Fort Wayne Weekly Journal-Gazette from Fort Wayne, Indiana • Page 2

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i vi n' ff' rv X5 fy JM a 'Bit Ih, A in MLil'W'll Vi' i V. "'j'i I tv. jv: vii un oinr jkBrrtT a rri t' ki lr arfn "r' at a wi sa. WHEN the growth of Fort "Wayne made the Driving park at the end of State boulevard too valuable a tract to be uted for amusement purposes and the land was bought and cut up into building loti by a. real estate corporation last fall, the county was without a "fnir grounds." The heavy stockholders and directors of the old organization didn't care much.

Save for a couple of years the fair had been a losing proposition and they had been forced to put up money to cover deficits almost annually. They had been good sportsmen and did not want to give up the institution and be looked upon as quitters and that is why they held on as long as they did. The sale of the property to the real estate company furnished an easy and honorable way out of the difficulty. The passing of the Driving park, the one mile track of which was one of the best and fastest in the United States, was a blow to the lovers of horse racing in the city and northern Indiana. The Amateur Driving association, which was.

revived three years ago and had been giving meets regularly during the summer was particularly put out as there was no place left for it to hold its events. Paul T. Strieder, secretary of the fair association during the last few years of its precarious existence, is firm believer that if the rain will let him alone he can make a Fort Wayne fair a big financial success. He heard all theie expressions of disappointment over the discontinuation of the Driving park and eVen before the final fair was held at the old place last fail, he was making, arrangement to form company and lease the old Centlivrc park to continue the Fort Wayne fair which has become an indispensable institution in northern Indiana. Most of the stockholders of the old association remembering their experience in the company from which they had just escaped wig wagged Strieder "nothing doing" when he approached to ask them to get into the riew venture.

However there were enough business men, who believe as does Mr. Strieder that the fair can be made a winner and there was no difficulty in financing and incorporating the project. Mr. Strieder is secretary irand' general manageTand entire charge of the arrangements for what he promises will be the greatest fair ort WayneTa'seveif kh'BwttT Th'evtistes are September IS to IV. Wonderful Improvements at Park.

Several thousand dollars is being expended in putting Centlivre park, which had practically been closed since the Centlivre Brothers sold off their racing string ten years ago in proper condition for the show. When the new company took possession of the place last fall the. weeds were breast high the race, track, once considered the best half mile circle in the central states; fences were down and sagging, the buildings looked shabby and the whole enclosure wore a dilapidated air that would have discouraged any one but the optimistic head of the enterprise. The transformation is really remarkable and to see the park now one cannot believe it is the same place it appeared a year ago. The track, which was put into shape first of all so as to accommodate the race horse owners who wintered their strings at the park, is now almost back to its old time condition, the fence repaired and the buildings that were in the park and those brought from the old fair grounds are being made presentable.

Lease Extends Five Years. "The. sport of kings" has but five years to tarry at Centlivre park. After that time it must move on to another location for the lease obtained by the company is for but that period! The Centlivre Brothers will then cut the park into lots. The enclosure contains forty acres and is just the right size for a fair.

The Drivirfg park was composed of 1 05 acres, at least fifty acres of which, counting the enormous infield. of the mile track, was never used. New Grandstand Is Erected. The old grand stand at Centlivre park, which had a seating capacity of 750. people, was struck by lightning and badly riddled eight years ago and was torn down, the salvage lumber used to erect two dwelling houses.

The grandstand at the Driving park was not worth moving, so it was decided to take the bleachers from the former fair groundi. cover them with a canvas canopy and make them serve as an amphitheatre. The structure is 300 feet in length and will seat 3,000 people. It is on the west side of the track and extending along the entire "home stretch." From the spectator's standpoint the Centlivre track is much better than the mile course at the Driving park. The horses pass the grandstand twice in a mile race and they can be aeen at all times, while on the mile track they were lost to view while on the back stretch.

The large barn that serves as the home of the Spy Run stock farm is utilized to house the horses that are working out on the track this spring and later it will be necessary to erect new barns to care "for" thTvlsrfinlsrTaee'fTUurln'jrthe' fllfTA lornTTOW of stal I sheda busned at the park six yeara ago just a week after the fire that destroyed several barns at the Driving park. Midway Will Be in Pretty Grove. The midway and all of the shows and concessions will be 'located in the shady grove near the Clinton street entrance to the park, and here too will be the art hall and the other exhibit buildings. George Bishop has been named by Secret ry Strieder to have charge of all the concessions and he is getting an early start to give the lair the cleanest and most interesting midway in its history. Spy Hun creek cuts through the center of the park nnd adds much to the picturesqueness of the place.

It is crossed by iron span that was formerly a part of the old bridge over St. Joseph's river at Leo and waa purchased from the county by the Centlivres. A cinder driveway leads from the entrance to the race track and 'will be continued on around the outside of the course to the grandstand. The wooden bridge placed over the creek twenty four years ago collapsed in 1912. Many Amusement Events Are Arranged.

Centlivre park will take the place of the old fair grounds a the place for staging all outdoor amusements and sporting events. The Amateur Driving club will hold semi monthly meetings and will start shortly after the first of June. The children of the Fort Wayne public schools will have their annual field day on May 29 and on the following day Decoration day the first motorcycle races of the season will be run. Motorcycle racing became popular here three years ago and is becoming more so every summer. As a Fourth of July attraction for the park Secretary Strieder is arranging to have Lincoln Beachey, the "loop the loop" aviator, and Barney Oldfield.

most daring of all automobile race drivers, put on a program. Mr. Strieder has many other interesting events planned and will give Fort Wayne "Somewhere to go" on every holiday and practical! every Sunday during the summer and fall. Has Been Park for Forty Three Years. The late Charles L.

Centlivre, founder of the Centlivre Brewing company and father of Louis A. and Charles F. Centlivre. purchased, that portion of the park lying east of Spy Run creek from the late Charlerjeifler in 1871 as an investment. He enhanced its natural beauty greatly anrlan 1875 converted it into a public garden and picnic grounds.

It continued as such until 1890, when Charles F. and Lhuis A. Centlivre purchased' the tract west of the creek, built the race track and started the Spy Run stock farm that became famous all over the horse world. But one race meet was held therebefor anumber the Driving park ground nnd put in a mile track so that Fort Wayne could be on the grand circuit. In those days every young, man with any means whatever owned a fast horse nnd entered the amateur meetings.

The Centlivre string at one time in the early nineties reached fifty five head and was featured by Atlantic King aire of some oi the fastest horses on the grand circuit. Frank Bogash was trainer and driver (ConUnusd on not psgs.) 'L Utrois ia iwa 'll i AijVwU ,1 Wq SrV ijaafcX. y.aj iVJ'f i i'imJi itiminriit'irsssssssjssssBM is i er.c WfcJp.