1950 – The Chamber began the New Year by working with the Hinckley Chamber of Commerce on bus transportation. The Zane Bus Line was interested in running six round trip buses from Wadsworth through Hinckley and North Royalton to the Grey Hound Bus Terminal in Cleveland. Utilities commission permits and bickering delayed service to the communities that really wanted it.
1951 – The Chamber voted to underwrite the cost of sending the Royalton Recorder to North Royalton residents currently serving in the Armed Forces. They raised the dues to $2 a year to help provide for speakers’ fee.
1952 – Consideration for dropping plans for a community building because of WW II and the Korean War. The delays resulted in increased building costs so the community building project that would have paid homage to veterans of WW I and WW II is being put on hold. Suggestions for an alternative plan that would not be a cost overrun were entertained. A suggestion was made to purchase a large enough parcel of land that would permit the possibility of building a community swimming pool in the future. The suggested park/playground would be purchased for only the amount of money the Chamber had on hand and had been raised for the purpose of improving the community. By December 1952 the Chamber had $18,000 on hand, not enough to build a building but enough to purchase a swath of land owned by Board of Education that is not being used for building a school. The land would be developed as a Memorial Park for the use of the community for recreation. The memorial building and alternative plans continue to provoke heated discussions.
1953 – The Chamber actively recruits “Skywatchers” a volunteer group sponsored by the U. S. Air Force for the purpose watching the skies for suspicious air craft that should be reported to the Filter centers. These were the days before the Nike Sites and missiles tucked away in Parma, Garfield Hts., and other communities. Suspicious aircraft were more than UFO’s in the time of the Korean War, this was serious business. A tower was built on property along Wallings Road that offered unimpeded view of the sky in all directions. It was paid for by the Air Force.
1954 – The question of erecting a community building took center stage again. Building costs were up, to $43,000, the equivalent of $394,000.00 in 2018. There was $28,000 on hand and not much more was available. The comment was made that as Royalton was projected to grow the planned building would become obsolete quickly because it was designed to be immediately too small. The project was tabled once more. When the question was taken up again, the suggestion was for a swimming pool. The School Board said it would be pleased to have the pool on school property. Some estimates were entertained. No estimate included costs for an indoor pool and for pool upkeep.
1955 August – A swimming pool was suggested instead of a memorial building. Various Chamber members noted that nothing could be done until land was purchased. The School Board had land available, and paying them for land would help the School Board. A playground and community area was suggested and that the “memorial building” could be a picnic shelter or bigger gazebo. Others were angry that the “buy a brick” money was not being used for anything. Veterans of WW II said they didn’t need a memorial and it should be used to honor those who gave the last full measure. The debate was heated and delayed multiple times. Dr. J. G. Rosenbaum retired from his post as editor of the Royalton Recorder, a post he held since he introduced the local paper in 1941.
1956 November – A committee was appointed to explore the purchase of land necessary for a recreational area for North Royalton as a Memorial Park.
1957 – Surprise, the Chamber purchased 19 acres east of the existing high school with access way on State Road. The cost of the land was $20,000 for the purpose of a recreational area. By July the Chamber was consulting with other cities that had developed recreational areas for the city. The Homecoming picnic is and remains the only fund raising endeavor of the Chamber and the anticipated revenues from the homecoming picnic will go for the development of the park.
1958 – The Royalton Recorder reorganized a bit, the concentration would be more reporting of local issues, local clubs and societies.
1959 – In early January the Chamber discussed the summertime recreation program offered at Albion Elementary and Royalton Road Elementary. Clubs, and activities would be offered including dance, modern and square dancing, crafts, hobbies, learn-to-swim, bowling and evening baseball. The plans are on a tight schedule to have things ready to go for June 7. In chilly March it was announced that Memorial Park is near opening but needed volunteers for the elbow grease needed to complete jobs. The brand new park hosts a ball field, picnic area, a one-and-a-half-acre lake that will be stocked with blue gill and largemouth bass, enough to produce 500 pounds of pan fish a year. Every Saturday in April and May is dedicated as Park Work Day. Donations and reduced prices, architectural plans, construction material, picnic benches, tree saplings, the flag pole, signs, and roadway have kept costs down and quality up. The crown jewel of the Chamber’s efforts is coming to fruition. Army Engineers from the 308th Engineer Battalion of the U.S. Army Reserve had three companies totaling 120 men building the roadway, installing the lake and other landscaping and features on Sunday, May 24. Official dedication of the park was planned for Memorial Day, May 30; however, continued rain hampered dedication at the park so Memorial Park Dedication happened at a-far from the cemetery at the end of the parade. The Chamber continues to plan for the 75th annual Homecoming Picnic in August. The profits from this annual endeavor paid for continuing development and maintenance of Memorial Park. The year ends with the official Christmas tree lighting on The Green.

By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer