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.
The word carousel traces its roots to the 12th
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)
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.
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.
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.
Today, Dorney Park has another
antique carousel that was acquired from Ohio in 1995. This particular carousel recently celebrated
its 100th 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.
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