Maine
There are two
pre-1930 carousels living in Maine.
Orrington
19th Century Curran Village
The carousel at
the 19th Curran Homestead Village is an 1894 Armitage-Herschell steam
driven portable. It was purchased from Armitage-Herschell by Ivory H. Fenderson
of Saco, Maine in 1894 for $2000. The cost included not only the carousel, but
also a man from the Armitage Herschell Company to set up the carousel and to
instruct Fenderson on how to operate it. Mr. Fenderson shared his carousel with
his neighbors throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts transporting
it, as an adult ride attraction, from venue to venue from 1896 until 1922. It
took a three-man crew one day to set up the carousel. Finally, apparently for financial reasons,
Mr. Fenderson put the carousel in storage where it remained for over 50 years.
Eventually, this beautiful masterpiece was purchased by the 19th
Century Willowbrook Village (now Curran Homestead
Village), fully restored, and placed into operation in 1991. Except the tent,
every piece of the original carousel, including the bill of sale, was included
in the purchase. What a wonderful acquisition for their collection! In 2022,
the carousel including the building was moved to Orrington’s 19th
Century Curran Village.
The carousel is
one of the most complete Armitage Herschell carousels in existence. The
mechanism is driven by the original steam engine, which has now been converted
to compressed air. It is a two-row carousel with 24 jumping horses and four
chariots. The horses are beautifully carved, of simple design, with glass eyes
and horse hair tails. Elevated slightly above the horses is a level offering
single chairs that rotates with the horses and chariots. Although the museum
has kept the original tent/canopy poles, the carousel is housed in a
specifically designed and constructed building. Also included as part of the
exhibit are the original ticket booth and tickets. The band organ is a DeKleist-Limonaire, complete with a black-faced manikin turning the crank.
The band organ has been disengaged from the carousel mechanism to protect the
delicate pins. It only operates once each year. At the time we visited, the
music was recorded.
For more
information about operating times call 207-745-4426 or visit their website at http://curranhomestead.org/.
For further
information
I. H. Fenderson's 1894 Steam Carousel in
Maine, Carousel News and Trader, July
2009.
http://www.carouselnews.com/July-2009/July-2009/I.-H.-Fenderson-s-1894-Steam-Carousel-In-Maine.html
Link to youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NnxoxUk4yU
Original
steam engine which has been converted to compressed air. The original tent
poles stand behind the steam engine.
Waterford
Papoose Pond
Resort and Campground
Although
the history is unknown, this is a 1919 Allan Herschell portable wood/metal
carousel. It has two rows consisting of 24 jumping horses and two chariots.
There appeared to be several horses missing at the time of our visit. The
carousel has been very poorly restored in color combinations (yellow body with
red mane and tail, see below) that Allan Herschell would never have used. There
is no band organ. The carousel operates only one hour/day starting at 6:00 PM
from July 1 through Labor Day. We are sure that regardless of the paint
combinations and lack of a band organ, this carousel is and has been dearly
loved by many children for many years.
Rides
are $0.75
For
more information call 207-583-4174.
Papoose Pond Resort and Campground
http://papoosepondcamping.com/
Link to Youtube
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xou8UiqjUdI
