Bernesco Park
Jerome Pifer was without a doubt a focused businessman, willing to do whatever necessary to realize his dream of owning an amusement park. After trying several ventures, including being a tailor and owning a hotel and several orange groves in Florida, Pifer returned to the area and purchased a carousel around 1900.
Built by Heritage-Herschell of Tonawanda NY, Pifer operated the carousel at Hazle Park, then at Columbia Park in the early 1900’s. After a failed attempt to purchase Columbia Park, Pifer purchased a plot of land in Nescopeck near the bridge over the Susquehanna River that connected the village with Berwick.
Pifer’s Park opened around 1910 with a gimmick to attract park goers. He drove a large, noisy steam tractor pulling hay wagons through town. On the side of the wagons were signs reading “picnicking, Pifer’s New Park, come one, come all!”
The park had various attractions, including an immense two floor main pavilion. The lower level of the building housed bowling alleys, a penny arcade, a shooting gallery with .22 caliber rifles to target moving tin ducks, and a lunch stand. Hot dogs and sodas were five cents each and hamburgers sold for 10 cents; an assortment of candy and other items were also available.
The second floor, which was connected by a walkway to the trolley stop at the end of the bridge, was an enormous dance floor, one of the largest in Pennsylvania at the time. One of the more popular dances on any evening would be the ‘shadow waltz’ where all lights would be dimmed and a sole searchlight would move across the dancers as the orchestra played. Other attractions filled the park, including what we today think of as standard playground equipment: sliding boards, swings and teeter-totters.
Picnic facilities were a large part of any amusement park in the early years, and Pifer’s Park was no exception. Shady groves, tables and benches for 1,000, and shelter for 5,000 were available for park patrons.
Getting to the park was also made easy by local 15 minute service on the Berwick-Nescopeck trolley, or from more distant locations by way of the Pennsylvania or Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroads, both with stations nearby. Pifer Park also advertised free parking for horses and vehicles for those not using public transit.
Beginning in 1912, Nescopeck held its annual village picnic at the park, continuing at least through 1928. The park did not have the honor of holding the first village picnic though; Columbia Park in nearby Bloomsburg was host to the event in 1911 before it was moved closer to home.
In early 1914, Pifer again used his wit to excite locals about the upcoming season. He started a contest to rename the park, with the prize being an overstuffed chair. ‘Bernesco’ was chosen as it combined the names of the two towns the bridge near the park connected: Berwick and Nescopeck.
Pifer’s initial investment, the carousel, continued to be one of the most popular attractions at the park. Music from the organ could be heard for blocks, and enticed patrons to spend an afternoon sampling the attractions.
Always looking for ways to entice more visitors to his park, Pifer at one point traveled to Florida and returned with two alligators. He built a small pond surrounded by a wire fence for his new attraction; however both creatures soon escaped into the Susquehanna River. One of the alligators was captured and killed several days later, however the second was never found.
For years Pifer wanted to install a pool, and in 1928 his goal was reached. The 100 by 120 foot swimming pool, which featured diving boards, water horses, a slide, and a floating platform for sunbathing, took two box car loads of cement to create. The work was mostly done by the Pifer family. It was around that time when Warren C. Pifer, Jerome’s son, joined the business. Also known as ‘Mullie’, Warren was an avid fisherman; a large carp he caught from the river was mounted in the pavilion, and he also sold eels for a time, a common river inhabitant before the Susquehanna was dammed up further south.
Bernesco Park continued to prosper in the early 1930s, although on a scaled back level due to the Depression. The grounds continued to be maintained to perfection, with gardens and flower beds planted around a fountain and throughout the park. A miniature golf course was also added.
The Susquehanna River dealt a severe blow to the park in 1936 when it flooded, resulting in the destruction of the pool, bowling alleys and most other attractions. The dance floor was spared, and Warren began managing what was left of the park after that year. Trolley service would also cease after the flood, sealing the fate for the once great park. Although no major attractions would return to the park, the main pavilion continued to host dancing and roller-skating through the Second World War.
In 1946, the sharp approach to the bridge was changed from a sharp right angle to a gentler curve, building over the area where the pool once stood. The entrance was once again modified in 1982, covering the area where the pavilion would have been.
The park closed for good in 1950 after the death of Warren Pifer. His father, Jerome, would pass away five years later in 1955 at the age of 96. The land was eventually donated to Nescopeck, and in 1972 the remnants of Hurricane Agnes and the ensuing flood washed away the last signs of the former park.
Jerome Pifer was without a doubt a focused businessman, willing to do whatever necessary to realize his dream of owning an amusement park. After trying several ventures, including being a tailor and owning a hotel and several orange groves in Florida, Pifer returned to the area and purchased a carousel around 1900.
Built by Heritage-Herschell of Tonawanda NY, Pifer operated the carousel at Hazle Park, then at Columbia Park in the early 1900’s. After a failed attempt to purchase Columbia Park, Pifer purchased a plot of land in Nescopeck near the bridge over the Susquehanna River that connected the village with Berwick.
Pifer’s Park opened around 1910 with a gimmick to attract park goers. He drove a large, noisy steam tractor pulling hay wagons through town. On the side of the wagons were signs reading “picnicking, Pifer’s New Park, come one, come all!”
The park had various attractions, including an immense two floor main pavilion. The lower level of the building housed bowling alleys, a penny arcade, a shooting gallery with .22 caliber rifles to target moving tin ducks, and a lunch stand. Hot dogs and sodas were five cents each and hamburgers sold for 10 cents; an assortment of candy and other items were also available.
The second floor, which was connected by a walkway to the trolley stop at the end of the bridge, was an enormous dance floor, one of the largest in Pennsylvania at the time. One of the more popular dances on any evening would be the ‘shadow waltz’ where all lights would be dimmed and a sole searchlight would move across the dancers as the orchestra played. Other attractions filled the park, including what we today think of as standard playground equipment: sliding boards, swings and teeter-totters.
Picnic facilities were a large part of any amusement park in the early years, and Pifer’s Park was no exception. Shady groves, tables and benches for 1,000, and shelter for 5,000 were available for park patrons.
Getting to the park was also made easy by local 15 minute service on the Berwick-Nescopeck trolley, or from more distant locations by way of the Pennsylvania or Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroads, both with stations nearby. Pifer Park also advertised free parking for horses and vehicles for those not using public transit.
Beginning in 1912, Nescopeck held its annual village picnic at the park, continuing at least through 1928. The park did not have the honor of holding the first village picnic though; Columbia Park in nearby Bloomsburg was host to the event in 1911 before it was moved closer to home.
In early 1914, Pifer again used his wit to excite locals about the upcoming season. He started a contest to rename the park, with the prize being an overstuffed chair. ‘Bernesco’ was chosen as it combined the names of the two towns the bridge near the park connected: Berwick and Nescopeck.
Pifer’s initial investment, the carousel, continued to be one of the most popular attractions at the park. Music from the organ could be heard for blocks, and enticed patrons to spend an afternoon sampling the attractions.
Always looking for ways to entice more visitors to his park, Pifer at one point traveled to Florida and returned with two alligators. He built a small pond surrounded by a wire fence for his new attraction; however both creatures soon escaped into the Susquehanna River. One of the alligators was captured and killed several days later, however the second was never found.
For years Pifer wanted to install a pool, and in 1928 his goal was reached. The 100 by 120 foot swimming pool, which featured diving boards, water horses, a slide, and a floating platform for sunbathing, took two box car loads of cement to create. The work was mostly done by the Pifer family. It was around that time when Warren C. Pifer, Jerome’s son, joined the business. Also known as ‘Mullie’, Warren was an avid fisherman; a large carp he caught from the river was mounted in the pavilion, and he also sold eels for a time, a common river inhabitant before the Susquehanna was dammed up further south.
Bernesco Park continued to prosper in the early 1930s, although on a scaled back level due to the Depression. The grounds continued to be maintained to perfection, with gardens and flower beds planted around a fountain and throughout the park. A miniature golf course was also added.
The Susquehanna River dealt a severe blow to the park in 1936 when it flooded, resulting in the destruction of the pool, bowling alleys and most other attractions. The dance floor was spared, and Warren began managing what was left of the park after that year. Trolley service would also cease after the flood, sealing the fate for the once great park. Although no major attractions would return to the park, the main pavilion continued to host dancing and roller-skating through the Second World War.
In 1946, the sharp approach to the bridge was changed from a sharp right angle to a gentler curve, building over the area where the pool once stood. The entrance was once again modified in 1982, covering the area where the pavilion would have been.
The park closed for good in 1950 after the death of Warren Pifer. His father, Jerome, would pass away five years later in 1955 at the age of 96. The land was eventually donated to Nescopeck, and in 1972 the remnants of Hurricane Agnes and the ensuing flood washed away the last signs of the former park.
