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About the Film
Blosser's Park: The Social Gathering Place of Goshen
This mini-doc shines a light on the park that once made its home on the island in the middle of the Goshen Dam Pond. After it opened in 1909, Blosser’s Park drew people in from across northern Indiana. It hosted boats, beaches, picnic grounds and even a skating rink. After it closed in the 1940s it was largely forgotten and today only a few traces of it’s past remain on the island. “Blosser’s Park” hears stories from community members that went to the park in their youth and from historians who share the legacy it left behind. Goshen College's Communication Department presents this documentary produced by it's own FiveCore Media.
About the Crew
Goshen College
Communication Students
"Blosser's Park" was produced by students in Goshen College's Film Production Program During the summer of 2021 two film students, Courtney Templeton and Jackson Steinmetz, took on the documentary as a Maple Scholars project. The Maple Scholars program allows students to do hands on academic work with professors in their field. This project, called The Goshen Spotlight, aims to tell stories from Goshen's history through the lens of documentary. Some past products of this Maple Scholars project are "Vital Passage" and "Admit One."
Production Company
FiveCore Media is a video production company located in Goshen,
Indiana comprised of creative professionals and a group of gifted
Goshen College communication students. FiveCore Media writes, produces, and edits videos including commercials, promotional and
informational videos.
Project Photo Library
Boat Launch
The boat launch on the bank of the Elkhart River.
Picnic Dinner
Community members have a picnic dinner at Blosser's Park.
Behind the Scenes
Jackson Steinmetz operates a camera from a boat.
Park Swings
Youth lounge on the park swings.
Goshen Daily News Times
Over 3,000 people went to Blosser's Island.
Goshen College Orientation
Goshen College students play volleyball on the island during orientation. Photo courtesy of MCC Archives.
Island Postcard
Wide photograph of Blosser's Island printed as a postcard.
Sadie A
The ferry boat, named the Sadie A, floats on the river.
Story Timeline
Timeline of Blosser's Park
1868 Millrace Canal is completed
The dam causes the river to flood and creates an island out of the oxbow.1906Blossers purchase island
Amos Blosser begins planning for a park to be constructed on his new land.1909Blosser's Park opens
On June 19th, Blosser's Park opens to the public for the first time.1939Park shuts down
WW2 causes park to shut down. It would try to return after the war, but fails to regain popularity.2021Island preserved
Current owners want to preserve the wildlife and nature that live on the island, it now functions as a bird sanctuary. Some small traces of the past remain.
Partial Support Provided by
Goshen Historical Society
The Goshen Historical Society, Inc. operates in order to preserve and share the ongoing story of Goshen. The historical museum is located on Main Street in Downtown Goshen in the former Adams Store.
Goshen College Maple Scholars Program
Maple Scholars is an 8 week program where students spend the summer doing intense study and research with a Goshen College faculty member.