KVRR / History / First KV Picnic

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	The picnic train, proudly poised across the bridge at Gibboney Park. Although it is labeled "First KV Picnic," the coach on the end suspiciously resembles combine No.2, which the road purchased in 1895. (Mifflin County Historical Society collection) Click Image to Enlarge

First KV Picnic

By the end of June the new KV Railroad was in operation. Getter explains, "When I say WE WERE OPERATING I mean exactly that for almost everyone who owned one share of stock thought he knew best how the road should be operated."

One thing that everyone did agree upon was that they should have a day to celebrate their new railroad with a grand picnic. They picked a date late in August so stockholders who were farmers could come after harvest. Company officials then began to look for a suitable site along the line for a park in which to hold the celebration. They didn't have to look far. A beautiful spot was located two miles (3.2 kilometers) out of Belleville on a 15-acre (60 703 square meters) plot of natural timberland, from which a picturesque view of the valley, railroad bridge and creek could be seen. Situated on the property of A.F. Gibboney's farm, and only three city blocks west of his woolen mill, the site became known as Gibboney Park.

Coins found with a metal detector by Dane Spriggle at the old park.

The big celebration was held on Wednesday, August 30, 1893, and was a rather simple affair, consisting of a business meeting followed by speeches and a basket picnic. Nevertheless, between 1,500 and 2,000 of the valley folk attended, traveling on the KV combine and two large coaches and an observation car rented from the PRR. The attendance would double in later years as the KV Picnic became increasingly popular and people became less afraid of riding the crowded cars on the new road.

All in all, the first KV Picnic was a success and became an annual celebration for the next 23 years, a celebration which (it was said) could be compared only to Christmas Day.

The first few KV Picnics were largely local affairs, but by booking more entertainment and popular speakers, they began to attract people from every point of the compass: Milroy, Stone Valley, Huntingdon, Mount Union, McVeytown, Lewistown, Mifflin, and as far east as Middleburg. Usual attendance was 4,000-6,000 people, with the largest crowd recorded as 10,000 strong in 1899.

Photo of pin at the Kishacoquillas Valley Historical Society.

The usual picnic-day schedule, in the beginning, had the KV train departing from the park to Belleville and Reedsville every two hours. Around the turn of the century, as the event became more popular, the train departed about every hour. Even so, with so many people and so few cars, delays were inevitable.

Although services did improve on the KV, it continued to be short of passenger cars. In later years, flatcars and even gondola cars would be used to help transport the picnic-goers. The railroad always tried to make the trip most agreeable for its passengers, and put a canopy made of evergreen branches over the gondola cars, which was said to have formed an ideal lovers' bower.

	A pavilion, with the speakers' platform and bandstand at right. The railing appears to be falling apart but it was built that way, in the unique spiderweb style of architecture used throughout the park. (Mifflin County Historical Society collection) Click Image to Enlarge

The KV staff was always quick to make improvements at the park as rapidly as the finances of the railroad company would permit, which added greatly to its attractiveness and comfort. Paths were cleared, dance pavilions and a band-stand were constructed, water from springs above the park was piped down to the central part of the grounds and a fountain was built. Electric lights were strung for those dancing in the pavilions at night.

One of the most popular attractions was the merry-go-round which made its debut around 1902. It was steam-powered and had a music box attached to it. E. Bruce Alexander, a Belleville attorney as well as treasurer of the KV and manager of Gibboney Park, became the chief engineer, "lifting little tots up on the backs of lions and dromedaries and escorting the young ladies to seats in the chair cars with his usual grace of manner."

In 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and entered World War I. At that time the directors of the KV decided not to hold another picnic until they could celebrate the Day of Peace. However, when that day arrived, a year later, there was no celebration at Gibboney Park. Dr. Getter explained that many things had changed during that time, and that it seemed the younger generation preferred driving their cars all over the mountains, holding smaller parties (sometimes not numbering more than two in a party). Even the last KV Picnic, which was held on August 24,1916, was said to be no record breaker, since the automobile had become so fashionable.

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