By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
As one travels down the drive of Ed and Dee Speece’s residence many people don’t realize that they are taking a trip down a lane full of memories.
The drive was the original entrance to Crawford County’s Seccaium Amusement Park, which operated from 1899 to 1948. On Sunday the Speece’s along with the Crawford Park District shared memories of the park with visitors close to what would be the amusement park’s 116th birthday.
Prior to allowing people to walk around his property to view the remnants of the 
Seccaium Park Ed Speece shared its history. The park was originally built by the Interurban Railroad which ran between Galion and Bucyrus. Carl Jolly purchased the park from the railroad company and brought it to life. The park was known for its dance hall which featured its own orchestra and waltz.
According to Speece a swimming pool opened in 1922 in which could hold an estimated 1,200 swimmers and was reportedly the largest swimming pool east of the Mississippi River. Walls of the pool still exist, however woods have grown over where it originally sat.
Louise Ulmer who attended the park in its waning years remembers the pool for being filled from the Olentangy River.
“They didn’t have a swimming pool like you think of like at Aumiller Park, it was straight from the stream or the Olentangy River behind it,” Ulmer said.
In 1930 the Pippen rollercoaster became a new addition to the park. Speece explained where the Pippen originated.
“The Pippen was bought from Lunar Park in Cleveland, Ohio,” Speece said. “It was the roughest ride. It was made of all wood and reportedly cost $150,000 to build.”
Speese added that there is a rumor that a woman or a man had been drunk and slipped from one of the cars and fell to their death.
In 1971 the skeleton of the Pippen was razed.
The Seccaium’s draw dwindled as the popularity of the automobile increased, but according to Speece it was a fire caused by lightning striking the dance hall which stored $30,000 in park equipment, including the park’s fireworks, that ended the run of Crawford County’s amusement park.
Prior to the event Crawford Park District Director Bill Fisher announced that a second pressing of the book Jolly Times at Seccaium Park would not be happening at this time.
In celebration of the park’s 116th birthday, chocolate and vanilla birthday cakes were served.
At its peak the Seccaium Park had over 40 rides including a 70-feet tall Ferris wheel.