beaten path of Washinton Street.  But some saw the enormous potential for a unique park in the middle of this small community.  The Newell Community Improvement Coalition together with the Hancock County Commission took on the herculean project of returning the spot to its former glory.  Homer Laughlin (now Fiesta Tableware) provided a 99 year lease on the property and the group went to work.

Near the entrance to the Park stands a bench surrounded by pavers dedicated to community members and organizations,    Visitors who walk down the path to the park find a little bit of Heaven in this tranquil setting.  The amphitheater is the site of free concerts with the help of the Top of WV CVB and those attending concerts are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. 

A Gazebo and the lush surroundings now make the Park the site of weddings and other events.  A gurgling creek now runs by the park increasing the sense of serenity.  The peaceful park is now a charming greenspace in the town and the Coalition is still making plans to improve its crown jewel by bringing back the fountain.  Those wishing to donate to the Laurel Hollow Park Project should contact the Newell Community Improvement Coalition’s President Beverly Enoch.

(research for this project has been gleaned by articles written by Mark Gonzalez, The East Liverpool Review, East Liverpool Tribune, Shannon Giambroni and Enochs.)

Editors note:  I had never visited Laurel Hollow Park before this week.  Kudos those who recognized its potential and brought it back to its current glory.  Take a moment from your day and go visit.