This shield was carved by Jim Vannest of Grover, NC and is a donation by Jim and his SHS Class of 1943. Jim was born in Elmira and lived there until 1948. While living on the Southside, he says he still managed to log many hours at Eldridge Park. The Merry-Go-Round got lots of his attention and he says it was fun to ride and try catching the brass ring.

Here's what Jim says about his shield project:

The shield is constructed from three 8 inch wide, 3/4 inch thick basswood boards glued and biscuited together. The outside shape was cut by a band saw and smoothed and rounded over with a router. The logo design was carved using hand tools, gauges, veining chisels, etc.

While checking updates on the SHS 58 site, the coverage of the upcoming restoration project at Eldridge Park's Carousel caught my attention and led me to contact the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society and Bob Lyon. I extended an offer to carve something for the Carousel, possibly a shield for the Rounding Board.

In early June, I attended my SHS Class of 43 Southside High School gathering celebrating the 60th anniversary of graduation. During my stay in Elmira, I visited the Carousel site and met with Bob Lyon and others working on the restoration projects. It was decided that a carved shield with the apparent logo of Bob Long be produced to honor the man who brought the Carousel to Elmira in 1924. That is my contribution to the project and the SHS Class of 1943 has funded the basswood lumber needed for the shield.

So Elmirans from near and far are participating in the restoration project, all of us having enjoyed riding the Carousel and wanting to help preserve it for the present and future.