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Argonne
Forest was one of four amusement parks serving the Dayton
area. The park was developed in 1925 and was named by the
local veterans of the 322nd Field Artillery Regiment who
had fought in the French forest by that name in 1917-1918.
Its founder, Montgomery County Judge Null Hodapp, offered
an 80 foot by 30 foot dance pavilion, swimming pool, a figure
eight race track, a baseball field, shuffleboard, a picnic
area, a shooting range, a midway, cabins and a clubhouse.
Retired street cars were utilized as picnic shelters. The
area was known for its abundance of beech trees. Argonne
Forest was located on State Route 4 and Frytown Road near
the studios of WKEF-TV.
In
its prime, the park once attracted over 8000 during a Fourth
of July celebration in the 1930’s. The park could
keep up the popularity of nearby Lakeside and Frankie’s
Forest Park on the north side and closed in 1945 after the
death of Hodapp.
The
remnants of the park and the area surrounding it later become
property of Five Rivers MetroParks of Montgomery County
and renamed Possum Creek MetroPark. In September 2003, MetroPark
volunteers began uncovering brush and debris that covered
the old amusement park. Historical markers and trail indicators
have been installed along the area of what were the midway
and picnic areas. The only existing monument of the park,
the clubhouse, is still standing today. MetroPark official
were also successful in locating Null Hodapp’s nephew,
Kettering resident Ruey Hodapp who provided them with information
on the park and his uncle. A round of applause to Five Rivers
MetroParks for helping preserve our amusement park heritage!
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Argonne
Forest as it stands today was nothing like it was
when the area served as an amusement park. Above,
thick trees and bush provide a border for dirt walkways
that weave through the former park. [Photo
credit: SOAPHS archives] |
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| This
photo from the 1930s shows families enjoying a round
of baseball [Photo credit: Five Rivers
MetroParks archives] |
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| The
pedestrian bridge was located near the swimming pool and
extended across a creek. Move your mouse over the picture
to see what the area looks like today. [Photo
credits: Five Rivers MetroParks and SOAPHS archives] |
The
hillside that the bridge connected to is now part of State
Route 4. The area had a parade ground and a baseball field.
Move your mouse over the picture to see what the area looks
like today. [Photo credits: Five Rivers MetroParks
and SOAPHS archives] |
| Five
Rivers MetroParks employee Rick Thacker uncovered a bridge
used as part of the midway at Argonne Forest. (photo
by Bill Reinke of the Dayton Daily News) |
The
dance floor not only provided dances of course, but also
shuffleboard and picnic tables. Move your mouse over the
picture to see the dance floor as it stands today. [Photo
credits: Five Rivers MetroParks and SOAPHS archives] |
