Carousel Rides and Blacksmithing Demonstration

Carousel Rides and Blacksmithing demonstration by Betsy DeBrakeleer.
Carousel rides on Willowbrook’s 1894 Armitage Herschell “steam riding gallery” are being offered on Saturday, May 23, every 30 minutes beginning at 10:30 am and ending at 3:00 pm. Rides are free with admission to the Village, or tickets may be purchased for $3 each. An adult must ride with anyone under the age of 10. Feet must reach the stirrups to be able to ride on a carousel horse alone.

Steam riding gallery, merry-go-round, hobbyhorses, flying Dutchman, steam circus, and flying Jenny are all different names for carousels. The 1880s through the early 1930s have been referred to as the “golden age” of the wooden carousel in the United States. More than 6,000 hand-carved wooden carousels were made and operated during these years–less than 300 remain today. About 25 percent of American-made carousels were made by one of four Herschell Companies of North Tonawanda, New York, and were shipped to purchasers via the Erie Canal.

The Village is open 10am to 5pm, 5 days each week, closed Tuesday and Wednesday, through Columbus Day.

To view the 2009 season’s calendar of events and activities, visit Willowbrook’s website at willowbookmuseum.org. For more information, call Amelia Chamberlain, director, at 207-793-2784.