In Memoriam – John T. Hickey “Mr. Holyoke”
Saving the Historic Ca. 1927 PTC #80 Holyoke Carousel
HOLYOKE, MA – “The Mountain Park amusement park on Mount Tom, shut its gates forever in 1987. All of the rides were sold—except for the carousel, The historic Ca. 1927-29 PTC #80 Carousel, one of the last of the “Golden Age” Grand American Carousels built. This PTC has a number of horses caved by Muller, including the armored lead .
John J. Collins, Jr., the park’s owner, had offers of up to $1 million for the ride from as far away as China. But Collins was approached by John Hickey, the head of the Holyoke Water Power Company. He wanted to save the merry-go-round for the city. Collins set a price of $850,000 and gave Hickey a year to raise the money.
Hickey enlisted the help of Angela and Joe Wright, who had done a lot of charitable work in Holyoke. They organized a “last ride” day at the park. Over three thousand people came up to the mountain and paid a dollar each to ride the merry-go-round for the last time at its original home. The community came together in an unprecedented display of generosity. School children in Holyoke raised $32,000 in in two weeks from selling cookies and candy door-to-door. Local performers put on a benefit concert. People all across the country began sending in donations. And local businesses contributed as well. Hickey met Collins’ deadline and purchased the ride.
While in storage, a crew of volunteers re-painted the entire ride. Hickey brought each of the horses into his house and personally repainted them. Meanwhile local ar
chitect Timothy Murphy was designing the ride’s new home, a bigger building that replicated the look of the original.
In 1993, the building was constructed at Holyoke Heritage State Park. The ride had its inaugural run at Holyoke Heritage State Park December 7, 1993.
Plaques were placed under each horse to commemorate donors. The armored lead horse was dedicated to the schoolchildren of Holyoke. The merry-go-round officially opened to the public on December 11, 1993.”
VISIT THE HOLYOKE CAROUSEL WEBSITE
The following is the notice of Mr. Hickey’s death printed in the July 2008 issue of the CNT. The issue in which The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round story would be the cover feature.
Mr. John T. Hickey died at his home in Holyoke, MA, Tuesday, May 13 [2008]. Hickey, also known as “Mr. Holyoke,” was the former manager of the Holyoke Water Power, (Northeast Utilities), and co-chairperson with Angela Wright of SAVE the Merry Go-Round. Born in Holyoke, educated in Sacred Heart Schools and Holy Cross College, he was active in many of the city clubs serving as the director of the Holyoke Arts Council, the Holyoke Hospital, the Holyoke Street School and the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, and active in just about every other civic organization in and around Holyoke. Hickey’s list of awards is nearly as long as his list of affiliations including the Grand Award, Holyoke Centennial (1973) and Business Person of the Year, Holyoke Chamber of Commerce (1979) Hickey raised funds for the merry-go-round from corporations and elementary schools with “Nickel, Dime & Quarters” to pay the J. Collins Family over $850.000 for the City of Holyoke to purchase the carousel now at Heritage Park. Hickey was predeceased by his wife Gertrude (Laverty) Hickey in 1991 and his daughter Justine Hickey. He leaves one daughter, Christine Beaudoin, and two sisters Mary Kane and Barbara and several grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Donations in his name may be made to the Merry-Go-Round (Heritage Park), 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA 01040.
