Silver Lake Historical Society
2879 Silver Lake Blvd.
Silver Lake, OH 44224-23019
Phone: 330.688.2222
The Silver Lake Historical Society preserves artifacts and photographs of Silver Lake Amusement Park which closed after World War I. Originally purchased in 1874 by Ralph H. Lodge, the Park included Silver Lake and thirty acres of land at its southwest corner. In 1918 the Park was sold for residential development.
2896 Silver Lake Boulevard
Ohio Historical Marker here states:
Side A: Silver Lake was previously known as Wetmore's Pond, named for Judge William Wetmore, an agent for the Connecticut Land Company. In 1808, WetmoreSilver Lake built a cabin overlooking the spring-fed lake, which was then a part of Portage County. Local lore records his friendship and conscientious dealings with the Native Americans, likely Seneca, who inhabited a populous village between the lake and the Cuyahoga River. The tribe left the area to join the British during the War of 1812, but later sided with the United States.
Side B : "Silver Lake Amusement Park"
Cleveland businessman Ralph Hugh Lodge opened Silver Lake Amusement Park on this site in 1875. A popular regional resort easily accessible by rail, Silver Lake featured boating, swimming, and a large pavilion with a 15,000 square-foot dance floor. Other attractions included a freshwater aquarium, an airfield, and a "Chautauqua park" that featured prominent speakers. The Lodges successfully bred and raised black bears, a rare feat documented by the Smithsonian Institution in 1903. The Lodge family sold the park after World War I curtailed train visits. The Village of Silver Lake incorporated on its site in 1918.