He says the park was founded in 1922 by Middletown hardware store owner Edgar Streifthau. It became more of a traditional park in 1934 when Middletown architect and eventual park owner Don Dazey was hired to rebuild the bathhouse, which had been destroyed by an accidental fire.
The park changed its name to Americana in 1978, and it remained open through 1999. Jerry Couch, an area RV dealer, bought the park and opened it for one season in 2002, but financial difficulties prevented a reopening of the park, where Couch built a new RV dealership. It has been closed ever since. The book ends on a sad note, with a picture of the park's boarded-up facilities.
"I hope people get a sense of the park's history and relive some of their favorite memories there," Fowler said.
Fowler will be signing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 21, and from noon to 4 p.m. May 22. Traders World is off exit 29, on the east side of I-75. The book can also be purchased at www.arcadiapublishing.com or www.soaphs.com. It sells for $21.99.
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