Walter Rockwell’s love of carnivals could explain his fascination with whimsical architecture.
During his adult life in the early 1900s, Rockwell built several round buildings in the Charleroi, Pa., area, including this fanciful garage behind a mansion on a hill overlooking the borough.
Built at the end of a narrow alley behind Prospect Avenue, it’s floor once rotated with the help of ball bearings and chains so drivers didn’t have to steer backwards for nearly a block to reach the main road.
Rockwell earned the degree of master electrician after having worked for seven years building carnival attractions. He was best known during his time for building the “Crazy House” and “Japanese Bowling Alleys” at Shady Grove Amusement Park in Uniontown, Pa., his birthplace, according to the Charleroi Area Historical Society.
He also was instrumental in building the historic Coyle Theater in Charleroi, a former burlesque house that is about to be restored.
Another identical garage in town has been demolished. It was built for a funeral home’s hearse. The one shown in the photo was designed for the Monier family.
Ironically, he built a mansion with round rooms in nearby Carroll Township for the Coyle family, one that doubles as the Demon House spookfest each fall.
2 comments:
I lived in Charleroi in the 50's on second street. Our "gang" would often go inside the merry go round. My dad grew up there too. He always talked about it when he was a kid.The owner was very nice and showed us how it worked. Thanks for the history and memories.
F. Jacobs
I know that building. I lived on Lookout Ave and used to quickly cut through this yard on my way downtown as a teenager in the 1990's. I would walk down those steps. It was quiet in that little piece of town. Not once in my nearly 7 years of cutting through that yard did I ever see anybody in the yard. Just seeing this picture gives me a flood of emotional memories. God bless.
-Ken
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