Lakewood Park on Lakewood Road in the north end opened in 1914 under the ownership of the Eastern
Land Company, offering several amusements and a famous Berni band organ. For a 5˘ fare, local
residents could board a trolley car and ride from any part of Waterbury out to the Lakewood site. Park
patrons were greeted by a beautiful new appearance in 1921 including the new Roseland Dance Pavilion.
Newer rides included a Shimmy Auto, Old Mill, aeroplane swing and a fun house. By 1928 Lakewood owed
$20,000 in back taxes and it became necessary for the city to take over the operation and dismantle the amusements. In 1930, the city fathers entered into an agreement for a new amusement park on the site.
The famous Philadelphia Toboggan Company agreed to construct a $45,000 wooden roller coaster at no
cost to the city for a share of the revenue. The company also installed a 3 row carousel along with other
rides and amusements. For various reasons the venture was not successful and the roller coaster was
dismantled in 1936 and moved to Canobie Lake Park in Salem, New Hampshire, where it is still in operation
as the Yankee Cannonball. The carousel was shut down in 1947. As late as 1953 Lakewood Park still had
two rides and three concessions operating under the direction of the Waterbury Superintendent of Parks.