New Jersey
There are four
classic carousels in New Jersey
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 that originally allowed the figures to fly outward a few degrees
during platform rotation.
Rounding Boards
Ocean City
Gillian’s
Wonderland Pier
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
PTC
Signature Horse
R: PTC
Signature
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.
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
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
