12/29/2023 0 Comments Ikuna parkWhile a couple of peanut vendors faced prosecution in 1906 for trespassing on the grounds, little attention fell on the gambling and alcohol restrictions that went unenforced. When it came to applying state laws at Luna Park, enforcement proved haphazard at best. The Reverend also claimed that the $50 fine imposed on Luna Park’s operators for violating the Sunday law was a small price to pay in comparison to the tremendous revenues the company raked in on Sundays. Hodgen of West Hartford claimed that the $200 licensing fee paid by the Chatford Company did not justify the humiliation the park brought to the town by so openly defying the law. At the time, Connecticut’s Sunday law prohibited “any secular business or labor, except works of necessity or mercy” on the Christian sabbath day. In 1906, the Chatford Company, which owned Luna Park, faced considerable opposition to its policy of operating on Sundays. Offering visitors a Ferris wheel, a miniature train ride, and numerous other attractions, the park gained notoriety for the challenges it posed to a number of conservative state laws. West Hartford Follows Amusements Trend but Runs Afoul of Conservative LawsĪt the start of the 20th century, the success of attractions like New York’s Coney Island and Connecticut’s Savin Rock Park and Lake Compounce led to the creation of Luna Park in West Hartford. Unfortunately, this increased focus on leisure and recreation often clashed with traditional Puritan values in a state that often resisted social change. They sought access to parks and shared a growing fascination with amusements. Like many others across the country, Connecticut residents sought respite from their rapidly industrializing surroundings. The story of Luna Park in West Hartford provides insight into the battles between entertainment and ethics in Connecticut during the Progressive Era.
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