Financial History Issue 125 (Spring 2018) | Page 11
CONNEC TING TO COLLEC TIONS
August 1903 with $1.2 million in capital to
construct the new park. He and his inves-
tors convinced the Bay Ridge Local Board
to close West 8th Street between Reynolds’
properties, combining them and effec-
tively doubling their value.
Construction on Reynolds’ park began
in October 1903. Designed by the architec-
tural firm Kirby, Petit and Green, Dream-
land was modeled after the recent World’s
Fairs. It would be an elegant “white city”
combined with the raucousness of a typical
amusement park. Dreamland would copy
the most popular rides at Luna Park and
would supplement those with unique rides
that would hopefully draw customers away
from its competitor. Another key attrac-
tion at Dreamland was its beach property.
Customers could use the beach w