They came. They marveled. And they went for a ride.
Some 103 National Carousel Association members from 23 states on Thursday ventured to Buffalo to see the Buffalo Heritage Carousel. They raved about the rare, park-style menagerie carousel built in 1924 in North Tonawanda and recently restored by local volunteers and others.
“I think it’s spectacular,” said John Caruso of Brooklyn. “We’ve been waiting to see it ever since we found out about the restoration.”
The association's 2021 convention in Rochester began Wednesday and continues through Sunday.
“It’s beautiful,” Jean Bennett of Irvine, Calif., said of the Canalside carousel. “This is the one people came to this convention to see.”
The rare three-row, park-style carousel was manufactured in North Tonawanda, back when the city was among the nation's handful of leading carousel manufacturers. Only about 20 models were produced by Herschell-Spillman or the Spillman Engineering Corp., which manufactured the Buffalo Heritage Carousel.
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It's just the ninth menagerie carousel in operation nationally, according to Laurie Hauer-LaDuca, Buffalo Heritage Carousel's president.
"I think it's one of the most gorgeous carousels I've seen," said Susan Hanes of St. Paul, Minn. "Everything about it is just beautiful."
The association's first travel day included the Canalside attraction, Olcott Beach Carousel Park and the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda. Visits to carousels in Syracuse, Rochester and Elmira are on the group's itinerary for Friday and Saturday.
"It's one of the prettiest ones I've seen," said Irene Burger of Sacramento. "I'm really enthralled with this one."
"It's one of the best," said past association president Tom VanSant of Huntsville, Ala., who said he has attended around 30 conventions.
The carousel enthusiasts rode the herd of 27 horses, plus a deer, lion, tiger, giraffe, ostrich, mule and sea dragon, and sat in the three chariots: one with carved dancing goddesses; a custom-carved, handicapped-accessible Erie Canal boat; and a replica of the original rocking gondolier.
They did so inside the solar-powered wooden KeyBank Roundhouse, designed by eco_logic STUDIO with solar tiles provided by Tesla.
"The building sets it off so well," said Paula Myers of Plano, Texas. "And the artistry is fabulous."
Some of the attendees were aware Italian immigrant Domenick De Angelis purchased the carousel in 1924 and operated it in two locations south of Boston, Mass., until his death in 1952. They also knew the carousel went into storage in 1954 and wasn't used for 67 years. The restored attraction opened on May 28.
The carousel recorded 74,000 rides through Labor Day, when it closed for refurbishing. The work included painting touch-ups to get it ready for the convention visitors.
Hauer-LaDuca was presented with a plaque from the carousel organization for the "continued preservation and operation" of the amusement machine.
Helen Ronan, Buffalo Heritage Carousel's treasurer, said the National Carousel Association's visit marked a milestone for the local group.
"From the conception to this stage, it's just wonderful," Ronan said. "It's nice to see all these national people riding and enjoying it."
The convention in Rochester was postponed in 2020 due to Covid-19. Anne Stauffer of Topeka, Kan., said "it was worth waiting a year for."
"This is an absolutely magical carousel," Stauffer said.
Added Robert Gagnon of Agawam, Mass.: "It's great that the city appreciates it, because it's a real treasure."
Mark Sommer covers preservation, development, the waterfront, culture and more. He's also a former arts editor at The News.
