In Columbus there was a man made park. Made in 1888. It has been called: Wildwood Weracoba Park Lake Bottom in the St. Elmo area. As teenagers my parents visited the Park , that they called Weracoba. There was a Lake, A Trolley from downtown that stopped at what is now known as St. Elmo Shopping Center across the street from St. Elmo School., dance pavilion, ballfields, Zoo and other attractions. Does anyone know where these attractions were located. It was first called Wildwood, my parents called it Weracoba Park , then I came along and called it Lake Bottom. The park was active from 1888 until 1925 , the the lake was drained. The park went form 18th avenue to 17th avenue--Girrard to Forrest Ave. It's the park across from Columbus High School where everyone walks and jogs. It is now in the Historial District. If you have any information on the Park please let me know. I am curious where the name Weracoba came from. I am curious where the Zoo , ballfields and the other attractions were. It's hard to place all this in the area it's in today.

Per Columbus, Georgia 1828-1978, Apr 1978, publ. Columbus Sesquicentennial, Inc., p. 89: "(John F.) Flournoy and his company (Columbus Railroad Co.) developed the 45-acre Wildwood Park to encourage riders for the street cars and to enhance his real estate development in the area. A dam across Weracoba Creek formed a beautiful lake with islands connected by gracefully arched bridges. Rented boats were used for courting or fishing. Other attractions included a small zoo, a skating rink, an auditorium where vaudeville acts performed, and an ice cream shop and other refreshments. Many children's birthday celebrations included a ride on the trolley and an ice cream party at Wildwood. The company built a similar park for blacks at Lincoln Park. Several factors contributed to the decline of Wildwood Park. During the "Spanish influenza" epidemic of 1919 people were urged to stay out of the crowds. In the 1920s, automobiles, radios, and motion pictures changed recreational patterns and turn-of-the century parks seemed out of style and too slow-paced for the roaring twenties. By the 1920s, the electric trolley would be replaced with buses."

There is a Wildwood Park on the corner of 17th Street and Wildwood Avenue in Columbus. It's very small. Most think it's just a sparsely wooded area. Across the street from Columbus High School is either Weracoba Park or Lake Bottom. Across the street from there were the new little league field is the other one. There are signs on the corners of '17th Street and Cherokee Avenue' and '17th Street and 18th Avenue' that state which is which. The signs say Lake Bottom at Wildwood and Lake Bottom at Weracoba. But at this point I can't remember which sign is on the corner. I didn't come home that way today. kemis ----- Original Message ----- In Columbus there was a man made park. Made in 1888. It has been called: Wildwood Weracoba Park Lake Bottom in the St. Elmo area. As teenagers my parents visited the Park , that they called Weracoba. There was a Lake, A Trolley from downtown that stopped at what is now known as St. Elmo Shopping Center across the street from St. Elmo School., dance pavilion, ballfields, Zoo and other attractions. Does anyone know where these attractions were located. It was first called Wildwood, my parents called it Weracoba Park , then I came along and called it Lake Bottom. The park was active from 1888 until 1925 , the the lake was drained. The park went form 18th avenue to 17th avenue--Girrard to Forrest Ave. It's the park across from Columbus High School where everyone walks and jogs. It is now in the Historial District. If you have any information on the Park please let me know. I am curious where the name Weracoba came from. I am curious where the Zoo , ballfields and the other attractions were. It's hard to place all this in the area it's in today. ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237