I love Merry-Go-Rounds! What fun to experience this one, in Coeur d'Alene, celebrating 100 years.
The Spillman Junior carousel was hand-carved by the Herschell-Spillman Engineering Company in North Tonawanda, New York in 1922. The carousel has 20 ponies and two chariots and is a children's Merry-Go-Round which was designed for traveling carnival use. It is not known what year it made its way to Coeur d'Alene for permanent installation at Playland Pier.In 1942, Playland Pier amusement park was built on a wooden pier overlooking the lake and public beach. It was enjoyed by generations. The park included many rides and activities including this Merry-Go-Round.In 1975, the amusement park closed and the rides were dismantled. The pier burned down in December 1975. The carousel disappeared for over 10 years, to date no one knows where it was.The carousel surfaced at an auction in Puyallap, Washington in 1986. Carol & Duane Perron, collectors from Hood River, Oregon bought it and spent a year restoring it and adding it to their vast carousel collection. Carol, a Coeur d'Alene native, was thrilled to have her childhood Merry-Go-Round. The carousel then traveled around the country for lease.In 2010, a local newspaper article reported how carousel history buffs Richard Le Francis & Julie Clark discovered where the old carousel was located. They decided it needed to come home to Coeur d'Alene, and began their quest to enlist local support. The Coeur d'Alene Press published an article about their goal.New residents John & Pat Foote saw the newspaper article and contacted Richard Le Francis. John, a Montana native and entrepreneur was also a history buff and his family had carnival history. He and Richard reached out to the Perrons in Hood River to inquire if they would be willing to sell the old carousel. They agreed, and John & Pat purchased the carousel and gifted it to the newly formed non-profit CdA Carousel Foundation.Six years later (with the support of a local benefactor and many volunteers), the carousel opened to much fanfare. Over 1800 riders rode that first day! What fun that we could experience this local history. Did I tell you I love Merry-Go-Rounds?
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