Aug 10, 2003 By Jenny Susa 5 min read

Although Brownsville natives agree that Kennywood Park has changed a lot over the years, the spirit of togetherness behind the Brownsville Community Kennywood Day remains the same. Brownsville residents of the past and present reunited at the park Thursday for their 90th annual community day.

“I’ve been coming to Kennywood for this for as long as I can remember,” said Monessen resident Ken Sealy, who was born and raised in Brownsville. “It has always been a big day for everyone because you get to see people you haven’t seen for a long time.”

He recalled how Kennywood has changed since he was a child.

“There is always something new here, and now it has turned into a big-time operation,” said Sealy. “In the 1950s there was a large swimming pool here, and over where the pizza shop is there was a dance hall. There were big bands that performed there, and people wore ballroom dresses. I remember that people used to come here just to dance,” Sealy said, adding that now most people come to the park for the rides. “But Kennywood has always been a friendly place, where families could have a good time.”

The Sealy family decided to have a family reunion this year, and Sealy said that they wanted to have it during the same week as Kennywood Day, as many Brownsville families often do.

Ron and Geraldine Beaudoine, who now live in New York, are part of the Sealy family. Geraldine Beaudoine said she has been coming to Kennywood with her family since she was a baby.

“When I was little, I used to cry because I wasn’t tall enough to ride the Thunderbolt,” said Geraldine Beaudoine. “Kennywood has changed dramatically since then. First, they added Old Kennywood and the Laser Loop. Then, the Steel Phantom was the biggest ride, and now it has become the Phantom’s Revenge. This year, they have added the King Kahuna. So, we have been around to see all of that,” she said, adding that there are a few attractions at Kennywood that have always been there.

“Some things haven’t changed, like the merry-go-round, and the Potato Patch fries,” said Geraldine Beaudoine, commenting on how everyone in the family had to go to the Potato Patch during every visit to the park.

Tami Sealy pointed out that because of her family reunion, she had relatives at Kennywood from three other states, including New York, California and Connecticut.

Her husband, Clark Sealy, serves on the committee for the community day. Clark Sealy, Brownsville No. 1 (North Side) fire chief, said that several generations of men in his family worked with the fire department as well.

“For years, this has been a weeklong event for us,” said Clark Sealy. “The stores in Brownsville all close for today. Most of us won’t go home until the park closes tonight. Tomorrow we will have our Brownsville Area Community Festival, and our family will end this week on Saturday with our family reunion.”

Clark Sealy said that as much as Kennywood has changed over the years, the families of the community have always thought of Kennywood Day as something special that should not be missed.

“I was born in May and was here with my parents for Kennywood the first week of August,” said Clark Sealy. “I sure don’t remember that first trip here, but I was still here for it.”

Hilda Faith is another resident who has been coming to the park for many years. She showed how important it was to her to be there for Kennywood Day when her employer would not allow her to have the day off.

“I quit my job so that I could be here today,” said Faith. “I worked at a pharmacy, and I had to work most holidays, but I refused to miss Kennywood Day. I put in my two weeks’ notice so that my last day was the day before. You just don’t miss Kennywood Day.”

Bob Huston, a Flatwoods resident, also emphasized how important it was to Brownsville natives to be a part of the day.

“I’ve come here every year since my mother brought me on the train from Brownsville when I was a baby. They used to have five or six trains that came here,” said Huston, adding that a lot has changed since his first trip to Kennywood 68 years ago. “I even lived in Michigan for 17 years and came back here every year for Kennywood Day. It’s a good opportunity to see people you don’t get to see very often.”

Scott Stuart of DuBois said that in all the years he has been to Kennywood, it has always been a special time for family and friends to reunite. “A lot has changed here at Kennywood, but I think what hasn’t changed is more important,” said Stuart. “It is still a family park, and except for some new rides, it is still the way I remember it from when I was a child.”