President's Message - Reprinted from the Summer 2005 Merry-Go-Roundup

New Ideas for Carousels

By Bette Largent, NCA President

Usually "inspiration" in one form or another comes to me just in time to write the president's message. But usually was not the case for this issue of Roundup.

At first I considered highlighting the 100th anniversary of three of our 141 remaining antique carousels. Elaborate celebrations were or are planned, and the NCA is awarding each centennial status and presenting them with commemorative plaques. We lined up board members in those areas to attend the celebrations, and even I was lucky enough to attend one in my neighborhood.

The celebrations were not only fun, but also satisfying, as the carousels have received support and assistance in some manner from the NCA . which helped make it possible for them to begin another century of operation.

Then sad news arrived, that another of our antique carousels - the magnificent B & B Carousel that has whirled for many years at Coney Island - was in danger. My first reaction was, "Could we have done more to prevent it from showing up in an auctioneer's flyer?"

Consider, the NCA has taken big steps in the past few years to educate carousel owners and operators and the general public about the importance of supporting our carousels. Our beautiful 2006 calendar is now in carousel shops and being purchased by our members - the calendars will undoubtedly be seen by people currently unaware of our existence.

The expanded 2004 census should already have arrived in your mailbox, a wonderful reference and resource. Our technical conferences are educational and inspiring, with more and more helpful information reaching vital people in carousel operations. Our Web site is both educational and useful, continues to expand, and is being viewed by thousands of individuals around the world.

Recently the C. W. Parker carousel museum, with its two operating carousels, held its grand opening in Leavenworth. And more museums and educational projects are in the planning stage or nearing completion in other locations.

The 2005 convention is coming up in August, giving our members a great opportunity to experience a spectacular group of carousels, in Pennsylvania.

Yet, once again the possibility looms that we might lose one of our treasures.

About the same time the sad news arrived, a new carousel book arrived in my mail box. It is filled with beautiful illustrations and packed with historical information about the carousel industry. Beautifully bound and signed by the author, it clearly represents several years of hard work (inspired by the limited-edition carvings of our own Jerry Reinhardt). The author, Dr. Nona Hengen, a retired history professor and artist, has many previous books to her credit, primarily historical in nature, but also featuring animals. Several have found their way to classrooms as "read-aloud" books, which delight a child's imagination while teaching them that to own an animal is to be responsible for it. Hengen's new book aims to do the same thing for our carousels.

Written from the viewpoint of a carousel horse, and with more than 40 beautiful illustrations, it portrays the carousel figures as real as children imagine them to be. It tells about the immigrant craftsmen who created the rides and their lives in the inner cities of the industrial age. It even carries the reader by rail to the Midwest plains and reveals how country fairs contributed to our American carousel history. And the pain experienced by the carousel horses, from no longer being ridden or appreciated, is within its covers as well. Thankfully, there is a happy ending.

Let's hope there will be a happy ending for Coney Island's B & B Carousel, as well. Let's hope that more children, adults, and public officials will realize the importance of saving this valuable example of carousel history. Let's hope the NCA will someday present this carousel with a commemorative 100th anniversary plaque, and that once again its historical location will experience glory days.

We need everyone's help. If you'd like to contribute time, talents, and/or ideas, to help save the B & B Carousel, please contact Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President, Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn, NY 11201.