Merry-Go-Round: Difference between revisions

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The [[Merry-Go-Round]] was an amusement device where riders would mount wooden sculptures of animals that would simulate a riding movement along a vertical pole for each sculpture. It was operated by electricity, and a central organ provided music. There were likely multiple merry-go-rounds,<ref>''Clay Record.'' United States: Clay Record Publishing Company, 1903. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0</ref> but they are separate from the [[Carousel]]. The original Merry-Go-Round was just inside the City of Columbus' boundaries in [[1899 Season|1899]], near the ravine.<ref>"Without Kids Gloves." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 27 July 1989. Pg. 6.</ref> In [[1906 Season|1906]], it was moved to the building that housed the first [[Dancing Pavilion (First)|Dancing Pavilion]] located near the park entrance and the Ferris Wheel<ref name="logan">"Olentangy Park." ''The Democrat-Sentinel (Logan, OH).'' 14 June 1906. Pg. 2. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-democrat-sentinel-olentangy-park-pa/1634143/ Clip 1] | [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-democrat-sentinel-olentangy-park-pa/1634148/ Clip 2]</ref>, however, this could have been the [[Carousel|Grand Carousel]].<ref>"Auspicious Day for Park Opening." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 30 April 1906. Pg. 6.</ref>
The [[Merry-Go-Round]] was an amusement device where riders would mount wooden sculptures of animals that would simulate a riding movement along a vertical pole for each sculpture. It was operated by electricity, and a central organ provided music. There were likely multiple merry-go-rounds,<ref>''Clay Record.'' United States: Clay Record Publishing Company, 1903. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0</ref> but they are separate from the [[Carousel]]. The original Merry-Go-Round was just inside the City of Columbus' boundaries in [[1899 Season|1899]], near the ravine.<ref>"Without Kids Gloves." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 27 July 1989. Pg. 6.</ref> In [[1906 Season|1906]], it was moved to the building that housed the first [[Dancing Pavilion (First)|Dancing Pavilion]] located near the park entrance and the Ferris Wheel<ref name="logan">"Olentangy Park." ''The Democrat-Sentinel (Logan, OH).'' 14 June 1906. Pg. 2. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-democrat-sentinel-olentangy-park-pa/1634143/ Clip 1] | [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-democrat-sentinel-olentangy-park-pa/1634148/ Clip 2]</ref>.


At least one of the merry-go-rounds in the park by 1903 was built by E. Joy Morris.<ref>"E. Joy Morris - Philadelphia's Forgotten Carousel Builder." ''Carousel News and Trader.'' Published March 1989. Vol. 5, No.3. Accessed 1 June 2024. [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.</ref>
At least one of the merry-go-rounds in the park by 1903 was built by E. Joy Morris.<ref>"E. Joy Morris - Philadelphia's Forgotten Carousel Builder." ''Carousel News and Trader.'' Published March 1989. Vol. 5, No.3. Accessed 1 June 2024. [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.</ref>
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== Description ==
== Description ==
When the park first opened in 1896, the Merry-Go-Round was described as having "beasts and birds and dreadful-looking animals."<ref name="opened">"Olentangy Park Opened." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 13 June 1896. Pg. 5.</ref> In 1906, the "Merry-Go-Round" had "gay rocking horses and chariots and [had a] big organ."<ref name="logan" />
When the park first opened in 1896, the Merry-Go-Round was described as having "beasts and birds and dreadful-looking animals."<ref name="opened">"Olentangy Park Opened." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 13 June 1896. Pg. 5.</ref> In 1906, a "Merry-Go-Round" purchased from the Columbus Zoological Company had "gay rocking horses and chariots and [had a] big organ."<ref name="logan" /> The Philadelphia Taboggan Company (PTC) started building rides with only horses in 1909.<ref>"The Passing of the Menagerie." ''Kit Carson County Carousel.'' Accessed 2 June 2024. https://www.kitcarsoncountycarousel.com/museum</ref>


== Events ==
== Events ==

Revision as of 21:20, 2 June 2024

Merry-Go-Round
Type Rotating Ride
Park Section South
Center
Built 1896
Opened 1896
Closed 1937 (park closure)
Designer E. Joy Morris and others
Vehicle Type Wooden Animal Sculptures

The Merry-Go-Round was an amusement device where riders would mount wooden sculptures of animals that would simulate a riding movement along a vertical pole for each sculpture. It was operated by electricity, and a central organ provided music. There were likely multiple merry-go-rounds,[1] but they are separate from the Carousel. The original Merry-Go-Round was just inside the City of Columbus' boundaries in 1899, near the ravine.[2] In 1906, it was moved to the building that housed the first Dancing Pavilion located near the park entrance and the Ferris Wheel[3].

At least one of the merry-go-rounds in the park by 1903 was built by E. Joy Morris.[4]

In 1897, rides were free for children under 10 and ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the park season.[5]

Description

When the park first opened in 1896, the Merry-Go-Round was described as having "beasts and birds and dreadful-looking animals."[6] In 1906, a "Merry-Go-Round" purchased from the Columbus Zoological Company had "gay rocking horses and chariots and [had a] big organ."[3] The Philadelphia Taboggan Company (PTC) started building rides with only horses in 1909.[7]

Events

The ride lost power due to a lightning strike in June 1902.[8]

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.[9][10]

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.[11]

A woman was injured when she was thrown from one of the merry-go-round rides in June 1912.[12]

See Also

  • Grand Carousel - Often called the "merry-go-round," but is a separate ride.
  • Merry-Go-Round De Luxe - "New" in 1930, strikingly similar to the Grand Carousel and possibly the same ride

References

  1. Clay Record. United States: Clay Record Publishing Company, 1903. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
  2. "Without Kids Gloves." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 27 July 1989. Pg. 6.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Olentangy Park." The Democrat-Sentinel (Logan, OH). 14 June 1906. Pg. 2. Clip 1 | Clip 2
  4. "E. Joy Morris - Philadelphia's Forgotten Carousel Builder." Carousel News and Trader. Published March 1989. Vol. 5, No.3. Accessed 1 June 2024. [1]. Special thanks to the members of the Carousel Figure Identification Facebook group.
  5. Ad. Columbus Evening Dispatch. 31 July 1897. Pg. 6.
  6. "Olentangy Park Opened." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 13 June 1896. Pg. 5.
  7. "The Passing of the Menagerie." Kit Carson County Carousel. Accessed 2 June 2024. https://www.kitcarsoncountycarousel.com/museum
  8. "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 14 June 1902. Pg. 6.
  9. Sunday Columbus Dispatch. 13 July 1902. Pg. 8.
  10. "A Fatal Ride." Monday Columbus Dispatch. 14 July 1902. Pg. 8.
  11. "Little Children of the Poor Have Day of Pleasure." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 6 July 1905. Pg. 1.
  12. "Thrown from Merry-Go-Round." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 20 June 1912. Pg. 5.