Historic Spillman Eng. Menagerie Carousel with Mass. Roots Heads Back Toward Its Maker, to Buffalo
“A carousel and a children’s museum were both recommended for the waterfront in a cultural master plan issued in October 2011 by consultants hired by Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.”
Add your support for the Buffalo Heritage Carousel >>>
Buffalo, NY – A rare 1924 Spillman Engineering Co. menagerie carousel will be heading back towards its maker as the DeAngelis family carousel has finally found a new home after 4 decades in storage. The carousel was originally purchased from the factory by Domenick DeAngelis for a carnival in Massachusetts.
The 1902 Herschell-Spillman menagerie carousel at Trimper’s Rides in Maryland.
The carousel operated at a few locations in Mass. over three decades. The land on which the carousel last operated was taken over by the state and the carousel was relegated to storage in 1954. Two years later, Domenick passed away.
His son, also Domenick, and his siblings kept the carousel together all these years rejecting countless offers to sell off the figures. Not an easy thing to do when carousels like the Herschell-Spillman menagerie from nearby Rocky Point Amusement Park were being sold at auction for record prices.
Ca. 1913 H-S lion from Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford Museum
In 1989, the Herschell-Spillman lion and tiger sold at auction for just over $40,000 each, and the giraffe for just under $40,000. That’s $120,000 in just three figures, and in 1989, that was a lot of money. Also, three horses from that carousel are among the highest all time sellers at public auction; two flowered standers and an armored prancer brought another $150,000. I believe the armored was the highest selling prancer at auction ever at just under $50,000.
The un-restored armored stander.
The DeAngelis carousel was carefully selected by Domenick, Sr. in 1924 and includes lion, tiger, giraffe, two armored horses and a number of flowered horses.
The carousel was discovered by Laurie Hauer-LaDuca a few years ago, in storage, in Ohio. Laurie had not only a dream and a vision,along with five other dedicated women formed the non-profit entity, The Buffalo Heritage Carousel Inc. It is this group, not the city, that has made this project happen and will bring the carousel back to Buffalo, just miles from where it was built in North Tonawanda.
The carousel will make a fantastic addition to a new mixed-use waterfront development, Canalside. And they are doing it right, incorporating an adjacent or nearby Children’s Museum, and for the carousel, space for children’s parties and events, an educational exhibit and gift shop. Also, “The carousel will be solar powered which is the other important element of the project in addition to its contribution to Western New York’s Heritage.” says LaDuca
In fact, a carousel and children’s museum were both recommended for the waterfront in a cultural master plan issued in October 2011 by consultants hired by the waterfront agency. Maybe a few other locations will keep the consulting fee in their pocket, and just borrow from this advice.
Buffalo Canalside Development rendering.
There were a number of excellent stories written on this up to and as it happened. All worth reading, full of much more information, no need to repeat it all here. We will keep you posted on final building plans and the fundraising and restoration, along with the the Buffalo Heritage Carousel groups own website, where you can follow the progress and make a donation.
Add your support for the Buffalo Heritage Carousel >>>
Carousel for Canalside’s future revolves closer to reality
The Buffalo News
Jul 1, 2015 – Purchase of a historic Spillman Eng. menagerie carousel has been approved by Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. who wants the rare 1924 park-style carousel – which has sat in storage for the last 60 years – at Canalside. Dwight D. Eisenhower was president when the 31 hand-carved animals last went around. Now, the carousel could start again soon after another president takes office in 2017.
Rare carousel deserves a place at Canalside
The Buffalo News
Jul 4, 2015 – The proposal to bring a historic carousel as family-friendly, place-defining centerpiece to Canalside – to rival Shark Girl and the historic Commercial Slip – is the best one to float down the waterway in a while. From London to Chicago to San Francisco, cities use Ferris wheels or carousels as permanent, crowd-luring, site-defining waterfront attractions.
Community should get behind the effort to place historic carousel on waterfront
The Buffalo News
Jul 7, 2015 – The prospect of a carousel at Canalside is exciting enough to make kids and kids-at-heart jump for joy. That is why efforts by Buffalo Heritage Carousel, a not-for-profit, to raise the $600,000 needed to restore and then show off the attraction should be wholeheartedly supported by the community. What an opportunity to bring a piece of history to the burgeoning Canalside and, given that the carousel was created in North Tonawanda, return the creation to its roots.
Building Upon Buffalo’s Carrousel Legacy
Buffalo Rising
Jul 14, 2015 – Since 2003, Buffalo renewable energy activist Joan Bozer has been rallying support to bring a historic, locally manufactured, carrousel to the waterfront. We’ve been following Joan’s pursuits since the beginning, and are happy to see that her dream might soon become reality. After the arrival of team member, now Project Director, Laurie Hauer-LaDuca into the fold, the young go-getter immediately set out to find the appropriate Herschell Carrousel Factory model that would fit the bill for Buffalo.
Ca. 1910 Herschell-Spillman menagerie carousel archive catalog photograph.
