Ontario
Guelph
Riverside Park
There is a
beautiful Spillman Engineering 3-row, well-maintained carousel in Riverside
Park. There are 28 jumping horses, two pigs, one frog, one
rooster. and one dog on the platform along with 4 chariots. There is a mixture
of Allan Herschell, Herschell-Spillman,
and Spillman Engineering figures, most of which are wood, but five are metal,
and one is a mixture of wood and metal.
The exact date (circa
1919) of manufacture is unknown, and its history is not well-known. Before 1965
the carousel was owned by Sullivan Shows at which time Conklin and Garrett
Shows to possession until 1970 at which time it moved to Riverside Park.
The band organ is
a Wurlitzer 105.
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For further
information
Tha National
Carousel Association
National Carousel Association
- Census of Classic Wood Carousels
Note the frog on
the inside row in the left photo!
Rounding Boards
St. Catharines
Lakeside Park
In Lakeside Park resides
a beautiful 1903 Kremer’s Carousel Works 4-row machine populated with 68
figures from the Charles I. D. Loof factory and
carved by Loof, Charles Ilions,
and probably carvers at the Herschell-Spillman
factory. There are 4 chariots. 20 figures were damaged in a fire but have been
fully restored. There are 44 jumping horses, 12 standing horses, 4 camels, 2
giraffes, 2 lions (one is a reproduction to replace a lion that was stolen in
the 1970s), 4 goats, and 4 chariots. The original Loof
lion is the only one that has its head turned to keep an eye on the viewers.
It is thought that
the carousel was originally at Hanlan’s Point in
Toronto. By 1921, the carousel was in Lakeside Park.
The band organ is
a Frati.
Rides are 5 cents.
For information on
opening times contact their website: Lakeside Park
Carousel - St. Catharines (stcatharines.ca)
or call 905-688-5600.
Original Loof Lion
Rounding Boards
Rounding Boards
Scenery Panels
Decorative Sweeps
Painting On Doors
Facing the Outside
Frati Band Organ
Toronto
Centreville
Amusement Park
Centreville
Amusement Park on Toronto’s Centre Island is home to several classic amusements
including a most beautiful 1906-1907 3-row Dentzel
carousel. The carousel is populated with 16 jumping horses, 10 standing horses,
4 pigs, 4 rabbits, 4 ostriches, 4 cats, 1 zebra, 4 rabbits, 1 tiger, 1 lion, 1
deer, 1 giraffe, and 2 chariots. The carousel is beautifully maintained.
The original
location of the carousel is unknown, but it may have spent considerable time at
Bushkill Park in Easton, Pennsylvania. It has been at
Centreville since 1965.
The band organ on
site is a non-operating Welte Model II-B using
Wurlitzer 165 rolls.
In 2017 the
carousel was put up for sale because a flood on the island the year before
closed the park for the summer resulting in a huge loss for the owners. The
deal fell through, and the City of Toronto came to rescue the carousel.
There are many
rides at Centreville for children and adults including an antique Ferris wheel.
The park is wonderful for family fun. The park operates exactly how amusement
parks should be: free admission, pay only for rides!
For information on
operating times call 416-203-0405 or access their website at www.centreisland.ca/centreville-amusement-park.
For further
information
Tha National
Carousel Association
National Carousel Association
- Census of Classic Wood Carousels
Rounding Boards
Antique “Windmill” Ferris Wheel on Site
Roseneath
Roseneath Fairgrounds
There is a most
beautiful circa 1906, Abilene, Kansas-built C. W. Parker 3-row, 40 horse
carousel at the Fairgrounds in Roseneath. The outer and inner rows of Country
Style horses are from the Parker Company; the middle row is from the Armitage-Herschell and Herschell-Spillman
Companies. Two metal rocking boats are on the platform (These are the only
rocking boats we have ever seen.). All horses are attached to the platform via
the grasshopper mechanism.
Although the
original location of the carousel is unknown, it was probably part of a
travelling carnival show for at least two years. (At one time Parker owned at
least four traveling shows.) The carousel finally settled at Mohawk Park in
Brantford, Ontario in circa 1908 where it remained until 1932 when the
directors of the Roseneath Agricultural Society purchased the carousel for Ca
$675.
In 1986, a
Carousel Restoration Committee was formed and raised Ca $400,000 for
restoration since the carousel did not meet Ontario’s safety standards and was
deemed unsafe. The carousel was closed from 1986 to 1993 for restoration.
Master carver Konstantin von Waldburg oversaw the
project. The mechanical system was refurbished by Lakeland Machinists, and the
wooden sweeps were refurbished by Partek Construction
Company. Both companies are from Cobourg, Ontario. Local artists, Herma Seppanen and Avril Bull Jones reproduced the original
paintings for the gear screen panels and the rounding boards. The carousel
reopened in 1995. The 16-sided building that housed the carousel since 1932 was
fully repaired and restored in 1998 including the installation of a new
foundation and a cement floor.
The carousel is
maintained and operated by very proud and enthusiastic volunteers.
The carousel was
the well – deserved recipient of the 2010 National Carousel Association Award.
The band organ is
a 1934 Wurlitzer 125 Military Band organ.
The carousel is
open on Sundays from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The carousel can often be seen at
other times by special arrangement.
For information on
opening dates and times call 905-352-3778 or access their website
www.roseneathcarousel.com.
We enjoyed our
visit to the Roseneath Carousel, talking to the enthusiastic volunteers, and
learning the history of the carousel.
For Further
Information
National Carousel
Association
National
Carousel Association - Census of Classic Wood Carousels
The Roseneath
Carousel
This website
offers an excellent history of the carousel.
Rocking
Boat
Rounding Boards
