Round and round, Eldridge Park carousel keeps going

ELMIRA -- For Walt Kowalski of Horseheads, the carousel in Eldridge Park holds a lot of great memories.

Kowalski, who came to the Southern Tier in 1966 to run the carousel, was the last person to operate the once-popular ride back in 1989.

"It holds a lot of memories," he said.

Kowalski met his wife of 27 years, Terry, while operating the carousel. In fact, he gave her one of the carousel's brass rings as an engagement ring.

So for Kowalski, Friday's unveiling of the partially-restored carousel was a special event for not only him, but for those who rode the carousel in the past and those who will get a chance to utilize it in the future.

"This is a good thing for the generation of today to experience the carousel that we were able to experience in the '70s and early '80s," he said.

The carousel was the main feature ride of the old amusement park that was located in Eldridge Park, Kowalski noted.

"Nowadays they have the big roller coasters and everything that are featured," he said. "Back then (at) this amusement park, the carousel was the main feature ride, and without the carousel, the park wouldn't exist."

Kowalski stated that he is looking to completion of the restoration of the carousel, which is being undertaken by the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society Inc.

"I have memories of the past and those memories will never go away," he said, "but now these are new memories that I will have of the future carousel that will make memories for the young children of today."

Those who attended Eldridge Park Friday got the first look at the partially restored carousel and some of the carved animals that were purchased to populate it.

Among the animals on display was a hand-carved duplicate of the carousel's lead horse, which was created by master carver Larry Pefferly of Tennessee. The horse is white and decorated with silver armor.

The Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society Inc. was organized by Dr. Bob Lyon, a local dentist and native Elmiran, who said that the carousel was enjoyed by his family since it was brought to the park in 1924 by a 23-year-old man named Bob Long.

"(Elmira) Mayor Steve Hughes, a friend and classmate of mine, asked me to give the 9-11 memorial address to the public at Eldridge Park last September because of my experiences identifying the victims of the WTC (World Trade Center) disaster," Lyon said. "I walked into the old carousel building expecting to see it empty. I about fell on my face."

Lyon said the memories flowed through him like an ocean.

"There standing before me was the entire mechanism; missing only its beautiful animals," he said. "When I left, I began to think about Roricks Glen, the Langdon House, Elmira's street cars -- all gone forever. Although I realize that one cannot navigate in a forward direction by staring in the rearview mirror, I believe we can all learn from the past. The Eldridge Park carousel is a gem, cherished by all who rode it."

Lyon said he first asked George Howell of F.M. Howell and Co. what he thought about a restoration of the carousel.

"He said, 'If you get this off the ground, I'd like to help,'" said Lyon. "Since that day, the passion for this project has engendered the enthusiasm of the entire community."

The first phase of the carousel project consisted of the restoration of the building and the carousel mechanism.

The second phase of the project involves the acquisition of animals, shields, etc.

"So far we have 10 hand-carved basswood masterpieces to 'jump start' this phase," said Lyon.

All 20 outer row animals will be carved by Pefferly to match the originals.

"At least one other local carver, John Kolonach, will be involved as well," said Lyon. "He is reproducing all the chariots and carving a unique addition to the carousel -- a local animal. A black bear complete with honeypot and bee."

Lyon said he had no idea when the preservation society and the carousel restoration project began last September that it "would have grown to the point that it's grown."

"The community support has been overwhelming," he said. "So far, over $350,000 in donated materials and labor (have been made). We'd still like to raise another $600,000 so we have a large endowment and can pay for the rest of the horses also."

The enthusiasm shown by the local community for this project has been unsurpassed, said Lyon.

"The community leaders, the business leaders, the public that have become involved are energized and enthusiastic about it, in a way that is almost unexplainable," he said. "It's as though this machine is alive, like it is not an inanimate object."

The Eldridge Park carousel means a lot to thousands and thousands of people, Lyon said.

For more information on the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society, visit the organization's Web site at www.eldridgepark.us.