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Nestled on the shores of Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury, Connecticut is one of the most tranquil and fun little amusement parks that I have come across. 



That park is Quassy Amusement Park.  Quassy is an old "trolley park" that got its start in 1909.  Trolley companies would often build amusement parks at the end of their lines in order to increase ridership during low ridership times like evenings and weekends.



From the 1930's to the 1950's trolleys began disappearing across the American landscape due to the emergence of automobiles and busses as public transportation.  As a result of the trolleys going away as well as the Great Depression many trolley parks closed down and eventually vanished as their rides were sold or demolished.  I am one for really appreciating history because the chances were against a place like Quassy surviving the enormous shift in the American culture with the emergence of the automobile. 



The few places like Quassy that have survived and thrived the myriad of changes that have taken place in this world since it opened more than a hundred years ago in 1909 exist today because they were something special.



Speaking of something special this IS something extremely special.



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Paul B. Drabek