Norumbega Park (Auburndale, Mass. : 1897-1963)

Norumbega Park opened in 1897 in the Auburndale neighborhood of Newton, Massachusetts as a means to increase patronage for the Commonwealth Avenue Street Railway. The Park was located on the Charles River and featured an arcade, canoeing, dining, an outdoor theatre, a zoo, and other amusements. In the 1930s, the Great Steel Theatre of Norumbega was converted into a ballroom, named The Totem Pole, that showcased renowned performers including Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Ozzie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, and the Von Trapp family. The Totem Pole was the favored destination for young couples through the 1940s. The shift towards the use of automobiles from public transportation caused the decline of the recreational area in the 1950s. The Park closed in 1963, and the Totem Pole ballroom closed five months later.