Who Remembers Bertrand Island?

While Jefferson Patch is a mere baby when it comes to age, its editor Sue Toth is not. And for her, summer brings back memories of the summer nights of her childhood and teen years spent at Bertrand Island. To honor those memories, here are five things you need to know about Bertrand Island:

1. You Need to Know When It Came to Be: Bertrand’s Island was first developed as a picnic ground during World War I. It was enlarged in 1925 with the addition of the Wildcat roller coaster, and the rest, as they say, is history.
2. You Need to Know What it Included: There were rides like the aforementioned Wildcat, a carousel, and the famous Boomerang ride. It also had a cafeteria, a dance hall, picnic groves and a bathing beach.
3. You Need to Know How People Got There: The park could be reached by public transportation, including a bus and a trolley.
4. You Need to Know What Happened There: In 1983, Woody Allen filmed parts of his movie “The Purple Rose of Cairo” at the park, as he was looking to recreate a 1930s amusement park feel.
5. You Need to Know When it Ended: Bertrand Island closed in 1983, as larger theme parks became more popular. The land was developed into condominiums in 2001.

What are your memories of Bertrand Island? Share them with us in the comment section.