Albion Borough Carousel History

The Fourth Oldest Wooden Carousel!

Originally designed as a portable ride, the carousel has been spinning at Albion Borough Park since 1948. In addition to its horses and deer, the ancient merry-go-round includes four chariots. Like the stationary All Hallows Guild ride, none of its animals jump.

John Hayek, of Michigan, editor of the National Carousel Association’s newsletter, “Merry-Go-Rounding” said the two oldest carousels still operating are located on Martha’s Vineyard and in Rhode Island. Cedar Point now has four historically significant carousels, all carefully restored and suitably identified with brass makers proclaiming the “importance these survivors of an earlier time continue to play in our heritage.” None of four are as old as the Albion merry-go-round.

The National Carousel Association recognized the landmark, believed to have been built around 1886 by the Allen Herschell Company of Tonawanda, NY and became the first merry-go-round at the famed Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, OH.

In 1947 The Albion Lions Club raised over $3000.00 to purchase the Carousel. It arrived on the opening day of the Summer Program in 1948.

The Albion Borough Carousel operated during the summer and during the Albion Area Fair, until it was vandalized. It then went under a 24 month restoration project in the late 1980’s.

In July 2017 the National Carousel Association presented a HISTORICAL CAROUSEL AWARD to Albion Borough along with a Citation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Jim Shulman of the National Carousel Association believes the Albion Borough Carousel is the fourth oldest in the country. The Albion Borough Carousel deserves recognition for its historic significance, unique design and for the community’s commitment to maintaining and operating it.

Christine Rzeszotharski, a carousel restoration artist from Burton, Ohio, worked from January 2017 to June 2017 to repair the chips, cracks and faded paint on the carousel’s 24 animals: horses, zebras and deer.

RELATED NEWS ARTICLES
Merry-go-rounds: 10 of the oldest carousels in the USA (usatoday.com)
Albion carousel honored as one of oldest in nation – News – GoErie.com – Erie, PA
Hidden Erie: Albion Carousel whirls through history – News – GoErie.com – Erie, PA
Historic Carousel is the Pride of Albion – Erie News Now | WICU and WSEE in Erie, PA
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