A Carousel Summer

by Renee Drago

As we plunge into summer fun, some of us are drawn to the area parks.  Parks in the Lehigh Valley range from being simple with trees and playground equipment to the more elaborate amusement parks that include rides, concession stands, and games.  Some amusement parks include carousels, also known as the merry-go-round.  Merriam-Webster dictionary considers the word carousel to be a synonym for the word merry-go-round.  

                                                     Lehigh Valley Parks and Gardens (2023) DiscoverLehighValley.com

Lehigh Valley Parks | Local, State & National Parks to Visit (discoverlehighvalley.com)

The word carousel traces its roots to the 12^th century.  As legend would have it, Arabian and Turkish warriors would mount their horses, then form a circle, followed by tossing a clay ball filled with perfume between riders.  The player who failed to catch the ball would reek of perfume until they could wash. Eschner, Kat. “The Dizzy History of Carousels Begins With Knights,” Smithsonian Magazine, July 25, 2017.  Accessed April 11, 2023.

Similar to the Arabian and Turkish warriors, horsemen in France developed a practice device with legless wooden horses suspended from arms on a central rotating pole.  The pole was rotated either by human, horse, or mule, while the horsemen mounted on the wooden horses practiced games such as spearing a hanging ring with their jousting lances.  Eschner, Kat. “The Dizzy History of Carousels Begins With Knights,” Smithsonian Magazine, July 25, 2017.  Accessed April 11, 2023.

In 1861 America, Thomas Bradshaw invented the first steam-powered carousel.  His design was patented in 1863, launching steam-powered rides in fairgrounds and amusement parks across the country.  (2020-04-15) The History of the Carousel | Origins of the Carousel (Blog Post) Retrieved from The History of the Carousel | Origins of the Carousel (volocars.com)

 (2020-04-15) The History of the Carousel | Origins of the Carousel (Blog Post) Retrieved from The History of the Carousel | Origins of the Carousel (volocars.com)

A few Lehigh Valley notable carousels were once enjoyed by many at Bushkill Park in Forks Township and Dorney Park in Allentown.  Another carousel still in existence after a century is found in the Slate Belt at Weona Park in Pen Argyl, PA. 

Bushkill Park was established in 1902 in Forks Township.  Tom Long was the owner of the park from 1930 until his death in 1965. Tom Long is credited by many with modernizing Bushkill Park. The carousel beloved by many was at the park from 1903 until 1991. The carousel had 46 hand carved animals and 4 chariots. During winter months, Tom Long would bring in carousels to restore and sell and if the carousel he was working on happened to have an animal that the park’s carousel did not have he would switch out an existing animal with a new one.  A treasure of riding the park’s carousel was catching rings.  While riding the carousel, you would always be on the lookout to capture the lustrous brass ring.

A Carousel of Memories. 2005. Directed by Javier Diaz. Bethlehem, PA: WLVT, PBS 39

In 1965, Mabel Long managed the park until her death in 1989.  After Mabel’s death, Ron Long, nephew of Tom and Mabel, then took over managing of the park.    Sadly, the carousel was sold intact to an Ohio collector in 1991.  Ron bought a new carousel and with the help of volunteers refurbished it to its 1920 glory.  Unfortunately in 2004, Hurricane Ivan ravaged this antique carousel.  

Antique Carousel wrecked by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.A Carousel of Memories.2005.Directed by Javier Diaz. Bethlehem, PA: WLVT, PBS 39

Bushkill Park has recently acquired a new carousel for 2023.

In neighboring Allentown, a park was born in 1860 by Solomon Dorney.  The park was originally a fish hatchery known as "Fish Weir and Summer Resort” and consisted of eight trout ponds and picnic groves.  In the early 1900’s, the park was purchased by the Traction Company and Jacob Plarr, managed park operations.  Jacob Plarr brought a Dentzel carousel to the park and this ride was used from the early 1900’s until about 1920.  In 1920, the park acquired a carousel from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.  This particular carousel was loved by many including me.  I remember being amazed at the horses that went up and down as the well as the sounds of the music surrounding the carousel.  The title of this carousel was so fitting as it was known as Le Grande Carousel.  

Dorney Park's Le Grande Carousel - 1916(approximately) until destroyed by fire in 1983

Le Grande Carousel after the fire in 1983

Today, Dorney Park has another antique carousel that was acquired from Ohio in 1995.  This particular carousel recently celebrated its 100^th birthday. 

If you travel to the northern parts of Northampton County, you will find a town known as Pen Argyl.  Pen Argyl is home to Weona(We-Own-A) Park and a Dentzel carousel.  This carousel was acquired in 1923.  The carousel contains 34 horses, three giraffes, three deer, three goats, and a lone zebra as well as two sleighs.  The carousel is housed inside a wooden pavilion and music is provided by a Wurlitzer organ.  On the opening day of the carousel in 1923, tickets for a ride sold at $100 per person.  The carousel was fully paid for on that day.  In 1999, the carousel was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Additionally in 2014, the carousel was awarded the Historical Carousel Award by the National Carousel Association.  On June 3 of this year, the carousel celebrated its 100th birthday with a grand celebration held at the park.  

Weona Park Carousel

Wooden structure that contains the Weona Park carousel

Hopefully as you dive into summer fun, you will venture out to a local park and enjoy all that it has to offer and maybe even a ride on a carousel. 

 

 

A Brief History of Mount Jefferson in Easton, PA

 

By Sharon Gothard

William Parsons, surveyor, shoemaker, librarian, and much more, was sent by the Penn family to lay out the town of Easton. This was in 1752, when the county of Northampton was newly formed from the already established county of Bucks.

Thomas Penn selected the area of what was to become Easton, and the county seat. He elected Parsons to lay out the town.

Courtesy of Moravian Archives
 
If you look closely at the draught that Parsons drew, you will see one large outcrop along the what is now known as the Bushkill Creek. The letter A states that this place would make a good graveyard. That outcrop of a hill below the letter A is what we now call Mt. Jefferson.

 Peter Kachlein (1722 – 1789) was first to have this hill and had mills at the bottom of the mount. However, he never obtained a formal deed from the Penn family for this hill and property.

After his death, he willed the land to his daughter Elizabeth, married to Peter Ihrie.

 In honor of Thomas Jefferson becoming our third President, it was decided on January 1, 1801, to call the “hill that overhangs over the south side of the Bushkill”, MOUNT JEFFERSON. According to the American Eagle newspaper, many toasts were given and drank, accompanied by the discharge of a cannon up on this hill.

 Since the Ihrie’s still made no formal right to the land, Frederick Beates from Philadelphia, formally purchased the hill from the Penn’s for $35. In 1804, the Ihries repurchased it for $200. Peter Ihries willed the land to his sons, Benjamin and Ferdinand after his death in 1827.

 Over the years, there were many occasions to fire the cannon on Mt. Jefferson and Napoleon (Poly) Patier was the cannoneer. On the 1850 map of Easton in the Marx Room, there is a “Cannon House” on Mt. Jefferson, along with a “Negro Shanty” at the base of the hill, possibly to take care the burial ground of the Blacks adjacent to the German Reform Cemetery.

 Another celebration, Easton’s militia went down the Delaware River in Durham boats to welcome General Lafayette on his visit in 1824. Music played, crowds cheered and cannons were fired from Mt. Jefferson to celebrate his arrival.

 In 1853, Ferdinand Ihrie sold his half of Mt. Jefferson to his brother Benjamin.

 “Some malicious scoundrel, in whose bosom the fire of patriotism has become extinct, if it ever burned at all, spiked the cannon on Mt. Jefferson, on Thursday night, which prevented the firing of a national salute on the 22d.” Easton Express February 23, 1856

 In the Easton Argus, February 25, 1858, “Washington’s birthday was appropriately celebrated in our Borough by a military parade and cannon firing from Mt. Jefferson. “Young America” is not deficient in patriotism.”

 A thirty-three guns salute was fired from Mt. Jefferson in honor of the admission of Oregon as a state on February 14, 1859.

When Jacob Dachrodt was mustered out of the First Pennsylvania Regiment on July 26, 1861, he and few other volunteers, returned to a “rousing reception in Easton.” Church bells rang and cannons were fired from Mt. Jefferson.

Firing of Cannon off Mt. Jefferson (possibly Poly)

                                           Courtesy of Library Company of Philadelphia (Circa 1870)

 

In 1869, Benjamin Ihrie sold most of Mt. Jefferson to his relative, Stephen Van Buren Kachline, an Easton lawyer. Approximately 1870,  Kachline must have built a home on Mt. Jefferson as it is listed on the 1874 Northampton County Atlas Map by Beers. Interesting note, John D. Sigman who was related to the Kachline’s on his mother side, had built a house on the “cliff” of Mt. Jefferson overlooking North West St. and downtown Easton. There is nothing left of this home, it was torn down  @1966 after being vacant for too long a time.

 In 1879 the property went up for Sheriff Sale. Annie Kachline, Stephen’s wife, bought it back for $2,625 and kept the title in her name until she sold it to Anna M. (Whitesell) Steckel for $7,000 in 1896. Anna was married to Henry Steckel, lawyer.

 

     Courtesy from Miles Dechant circa late 1890’s 

 In the 1880 Federal Census, the Kachlines were living on “Mt. Jefferson.” By 1882, Stephen passed away. Annie and her family were still living at Mt. Jefferson in the 1890 Census Directory.

 On the 1897 Sanborn Fire map, it has a house on the property and several other buildings on Mt. Jefferson. One of the buildings has Paper Box Factory. Talking to Miles Dechant, a descendant of the Kachline’s, Stephen Kachlines’ son, John Franklin had the Box Factory. In later census’s, he is listed as a paper box manufacturer living in Reading, PA.

  Courtesy of Miles Dechant

 

 

 Original entry home with larger home in the back ground – Courtesy of Miles Dechant               Later renovations of entry house                                           

 

 In 1914, Anna Steckel, wife of Henry, died. The property was willed mainly to her husband. 

 

    The front porch has been enclosed or winterized.

 

Sometime between 1916 to 1918, Steckel made improvements to the property, by adding a double garage.

 

Courtesy of the Easton Patch

Henry Steckel died in 1919 at the age of 90. In his will, Henry divided the Mt. Jefferson property into three pieces. His daughter Jennie, was given the main house and after her death, it was to go to Henry's grandson, Henry F. Steckel II. His son, Daniel, received "his present residence on North Fifth street". This house was given to Daniel and his wife as a wedding gift in 1912 and still remains at the entrance to the Mt. Jefferson property. Many people confuse this house with the original larger Kachline/Steckel house.

Side view of entry house                                                 Both photos courtesy of the Easton Patch

Jennie Steckel and a companion, lived in the Steckel Main House until her death in 1927. It is thought that the main house was either torn down or had burned, around the 1930’s as it is definitely gone and does not appear on the 1957 Sanborn Fire Map.

 

 

 

Today, Mount Jefferson is nothing but overgrowth, trees and remnants of where buildings and the home stood.

 Daniel Steckel lived in the “entry house” until his death in 1923. His wife, Mabel (Marnie) Steckel lived in the house until she went to a retirement home in 1963 and passed away at the retirement home  in 1972.

 In 1962, Hugh Moore Jr. and his brother, Craig were given an option to purchase Mt. Jefferson. They sold their option the next year to Rocks Construction, Inc., who had plans to build 100 apartments on the hill.  By 1972, the project was abandoned.

 The property went through a few hands, with hopes of restoring the “entry house”. Today, although there is a smidgen of beauty to the once grand place, some neglect can be seen.

 There are still many mysteries to the hill known as Bushkill Hill or Mount Jefferson. 

Many thanks to Richard Hope and his fabulous Walking Easton database. If you are looking for a more detailed report of what Hope put together, it can be found in the Marx Room.

Special thanks to William Grant, Frederick Bond and Miles Dechant.