New Jersey

There are four classic carousels in New Jersey

 

Six Flags Logo

Jackson

Six Flags Great Adventure

Patrina Williams

 

The carousel at Six Flags is a three-row (Frederick) Savage Gallopers built in 1897 (some sources indicate 1881) in England. As with carousels in the United Kingdom, the carousel runs clockwise. The carousel consists of 24 jumpers carved by Robert Anderson and twelve roosters (cockerels) carved by Charles Spooner. Rather than stirrups, the figures are supplied with a step to allow for mounting (see photographs below). The roosters have two saddles allowing for two riders. Except for one horse, the figures have glass eyes. The horses are of similar design and color scheme. The roosters are also of similar design, but the paint scheme varies between red and blue. The outstretched legs depict the horses in mid jump and resemble rocking horses. Both carvers are known to have carved rocking horses, so this stance can be expected. Many of the horses and roosters had seriously chipping paint when we visited in summer 2017.

 

The platform has slots allowing the figures to slide outward (fly) about twenty degrees due to centrifugal force. This feature was disabled for safety reasons by Six Flags. The slots can be seen in some of the photographs below.

 

The original steam engine was used at Six Flags until it was converted to compressed air. An electric motor was installed in 1988.

 

The carousel spent the first 77 years in the United Kingdom, but it moved to Six Flags in 1974 when it was purchased from the Jimmy Williams Traveling Show.

 

The Patrina Williams carousel was named after the owner of the Jimmy Williams traveling show/carnival.

 

Rides are free with admission to the park. Riding time is two minutes.

 

There is no band organ.

 

For operating hours call 732-928-2000 or access their web site at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure.

 

For further information:

The National Carousel Association

http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html

 

Six Flags Great Adventure

https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/attractions/carousel

http://www.greatadventurehistory.com/Carousel.htm

 

Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_I1Qy5FmHo

 

 

 

The Lead Horse. Note step.

 

    

 

 

Note the two saddles on the rooster.

 

 

Note slots in the platform the originally allowed the figures to fly outward a few degrees during platform rotation.

 

Rounding Boards

 

 

Ocean City

Gillian’s Wonderland Pier

https://www.visitnj.org/sites/default/files/styles/profile-slideshow/public/zzdata/zzdata-3596_640x572.jpg?itok=LODjZodl

 

Philadelphia Toboggan Company #75 resides at the historic Gillian’s Wonderland Pier. The three-row carousel was manufactured in 1926 and consists of 28 jumpers, 22 standers and two chariots. At least two of the horses are PTC signature horses. One of the outside standers is a fiberglass reproduction as David Gillian donated one of the horses to the Ocean City Historical Museum in 1990 just three years before he died at the age of 102.

 

The carousel is a diamond in the rough since it is need of a complete restoration. Although clean and not cracking, the figures seem to have been amateurishly painted. They need to be stripped and painted in original colors. The scenery panels on the rounding boards could use restoration, too, since some of those are chipping and flaking.

 

The carousel was originally located at Fernbrook Park in Dallas, PA, from 1926 to 1944 and in Rolling Green Park in Sellinsgrove, PA from 1944 to 1972. It has been at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier since 1972.

 

The National Carousel Association indicates that the carousel has an operational ring arm, but it was not operating during our visit. There is no band organ, but there is a reproduction façade.

 

Gillian’s Wonderland Pier offers a variety of rides for young and old. The Pier is famous for its 144-foot giant Ferris wheel. There is no admission charge. One only pays for each ride. Gillian’s was founded in 1929 by David Gillian as the Fun Deck. The amusement pier is still owned by the Gillian family.

 

For information on opening times access their web site at www.gillians.com and/or call them at 609-399-7082.

 

For further information:

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillians_Wonderland_Pier

A group of people in a carousel

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PTC Signature Horse

 

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R: PTC Signature

 

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https://casinopiernj.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/casino-pier-breakwater-beach-logo-01.png

Seaside Heights

Casino Pier

Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Carousel

 

This carousel is composed of primarily Dentzel and Looff figures with some by Carmel and Illions. One chariot is by E. Joy Morris and one by Dentzel. The four-row carousel was constructed in 1910 and consists of 35 jumpers, 18 standers, 5 menagerie animals (1 lion, 1 tiger, 1 mule, 2 camels), and 2 chariots.

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The original location of the carousel is unknown, but it was at Island Beach Park, Burlington, NJ until 1932 when it moved to its present location.

 

The band organ is a 1924 Wurlitzer 146A, but it is not currently functioning.

 

For operating times call 732-830-8374 or contact their web site at www.casinopiernj.com.

 

For further information:

The National Carousel Association

http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carved Horse Heads on Inside Panels

 

Rounding Boards

 

Band Organ (not operational)

 

 

 

Thorofare (West Deptford Township)

Sanitarium Playground

Soupy Island

 

The four-row Ferari/Heyn carousel at Sanitarium Playground/Soupy Island is a 1928-1930 Philadelphia Toboggan Company 93R which indicates it is one of the last carousels refurbished and reconditioned by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. On the platform there are 45 jumpers, 16 standers and 2 chariots. The horses are desperate for restoration as there are cracks in the wood and chips in the paint.

 

The original location of the carousel is unknown, but it was at Atlantic Highlands, NJ, from 1930 or 1931 to 1940 when it was moved to its present location to replace a previous carousel.

 

Although the National Carousel Association indicates that the carousel is not open to the public, it is open for six weeks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning after July 4 and ending in mid-August. As always, admission to the park is free. The family that operates the park will let you in to see this historic park and its carousel even if you do not bring children. We were fortunate to have met the mother and daughter caretakers who are third generation caretakers of Sanitarium Playground. They were very friendly, cordial and knowledgeable.

 

For operating time/schedule call 856-845-2430.

 

After we read the history of Sanitarium Playground/Soupy Island, we knew we had to see the carousel and the playground. The Sanitarium Association was established in 1877 by amusement park owner John F. Smith and other philanthropists, including many physicians on Windmill Island in the Delaware River near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. In 1886, the Association moved to West Deptford Township. The new location included a hospital to treat children with tuberculosis (TB).  “The idea was to give sick city children in Philadelphia a taste of some clean, country air to aid in their recuperation, and what goes better with the treatment of illness than soup? Sanitarium Association doctors felt that this was a better environment from which to recover was preferable to a cold and bereft hospital. Soup by the gallons were ladled daily to the children shipped over the river by ferry” (West Deptford Junior Womens’ Club). The sanitarium fulfilled its original mission, and although with the threat of TB all but disappeared, the playground continued to operate through the Great Depression serving soup, milk and crackers to healthy children. During World War 2, the playground served as a military base primarily to protect the neighboring shipbuilding industry. The 1970s saw an end to ferrying children from across the river, but today the playground continues to operate and still serves children from the neighboring towns who arrive by bus rather than ferry. In addition to the carousel, the playground has two swimming pools, the original 1907 slide, a soccer field, a basketball court and the original soup kitchen still serving soup, milk and crackers (West Deptford Junior Womens’ Club, May 15, 2015).

 

Consider donating to Sanitarium Playground as it still runs on donations and its original 1877 endowment. Information about donations can be found by calling 856-845-2430.

 

For further information:

The National Carousel Association

http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html

 

For further information on the history of Sanitarium Park

West Deptford Junior Womens’ Club

https://patch.com/new-jersey/westdeptford/soupy-island-gets-support

 

NJ.com

Caitlyn Stulpin

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2017/07/the_strange_story_of_soupy_island_njs_former_sanit.html

 

Courier-Post

Carly Q. Romalino

http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/local/south-jersey/2014/08/03/soup-soul/13553731/

 

Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzcZ4NlL2I0