Harry C. Baker

Harry C. Baker was an American entrepreneur most notable for his involvement with the building of roller coasters. Through partnerships and later, as president of the Harry C. Baker Company, Baker would be involved with notable designs such as the Cyclone at Coney Island, the Blue Streak at Woodcliffe Pleasure Park, and the Kennywood Park Jack Rabbit.[1]

Biography

Early life

Baker was the former manager of Rexford Park, Schnectady, New York[2] and served on the staff at Riverview Park in Chicago.[3]

Miller & Baker

From 1920 - 1923, Baker served as the Secretary and Treasurer of the John A. Miller-led Miller & Baker, Inc.[3] Serving as office manager of the firm's Grand Central Station location, he was involved with the construction of over 40 coasters.

Harry C. Baker Company

In 1923, Baker went on to form his own company.[2] In 1927, the Rosenthal brothers contracted with Baker's firm and designer Vernon Keenan to build the Coney Island Cyclone. After the success of this endeavour, Keenan and Baker once again teamed to build one of the most debated roller coasters of the 1920s, the Blue Streak at Woodcliffe Pleasure Park.[2]

Coasters

During his lifetime, Baker was involved in the building of nearly 40 roller coasters, mostly with John A. Miller.[4]

NameParkLocationOperationalCollaborator
Big DipperRoton PointNorwalk, CT1914 - 1933[lower-alpha 1]
North Wind CoasterConey IslandBrooklyn, NY1915 - 1929Joseph McKee
Jack RabbitWillough Beach ParkWilloughby, OH1915 - 1924Joseph McKee
Jack RabbitRevere BeachRevere, MA1916 - 1924John A. Miller
Deep DipperFrederick Road ParkBaltimore, MD1920 - 1922John A. Miller
Jack RabbitNatatorium ParkSpokane, WA1920 - 1968John A. Miller
Deep DipsOlympic ParkIrvington, NJ1920 - 1922John A. Miller
Roller CoasterRiverview ParkDes Moines, IA1920 - 1978John A. Miller
Big DipperRiverview ParkChicago, IL1920 - 1967John A. Miller
Jack RabbitSeabreezeRochester, NY1920 -John A. Miller
LightningRiverside ParkAgawam, MA1920 - 1933John A. Miller
Giant CoasterCentral ParkRockford, IL1921 - 1942John A. Miller
CometPalisades Amusement ParkCliffside Park, NJ1921 - 1925John A. Miller
Jack Rabbit[1]KennywoodPittsburgh, PA1921 -John A. Miller
PippinRiverview ParkChicago, IL1921 - 1967John A. Miller
Sky RocketSteeplechase IslandBridgeport, CT1921 - 1951John A. Miller
Roller CoasterArnolds ParkArnolds Park, IA1922 - 1929John A. Miller
Gorge RideCascade ParkNew Castle, PA1922 - 1935John A. Miller
Big DipperGordon GardensCleveland, OH1922 - 1927John A. Miller
Big DipperIdora ParkOakland, CA1922 - 1928John A. Miller
GreyhoundIsland Beach ParkBurlington, NJ1922 - 1928John A. Miller
Ravine FlyerWaldameerErie, PA1922 - 1938John A. Miller
SkyrocketFairyland ParkKansas City, MO1923 - 1966John A. Miller
WildcatLakeside ParkSalem, VA1923 - 1967John A. Miller
Giant CoasterLakewood ParkBarnesville, VA1923 - 1982John A. Miller
Zippin PippinBay Beach Amusement Park[lower-alpha 2]Green Bay, WI1923 - John A. Miller
Jack RabbitPaxtang ParkHarrisburg, PA1923 - 1929John A. Miller
Humming BirdRiverview Beach ParkPennsville, NJ1923 - 1967John A. Miller
FireballRiverview ParkChicago, IL1923 - 1967John A. Miller
DipsBuckeye LakeBuckeye Lake, OH1924 - 1958John A. Miller
SkyrocketMeyer's Lake ParkCanton, OH1924 - 1946John A. Miller
WildcatBertrand IslandMount Arlington, NJ1925 - 1983Herbert Schmeck
CycloneConey IslandBrooklyn, NY1927 -Vernon Keenan
CycloneRock Springs ParkChester, WV1927 - 1970
ZingoCrystal CityTulsa, OK1928 - 1956
WizLotus Isle ParkPortland, OR1928 - 1931
Blue StreakWoodcliff Pleasure ParkPoughkeepsie, NY1928 - 1941Vernon Keenan
WildcatIdora ParkYoungstown, OH1930 - 1984Herbert Schmeck
SkylarkRoton PointNorwalk, CT1934 - 1942
Derby RacerRevere BeachRevere, MA1937 - 1949
CometCrescent ParkRiverside, RI1939 - 1961
CycloneNew York World's FairFlushing, NY1939 - 1940Harry Traver[lower-alpha 3]
ThunderboltRiverside ParkAgawam, MA1941 -Joseph E. Drambour [lower-alpha 3]
  1. Frederick Ingersoll coaster opened as Tango Dips and rebuilt by Miller and Baker in 1924
  2. Originally located at East End Park then Libertyland, both in Memphis, TN
  3. Baker / Harry Traver design, first used at 1939 New York World's Fair, later rebuilt by Joseph E. Drambour at Riverside Park.

References

  1. Jacques, Charles J. (1982). Kennywood: the roller coaster capital of the world. Vestal, NY: Vestal Press Lrd. p. 37. ISBN 0911572244.
  2. Cartmell, Robert (1987). The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster. Fairview Park, OH: Amusement Park Books, Inc. pp. 117–136. ISBN 0879723416.
  3. Miller and Baker Inc. 1923 Catalogue (reprint). Natrona Heights, PA: Amusement Park Journal. 1923.
  4. Marden, Duane. "Harry C. Baker". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
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