Restoring a Scenery Panel from Altoona, PA, E. Joy Morris Carousel
By William Benjamin, Ph.D. and Barbara Williams
Figure 1. The restored Morris rounding board section is 103 inches long, including the end panels that measure 18 inches tall and 10 inches wide. Bill Benjamin collection.
Figure 2. The Lakemont Park Morris menagerie carousel in 1978 as seen in the National Carousel Association’s Photo Census. Used with permission.
History of Lakemont Park and Its Carousel
Lakemont Park opened as a trolley park 1894. In 1899 it became an amusement park. E. Joy Morris installed the carousel and a toboggan coaster in 1902. Lakemont Park is the 8th oldest amusement park in the United States. It is home to the oldest roller coaster in the United States, the Leap-the Dips, that was installed in 1902 along with the carousel. The carousel was sold and dispersed in 1982.
Figure 3. Morris Carousel building, Lakemont Park, Altoona, PA. Undivided back with message space on the front, postmarked 1905. Barbara Williams collection.
