CN&T Archive News Feature
(Reprinted from the October 1985 Carousel News & Trader)
Grand Rapids, MI – Inspired by the Ramona Park carousel, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has long dreamed of recreating for the public the thrill of riding a working carousel. The search for the Ramona Park carousel ended in disappointment when it was learned that the carousel had been dismantled and sold years ago. Another carousel was sought.
THE CAROUSEL
A lengthy search turned up a magnificent 1928 Spillman carousel for sale at the Lakewood Amusement Park in Barnesville, Pennsylvania, owned by the Frank Guinan family. In operation since 1982, the carousel included 50 hand-carved wooden animals (six of which are menagerie types), two chariots, a Wurlitzerband organ, ring-toss clown and the original ticket booth. Discovery of this treasure spurred a flurry of fund-raising efforts to raise the $175,000 purchase price. Taking the cause to heart, the Grand Rapids community responded generously,quickly raising the entire sum. On Labor Day 1982, the carousel was dismantled and shipped to Grand Rapids to begin its new life.
SPECIAL PARK CAROUSEL
The carousel is a special Park Carousel made by Spillman Engineering Co. of North Tonawanda (Buffalo), New York. There were only a few special park carousels produced of this caliber by Spillman. This carousel includes 50 animals and 2 double seat chariots. Six of the animals are menagerie types, a giraffe, tiger, lion, deer, goat and a camel. The Model 157 double-tracker Wurlitzer band organ Is one of a limited edition.
THE RESTORATION
Layers of paint applied over the years to update its appearance and protect it from weather and wear hid the carousel’s original colors and designs. The Museum decided to restore the carousel to its original splendor and hired an experienced restorationist, Tom Layton of Sandusky, Ohio, for the project. Mr. Layton has done restoration work on three of the carousels for the Cedar Point Amusement Park, and other carousels on the East and West coasts. He has finished work on 35 of the Museum’s animals. Restoration is a detailed, time consuming process. Each animal is first spot-stripped in several areas to reveal the original colors and decoration. Using line drawings of each animal prepared by the Museum’s staff, Mr. Layton records the colors he finds and notes damaged areas needing repair. This provides a permanent record of the restoration process for future reference. Once testing is done, each animal is completely stripped, sanded. and damaged areas are repaired. A coat of sealer is applied, sanded, and followed with a second coat of sealer. Then comes repainting, recreating the original color, shading, and pin-striping. Each animal is finished with two coats of semigloss sealer, new glass “jewels” are applied and a new tail of real horse hair is inserted. The entire restoration process takes approximately 300 hours per animal. The 35 restored animals were featured in an exhibit at the Public Museum in Grand Rapids from June 15-September 11. Also featured was the Museum’s Wurlitzer Band Organ , ticket booth and artwork of the Carousel animals by the Grand Valley Artists. The artists helped raise money for the Carousel by selling their art work and donating 50% of the sale price.
CAROUSEL CHRISTMAS
From November 28 until January 6, 31 of the restored animals will be displayed at the Breton Village Shopping Center, 1830 Breton Road, on the South East side of Grand Rapids. There will be 16 animals in a main exhibit, with another 15 scattered throughout the mall in store windows. Carousel T-shirts and posters will be sold at the mall. Also, gifts bought at the mall can be wrapped in carousel wrapping paper.
THE CAROUSEL’S FUTURE
Four successful fundraisers provided the money to purchase the carousel package and for the restoration of the 50 animals. The Museum has raised about $300,000, but needs $80,000 more to finish restoring the rounding board panels, upper and lower drive panels, and mirror panels. Once restored, the carousel will operate in the new Public Museum on the west bank of the Grand River where the past can be recalled as children ride and thrill to the music of the Wurlitzer band organ. If you would like to contribute to the Carousel Project, please contact Deidra Edmond-Webber or Carl Ulanowicz at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, 54 Jefferson Ave., S.E., Grand Rapids, Ml 49503. Phone (616) 456-3977.
(Archive News Reprinted from the October 1985 Carousel News & Trader)
