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Cafesjian's Carousel (horses to run again)
At Como Park, on April 15, cold and huddled together were children of all ages (estimated age: 1 yr. to 70+ yrs.) awaiting for the horses to once again gallop, and open the Carousel season (see RRR Mar/April/May 98). First time riders consisted of volunteers and long time supporters of Our Fair Carousel Board. Janice was riding a gray-spotted, leopard saddled, steed. Nearly all of the 66 horses had mounts for that ride. The original carousel had 68 horses and two chariot seats. The missing two horses are still being refurbished and hope to be in place for the dedication ceremony and gala grand opening Saturday, June 3. On June 3, the carousel will open at 10:00 a.m. and a formal dedication will commence after the 5 p.m. closing. The music from the refurbished Wurlitzer Band Organ brought back memories of the State Fair days of the 50s and 60s. One memory of the grandpa-type was just how long of a ride you got back then for just a dime. For first time riders like Ben, age 2, his memories will be the band organ music in his ears and what seemed like 100 waves to mom and grandma as he whirled around on his first ever carousel ride. The Carousel appears to have found a near perfect, final home. Housed in a Victorian-style pavilion, just south of the Como Park Conservatory, the blending is such that, if you were not familiar with Como Park, you would never know that it is a new structure rather than part of the early 1900s scheme of the Park. According to Don Boxmeyer (Pioneer Press, 4/14/00), the carousel was built in 1914 and housed at the State Fair grounds until 1989. The Carousel was nearly destroyed by fire in 1939 and nearly parceled and auctioned off in the 1980s. "It was saved by Gerard Cafesjian, a retired West Publishing executive who has given more than 1.1 million to the project, i.e., saving and relocating the carousel, which understandably was named for him." Peter Boehm, president of the Our Fair Carousel Board and his wife Nancy Peterson have been the lead persons in caring, fund raising and showing concerns for the Carousel for the last 11½ years. In describing the carousel's new home, Peter said, "This is better than we could have ever expected it to be. You can tell from all the nose prints on the glass doors that the public is very eager to come aboard the carousel." But all of the effort would have been for naught if the St. Paul City Council, the Mayor, and dedicated St. Paul Parks and Recreation staff had not been willing to be a major player in the saving of the carousel back in the 80s and early 90s. Equally, at the close of the millennium, the St. Paul City Council and Mayor, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, and the St. Paul Parks and Recreation staff, and Parks Board came forth with a funding solution for the carousel. And that 2-year-old Ben, after touring the zoo for over an hour returned to the Carousel, and you could tell that he has plans for mom, dad, grandma and grandpa to become a regular Cafesjian fan. He has just 68 horses and one more chariot to ride, and then he'll be 3. For details see Quick Notes Page. |
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Rettman Report (May/June 2000) |
Welfare to Work |
Transportation |
Commissioner Rettman's Home Page Author: Commissioner Rettman's Office / Information Services
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