Merry-Go-Round (1)
| Type | Rotating Ride |
|---|---|
| Park Section | Center |
| Built | 1896 |
| Opened | 1896 |
| Closed | Before 1910 |
| Designer | E. Joy Morris |
| Vehicle Type | Wooden Animal Sculptures |
The original Merry-Go-Round at Olentangy Park was built just inside the City of Columbus' boundaries in 1896, near the ravine,[1] just beyond the bridge and south of a refreshment stand (later, the Colonnade).[2] It was built by E. Joy Morris,[3][4] and was the first one in Columbus.[3] In 1897, rides were free for children under 10 and ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the park season.[5] In 1906, it was moved to the building that housed the first Dancing Pavilion located in the Grove.[6][7] This merry-go-round was replaced by a new one in 1910.
Description
The Merry-Go-Round was an amusement device in which riders mounted wooden sculptures of animals that simulated riding movements along a vertical pole for each sculpture. The device was operated by electricity,[8] and a central organ provided music.
When the park first opened in 1896, the Merry-Go-Round was described as having "beasts and birds and dreadful-looking animals."[3]
Events
The ride lost power due to a lightning strike in June 1902.[9]
Injuries and Deaths
On July 12, 1902, Mrs. John Hindmarch, 57, fell from the ride while at the park with her two granddaughters. She fell while checking on her granddaughter, her head landing on a rock. She later died from her injuries. Her family had just moved to Columbus from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two months prior.[10][11]
On July 6, 1905, during an outing for orphans and poor children hosted by the Salvation Army, Eral Roach became dizzy while riding the merry-go-round and fell from a horse. He was badly shaken and bruised but recovered.[12]
See Also
- Merry-Go-Round (2) - Merry-Go-Round purchased from the Columbus Zoological Company in 1906
- Merry-Go-Round (3) - A merry-go-round added in 1910
- Grand Carousel - Mangels-Illions Carousel currently in operation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- Merry-Go-Round De Luxe - Opened in 1930
References
- ↑ "Without Kids Gloves." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 27, 1989. Page 6.
- ↑ Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 8, 1899. Page 4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Olentangy Park Opened." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 13, 1896. Page 5.
- ↑ Manns, William. "E. Joy Morris - Philadelphia's Forgotten Carousel Builder." Carousel News and Trader. March 1989. Vol. 5. Issue 3. Page 5-14. https://carouselhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Carousel-news-and-trader-march-1989.pdf Special thanks to the members of the Carousel Figure Identification Facebook group.
- ↑ Advertisement. Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 31, 1897. Page 6.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Democrat-Sentinel (Logan, Ohio). June 14, 1906. Page 2. Clip 1 and Clip 2
- ↑ Clay Record. United States: Clay Record Publishing Company, 1903. Accessed through Google Books https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Attractions." Illustrated Guide to Columbus 1899. 1899. Page 47.
- ↑ "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 14, 1902. Page 6.
- ↑ Sunday Columbus Dispatch. July 13, 1902. Page 8.
- ↑ "A Fatal Ride." Monday Columbus Dispatch. July 14, 1902. Page 8.
- ↑ "Little Children of the Poor Have Day of Pleasure." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 6, 1905. Page 1.