Feel free to email me with any comments or questions
Rick Drozd - rickdrozd@gmail.com

Most locations are from 1949 City Directory
Original occupants may no longer exist



Some Lake Contrary Facts
Lake Contrary got it's name from Contrary Creek which was the original water source for the lake. Contrary Creek was named so because it's waters flow North, which is "contrary" to other creeks & rivers in the area that run South.



Lake Contrary Amusement Park Facts

  • 1878 - Known as a resort area with some boating
  • 1890 - Horse Race Track constructed
  • 1900 - Horse stable for 250 horses
  • 1900 - Large Grandstand added
  • 190?- Figure 8 Roller Coaster
  • 190?- The Old Mill (Like the Tunnel of Love)
  • 190?- 52 animal carousel - horses with real horsehair tails.
  • 1908 - Fire started in an illusion show-north half of the park destroyed.
  • 19??- Airplane Ride was added
  • 1910 - Chute The Chute - Drag people up steep incline in a boat, then plunge them into the water below.
  • 19??- Dodgem bumper cars added.
  • 1924 - Lotus Club & 3 cottages burned.
  • 193?- The Giant Dipper roller coaster was added - Said to have been one of the tallest roller coasters in the country at that time.
  • 1949 - The pak was flooded - 4 feet of water but recovered.
  • 1952 - The park was flooded - 9 feet of water - several rides were destroyed.
  • 1962 - A storm blew a tree onto the Giant Dipper roller coaster, causing $15,000 in damage.
  • 1964 - The park closed permanently




  • An old postcard showing the main entrance to Lake Contrary
    Photo donated by John Fulmer




    A day at Lake Contrary Amusement Park (unknown circa)




    Lake Contrary Kiddie Land




    Lake Contrary Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
    2nd Photo taken during 1952 flood




    Lake Contrary Pavilion




    Figure 8 Roller Coaster - Named so because the track was laid out in the shape of a figure eight.




    The floods of 1949 & 1952 devastated the amusement park. The park's carousel is shown here engulfed in water.




    Lake Contrary Casino
    Divers jump off the Casino Theater & boathouse, circa 1909. The theater was on the second floor and seated 1,800 people.




    A horse track was constructed around 1890. The track later included the large grandstand pictured in the background and stable space for 250 horses.




    Maples Nightclub located near Lake Contrary during the years when the Amusement park was a hot spot.



    Pavillion at Lake Contrary
    At one time, there was a Pavillion at Lake Contrary. It is now gone.



    Lake Contrary Chutes
    Shooting the Chutes, one of the many attractions at the Lake Contrary Amusement Park. Thousands of visitors a day, many traveling by streetcar, came to have a good time on the rides. There was also dancing, horse racing, restaurants and boat rides. At least 2 catastrophies besieged the park. In 1908, a fire broke out in the "Purgatory & Paradise" area causing extensive damage. The Missouri River Flood of 1952 ravaged the park and efforts to restore it to it's former glory failed, so it was torn down in the early 1960's.




    The Lotus Club was the social center at Lake Contrary until it burned to the ground in the 1920's. The building featured a large dining room, dance floor and hotel rooms.





    CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY
    316 MASSACHUSETTS





    1955 View of Stock Yards#1 1908 View of Stock Yards#2 1953 View of Stock Yards#3 Swift Packing House#4 Swift Packing House#5 Swift wagon#6

    ST JOSEPH STOCK YARDS


    Photo #1 - 1955 view of the stockyards
    Photo #2 - 1908 view of the stockyards
    Photo #3 - 1953 photo taken from the top of King Hill
    Photo #4 - Swift's Pork dressing department
    Photo #5 - Names of Swift workers in photo #4
    Photo #6 - Swift wagon
    Photos 1,2,3 & 6 donated by John Fulmer
    Photos 4 & 5 donated by Judith Kaelin





    ST JOSEPH STOCK YARDS



    The Producers Livestock Marketing Association cattle pens at the St Joseph Stock yards as they appeared in the 1960's.




    ST JOSEPH STOCK YARDS



    Stock Yard Exchange Building



    Union Workers Of America


    UNION WORKERS OF AMERICA
    LOCAL 58



    Located at 316 Massachusetts

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    Sugar Bowl Confections


    SUGAR BOWL CONFECTONS



    Located at 630 Carnagie

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    So St Joe Police Substation


    SOUTH ST JOSEPH
    POLICE SUBSTATION



    Located at 201 Cherokee

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    Poors Appliance Shop


    POOR'S APPLIANCE SHOP



    Located at 203 West Missouri Avenue

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    King Hill Beauty & Barber Shop


    KING HILL
    BEAUTY & BARBER SHOP



    Located at 5618 King Hill Avenue

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    Paradise Donuts


    PARADISE DONUTS
    4 ACES BBQ



    Located at King Hill Avenue & Missouri

    In the mid 1970's, this building was home to the Paradise Donut Shop. The 4 Aces BBQ shared the same building. The donut shop, owned by Jan Lloyd, closed somewhere around 1995
    Data supplied by Terry Plumb
    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    Herschel Hiles Barber Shop


    HERSCHEL HILES BARBER SHOP



    Located at 201 West Missouri

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    Cliff Rivers Plumbing


    CLIFF RIVERS PLUMBING



    Located at 5837 King Hill Avenue

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    Carnagie Library


    CARNAGIE LIBRARY



    Located at 316 Massachusetts

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



    Pizza Royal


    PIZZA ROYAL



    Located at 5327 Lake Avenue

    Photo was donated by Rodney Keyes



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