Norumbega Park

Across the tranquil Charles River, the ghostly echoes of laughter and music still seem to drift from the site of Norumbega Park. Norumbega Park, once a vibrant amusement park in Newton, Massachusetts, opened its gates in June 1897. The park was the brainchild of the Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway directors, hoping to boost ridership on their Boston-Auburndale line. They borrowed the name from the nearby Norumbega Tower, a monument to Viking explorers. Norumbega Park offered a delightful escape “Auburndale-on-the-Charles,”. Visitors enjoyed canoeing, picnics, an outdoor theater, a penny arcade, a restaurant, a zoo, a carousel, and an electric fountain. The Pavilion Restaurant was managed by Joseph Lee, a remarkable chef and inventor who had previously owned the prestigious Woodland Park Hotel. Norumbega Park’s popularity soared, drawing in huge crowds each season. Its riverside location provided access by both land and water. In the early 1900s, this stretch of the Charles River was a bustling hub for canoeing. Over 5,000 canoes could be found along its banks. Norumbega Park became a beloved destination for recreation and romance. By 1905, the outdoor theater had been replaced by the impressive Great Steel Theater, the largest in New England. The theater showcased vaudeville, plays, musicals, and even early “moving pictures.” Norumbega Park continued to thrive throughout the 1920s, introducing new rides like the Caterpillar, the Bug, Dodgem Cars, Custer Cars, Seaplanes, and a massive Ferris Wheel. In 1930, trolleys gave way to buses along Commonwealth Avenue. The Great Steel Theater transformed into the Totem Pole Ballroom, a legendary venue that hosted renowned swing bands like Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and Harry James. Even Frank Sinatra and Dinah Shore graced its stage. The park and ballroom coexisted harmoniously for decades. Couples danced the night away at the Totem Pole, then strolled through Norumbega’s charming gardens. During World War II, the park played its part, hosting an Army Ordnance company and organizing war bond drives. A women’s softball team, the Totem Pole Belles, even called the park’s ballfield home. Sadly, Norumbega Park and the Totem Pole Ballroom faced a decline after the war. The rise of automobiles and improved roads drew people away from local amusement parks towards more distant destinations. Norumbega Park closed its gates for the last time on Labor Day in 1963, followed by the Totem Pole Ballroom in February 1964. While a hotel now occupies much of the land, a portion remains as Norumbega Park Conservation Land. The echoes of laughter and music may be gone, but the memory of this cherished amusement park lives on in the hearts of those who experienced its magic.