SHREWSBURY – From the moment it opened in the summer of 1905, the “rocket ship ride” became one of the most popular attractions at the White City Amusement Park, located on the shores of Lake Quinsigamond in Shrewsbury.
The ride was located on the edge of the park, abutting the eastern shore of Quinsigamond. The ride consisted of a tall tower, with cables attached to the “vessels” where riders would sit. It went through a number of different “looks” and themes over the years it operated.
It was first known as “The Whirl of Captive Airships” – a number of “rocket ships” dangled from the tower, and as it turned, the ships would swing around, whirling higher and higher. Interestingly, these were the days prior to modern rocketry, so nobody knew what a real rocket looked like. The ride’s “rockets” were pointy on both ends…