By 1908, the Philocorians were holding dances on Mondays throughout the summer at the park. The dances featured music by Boyles’ Orchestra. Admission to the weekly event was by invitation only; postcards were sent out by Secretary Clarence Hoch, and were required to be presented to gain entry to the dance. Most weeks, men had to pay for admission, whereas women were admitted free of charge. The price was $1.00. The last Philocorian dance of the season held at the park was on September 21 of that year. During the colder months, dances were held at The Midway in Bloomsburg.
Jerome Pifer operated a carousel at the park around the same time. After an unsuccessful attempt at purchasing Columbia Park, Pifer went on to open Bernesco Park around 1910.
After the departure of Pifer’s carousel, Columbia Park purchased a portable Allen Herschell model. The carousel featured three rows of 36 jumping horses and two chariots, along with a Wurl 146A organ.
In July of 1911, Nescopeck held its First Annual Village Picnic at the park. Like Pifer’s carousel, the picnic too would move to Bernesco Park the following year.
One source, Northeastern Pennsylvania, suggests a roller coaster may have operated at Columbia Park around 1915.
In 1940, the carousel was acquired from the park by the Millville Fire Department, and is used for their annual Fourth of July carnival. It was repainted in 1986, and continues to operate each summer.
Columbia Park remains in use today as a public park, and is located on 4th Street, along the west shore of the Susquehanna River, just south of where Interstate 80 crosses.
Information obtained from Northeastern Pennsylvania, Feb. 17 1982; History of Nescopeck submitted by Terry Fenstermacher and Gary Cramer; National Carousel Association Web Census.