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 the 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