Minnesota
Saint
Paul
Como
Park
Cafesjian's Carousel
The
1914, excellently restored and maintained and gorgeous Philadelphia Toboggan
Company #33 resides in a beautiful all-seasons building in Saint Paul’s
gorgeous Como Park. The four-row, fifty-foot diameter carousel is populated
with 68 jumpers and 2 chariots. The supervising carver was David Lightfoot who
was in the employ of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company at the time of its
manufacture. Three of the horses were carved by Charles Carmel. The horses are
carved in the classic Philadelphia style complete with trappings and secondary
carvings. The scenery panels on the rounding boards are beautiful.
The
carousel was originally located at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Saint
Paul from 1914 to 1989 after which it was moved to Town Square Park in Saint
Paul where it remained until 1995. It has been in Como Park until 1999.
Luckily
for the residents of the Twin Cities and carousel enthusiasts everywhere,
Philadelphia Toboggan Company #33 was rescued from the auction block.
From
1990 to 2000, the carousel underwent a major restoration under the supervision
and tutelage of Rosa Ragan. As much as possible, the carousel was restored to
its original paint. It is thought that the carousel is only one of three
carousels in the country with original paint.
The
carousel is owned and operated by Our Fair Carousel, Inc., a non-profit
organization.
“The carousel is named for the late Gerard L. Cafesjian,
who contributed the major share of the money needed to rescue it from auction,
restore it and build its pavilion in Como Park” (http://www.ourfaircarousel.org/aboutcarousel.html).
The
band organ is a Wurlitzer 153.
For further information on opening times call 651-489-4628 or access their web site at www.ourfaircarousel.org.
For
further information:
Cafesjian's Carousel
http://www.ourfaircarousel.org/aboutcarousel.html
This
is an excellent web site that discusses the history and restoration of the
carousel.
National
Carousel Association
https://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPu4oBdSwlA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfUa3Vy9Q8A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8I3iS1uow0
A
PTC Signature Horse
Rounding
Board
Rollag
West
Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion
West
Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion is home to a circa 1920 C. W. Parker two-row,
portable carousel with 22 jumpers and 3 chariots. Two horses were carved by
local artists. The carousel is mounted on its original wagon (as seen in the
photos below) with a new center pole. The carousel was probably fueled by a
gasoline engine, but it has been converted to operate on electricity and steam.
Regrettably, the steam powered mechanism broke a chain before we arrived, so we
did not get the opportunity to see the carousel run on steam.
The
carousel was part of a traveling carousel from the 1920s to the 1960s. From the
1960s to 1982, the carousel was owned by Ruben Klein of Pelican Rapids,
Minnesota. The West Minnesota Steam Threshers acquired the carousel in 1982.
The
band organ is a Johnson Model 125SP. When we
visited the Reunion, a gentleman was plotting from music a band organ roll (see
photo below).
For
information on opening times call 701-212-2034 or access their web site at www.rollag.com.
For
further information:
National
Carousel Association
https://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Youtube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lJJGGwNdCc
Kiddie
Horses
Note
Wagon Mounting
Rounding
Board
The
first step of making a band organ roll.
Shakopee
Valleyfair Family Amusement
Park
Philadelphia
Toboggan Company #76 carousel is at Valleyfair Family
Amusement Park. The 1926, three-row carousel is populated with 28 jumpers, 20 standers and 2 chariots. The horses
are carved in the classic Philadelphia style complete with trappings.
The scenery panels, scenery rounding boards and even the “ceiling”
of the carousel are beautifully and elegantly
illustrated.
The
carousel was in Excelsior Park on Lake Minnetonka,
Excelsior, Minnesota from 1925 to 1976 when it was acquired by Valleyfair.
The carousel is beginning to show its age and use. The platform is
desperate for a refurbishing.
The
band organ is an Artizan
converted to use Wurlitzer 150 rolls. The façade is from the
Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
Valleyfair is a 125-acre
family-oriented amusement park that opened in 1976. It now features 75 rides
including 8 roller coasters. The park also includes a water park called soak
city. The park is clean and well groomed, and the personnel very welcoming and
friendly.
We
wish to thank Kelsey Bartlett for providing us access to the park and carousel.
For
information on opening times call 952-445-6500 or access their web site at www.valleyfair.com.
For
further information:
National
Carousel Association
https://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Valleyfair Family Amusement
Park
https://www.valleyfair.com/play/rides/carousel
Philadelphia
Toboggan Company Signature Horse
One
of the Scenery Rounding Boards
Inside
the Rounding Boards and Part of the Ceiling
The
Ceiling
Scenery
Panels
One
of the Roller Coasters at Valleyfair