Rhode Island Picture Post Cards
The Midway at Crescent Park - Riverside, Rhode Island - 1911
(Scroll Down for Background Information on Crescent park and Moxie Soda)

The card is addressed to Albert Delord  at NBed (Probably New Bedford, Massachusetts - There is a Dunbar Street in New Bedford) and reads as follows:

Gone in everything going Ralph L W
(Which I assume means he rode all the rides in the park)

Crescent Park was originally constructed in 1886 by Charles Boyden in Riverside, Rhode Island. The cornerstone of the park was the Carousel, which was built by Charles Looff and completed in 1895. It is all that is left of what was once the largest amusement park in New England.  The carousel was saved through the dedicated efforts of the "Save Our Carousel Commission" and is operated today by the "Crescent Park Carousel Commission." It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The carousel features 62 hand-carved figures and has 4 chariots. It was constructed with intricately designed decorative panels, beveled mirrors, electric lights and faceted glass jewels. The carousel's the original organ is still installed and operational.

Crescent Park changed ownership several times, with each new owner adding new rides and features.  The park was a major Rhode Island attraction through the early 1960s with the exception of the war years 1941-1946. On September 2, 1969, a fire destroyed the Alhambra Ballroom and a combination of poor upkeep and financial problems finally closed the park for good in 1979.

The advertising billboard for Moxie, a soft drink that was very popular in Rhode Island when I was a youngster, certainly brings back fond memories. I couldn't make out the lettering at the top but the text beneath Moxie states, "It's Healthy."  Moxie had a unique taste that was quite unlike any other soda on the market. Actually, it took a little getting used to and unless you grew up on it, you most likely wouldn't care for it.  Moxie is the oldest continually produced soda in the U.S. and has been on the market since 1884, thus it predates Coke and Pepsi. It is a bit hard to find, however there is a company called Hometown Favorites that claims to still produce the original soda.