Kennywood & Idlewild: 115 & 95 years ago

Red trillium (Trillium erectum) collected in Kennywood in 1903

Phlox (Phlox spp.) collected in Idlewild Park in 1923

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It is that time of year in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
​Kennywood and Idlewild are open!
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Although they’ve changed ownership over the past 100+ years of operation, both amusement parks have similar origins and remain favorite recreation spots for many across western PA and beyond. 
 
Located in Ligonier, PA in the heart of the beautiful Laurel Highlands, Idlewild goes back to May 1, 1878 when land owner William Darlington gave rights to Judge Thomas Mellon to use the grounds for picnic and pleasure. Judge Mellon owned the Ligonier Valley Railroad, and Idlewild was started as picnic park to attract people to the Ligonier Valley Railroad.  Darlington gave Mellon the permission “Without compensation in the shape of rent for three years from the first of April 1878 provided no timber or other trees are to be cut or injured – the underbrush you may clear out if you wish to do so.”  The park was an immediate hit, with the “tops of the [train] coaches were covered with boys.”  You can still see the Idlewild train station in the park today.  You can also visit the Ligonier Valley Railroad Museum to learn more about the history of the region and the Ligonier Valley Railroad at the recently restored Darlington Station in nearby Darlington.
 
Collected in late May, 1923, the specimen below was found by in by E.H. McClelland at Idlewild Park, near Ligonier, PA. This herbarium sheet actually contains two different phlox species, Phlox stolonifera (creeping phlox) and Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox). There are at least seven species of phlox native to Pennsylvania.  Phlox is a popular choice among wildflower gardeners.  Phlox can be easily confused with Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis), a non-native plant in the mustard family common along many wooded streams and roadsides.  An easy way to tell the difference is by the flowers: wild phlox have 5 petals while Dame’s rocket has 4 petals.  Dame’s rocket is in the mustard family, whose flower petals characteristically form an “+” or cross (hence its former family name Cruciferae; family now called Brassicaceae).  Take the Idlewild train through the woods and see if you can spot these species now, 95 years later.
 

​Located in West Mifflin, PA near Pittsburgh, PA, Kennywood has strikingly similar origins.  It opened as a “trolley park” in May 1899 as an attraction at the end of the Monongahela Street Railway (also owned by the Mellon family). It was long known as a popular picnic spot, even before the park’s opening.
 
The specimen below of Trillium erectum was collected in May 1903 in Kennywood (4 years after the park opened!). This beautiful spring flowering forest understory plant is commonly known as “Wake robin,” “red trillium,” or even “stinking Benjamin” (the flowers have a bit of a wet dog scent).  Trillium is done flowering in southwestern PA now but can still be seen, but with withered or no petals.