Harry C. Baker (1886 or 1887 – August 23, 1939)Associated Press (August 24, 1939). "Roller Coaster Man Dies". The Des Moines Register. p. 13. Retrieved April 12, 2021. was an American entrepreneur most notable for his involvement with the construction of roller coasters. Through partnerships and later, as president of the Harry C. Baker Company, Baker would be involved with notable designs such as the Cyclone at Coney Island, the Blue Streak at Woodcliffe Pleasure Park, and Jack Rabbit at Kennywood.
Biography
Baker was the former manager of Rexford Park, Schnectady, New York and served on the staff at Riverview Park in Chicago. From 1920 to 1923, Baker served as the Secretary and Treasurer of the John A. Miller-led Miller & Baker, Inc. Serving as office manager of the firm's Grand Central Terminal location, he was involved with the construction of over 40 coasters.
In 1923, Baker went on to form his own company. In 1927, the Rosenthal brothers contracted with Baker's firm and designer Vernon Keenan to build the Coney Island Cyclone. After the success of this endeavor, Keenan and Baker once again teamed to build one of the most debated roller coasters of the 1920s, the Blue Streak at Woodcliffe Pleasure Park.
Coasters During his lifetime, Baker was involved in the building of nearly 40 roller coasters, mostly with John A. Miller. Name Park Location Operational CollaboratorBig DipperRoton PointNorwalk, CT1914 - 1933 North Wind CoasterConey IslandBrooklyn, NY1915 - 1929Joseph McKeeJack RabbitWillough Beach ParkWilloughby, OH1915 - 1924Joseph McKeeJack RabbitRevere BeachRevere, MA1916 - 1924John A. MillerDeep DipperFrederick Road ParkBaltimore, MD1920 - 1922John A. MillerJack RabbitNatatorium ParkSpokane, WA1920 - 1968John A. MillerDeep DipsOlympic ParkIrvington, NJ1920 - 1922John A. MillerRoller CoasterRiverview ParkDes Moines, IA1920 - 1978John A. MillerBig DipperRiverview ParkChicago, IL1920 - 1967John A. MillerJack RabbitSeabreezeRochester, NY1920 -John A. MillerLightningRiverside ParkAgawam, MA1920 - 1933John A. MillerGiant CoasterCentral ParkRockford, IL1921 - 1942John A. MillerCometPalisades Amusement ParkCliffside Park, NJ1921 - 1925John A. MillerJack RabbitKennywoodPittsburgh, PA1920 - John A. MillerPippinRiverview ParkChicago, IL1921 - 1967John A. MillerSky RocketSteeplechase IslandBridgeport, CT1921 - 1951John A. MillerRoller CoasterArnolds ParkArnolds Park, IA1922 - 1929John A. MillerGorge RideCascade ParkNew Castle, PA1922 - 1935John A. MillerBig DipperGordon GardensCleveland, OH1922 - 1927John A. MillerBig DipperIdora ParkOakland, CA1922 - 1928John A. MillerGreyhoundIsland Beach ParkBurlington, NJ1922 - 1928John A. MillerRavine FlyerWaldameer & Water WorldErie, PA1922 - 1938John A. MillerSkyrocketFairyland ParkKansas City, MO1923 - 1966John A. MillerWildcatLakeside ParkSalem, VA1923 - 1967John A. MillerGiant CoasterLakewood ParkBarnesville, VA1923 - 1982John A. MillerZippin Pippin Bay Beach Amusement Park Green Bay, WI 1923 -John A. MillerJack RabbitPaxtang ParkHarrisburg, PA1923 - 1929John A. MillerHumming BirdRiverview Beach ParkPennsville, NJ1923 - 1967John A. MillerFireballRiverview ParkChicago, IL1923 - 1967John A. MillerDipsBuckeye LakeBuckeye Lake, OH1924 - 1958John A. MillerSkyrocketMeyer's Lake ParkCanton, OH1924 - 1946John A. MillerWildcatBertrand IslandMount Arlington, NJ1925 - 1983Herbert SchmeckCycloneConey IslandBrooklyn, NY1927 -Vernon KeenanCycloneRock Springs ParkChester, WV1927 - 1970ZingoCrystal CityTulsa, OK1928 - 1956WizLotus Isle ParkPortland, OR1928 - 1931Blue StreakWoodcliff Pleasure ParkPoughkeepsie, NY1928 - 1941Vernon KeenanWildcatIdora ParkYoungstown, OH1930 - 1984Herbert SchmeckSkylarkRoton PointNorwalk, CT1934 - 1942Derby RacerRevere BeachRevere, MA1937 - 1949CometCrescent ParkRiverside, RI1939 - 1961CycloneNew York World's FairFlushing, NY1939 - 1940Harry TraverThunderboltRiverside ParkAgawam, MA1941 -Joseph E. Drambour
References
External links John A. Miller site