Skip to main content

For a Magical Ride Near and Far: Forest Hills Carousel













If I could travel back in time there are so many things I would love to see. I would love to see historical events and take part in New York City during the glam days when the streets were paved with mansions instead of the Lord and Taylors of the world. But most of all I wish I could see what my family members lives were like as children. Despite how much you know to be a fly on the wall is a whole other thing. 
I have begun preserving and saving mementos from my grandmother, mother, and now my life journey in hopes of sharing them with my forthcoming children.  I hope our rich personal history will add to the fabric of their lives.
Now I have now found a place that existed in the past, present, and hopefully future, that I can also bring those children to someday. It is the Forest Hills Carousel in Queens, New York.
When my mother was a child growing up in Ridgewood, Queens she used to go to the Forest Hills Carousel. For what seems like years she has been wanting to go back and visit since it is still around. After looking it up I realized it was a made a National Historic Landmark in 2013. 
According to their website:
“It became the first carousel and the third amusement ride to be granted such a designation. (The Parachute Jump, which like the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel is in Coney Island, also has landmark status but no longer functions as a ride).”
This sealed the deal for me and we picked out a day to visit.
We decided to go and take along my B.F.F. and her two small children. In effect these are my children and my mother’s grandchildren, especially for the time being. Besides what kid doesn’t like a carousel? Certainly not these two, they love a ride on the merry-go-round.
It is impressive to note that this carousel was first built in 1910 and has three rows to ride on and they include a total of thirty-six horses, thirteen standing horses, a deer, a tiger, and a lion. A ticket for one ride costs three dollars. In this day and age it is certainly worth that. It is one of the few things you can still afford to take children to unlike the movies which now costs a small fortune.
Daniel Muller first began carving these animals in 1903 and up until 1973 this particular carousel was in Lakeview Park, in Massachusetts. Muller was known for his artistic training and his background allowed for the depth of detail you see today. Even the horses that go up and down have “real” hair as opposed to just paint. The final row out of the three on this ride remains stationary. I suppose that is for those too little or too afraid to chance those in constant motion.
Back in 1966 the original carousel was completely lost in a fire. In 1971 this current carousel (carved by Muller) left Massachusetts and underwent two years of restoration. It opened in Queens in 1973.  It is only one of two that Muller created that are still in existence today.
In 2009 it was closed down once more but reopened with great fanfare in 2012. It is supposed to be going under additional restoration that is expected to last several years but looked intact to me during my visit. When we were there I have to say I thought it looked pretty good. It had an old timey feeling to it but it did not look ragged it in any way. It was something you don’t see on every one in a typical amusement park setting. I loved that old fashioned feel as we waited on line with the throngs of kids excited to get on.
My niece and nephew were picking out their horses as soon as we got there. There was no line to purchase a ticket and if we haven’t been stuck in a mob of Girl Scouts we would have gotten right on. But oh well waiting for a few minutes was okay because this past weekend was a hot one.
Once on everyone was excited although the kids suddenly became camera shy. Yes I did go on but did not get on any animals. I had to say that I have been on this Historic site and didn’t just watch from the sidelines. That wouldn’t have made any sense to me. The ride last a few minutes and I was happy when it was over. It turns out migraines and merry-go-rounds equal intense dizziness.  From there it was time to go back to my house for a play date, indoors.
It was so worth minor effort it took to get there especially when my nephew said it was the best part of his day. Sharing this special place with them was mine.

 For More Information:
www.forestparkcarousel.com
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/25/over-a-century-old-a-carousel-is-given-landmark-status/



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For Find Out Friday - Why Do Emery Boards Make My Skin Crawl?

You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard?  You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound.  I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes.  I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something.  It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions.  Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima.  According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkboard or by using emery boards
Post a Comment
Read more

For My Madness During Migraine Awareness Month

Last weekend as I sat staring at the blank page in front of me, I was still surprised and elated that I had an entire day to myself and unlike past experiences it was filled with what I wanted when I wanted it. There were a few rough moments but when I consider the previous twelve hours (and the days to come) have been better than the last week. Especially this last week even though I had braced myself ahead of time, I just didn’t know I should have braced for a more serious episode. I am a chronic migraine sufferer for so many years I don’t quite remember when they started exactly which is ironic because I can remember every special event they have ruined. I remember plays or dinners I was at where I don’t remember what happened but I could tell you what I felt minute by minute. It amazing how the mind works, especially when it’s operated by a migraine brain. In the last few years, specifically the last few years since I have been going to the Montefiore Headac
10 comments
Read more

For My 33rd Birthday

As I sit here and begin to write this it is on my last day of my thirty-second year. I hardly know where to start. It is remarkable what a difference a year makes. I am in such a different and many ways better place than I was this time last year. For proof all you have to do is see the date on that blog which was posted on February 17 th of this year. As you will learn much has changed since then. First of all I have left my house since I posted that blog. I don’t just mean out of my house but out of my city. This was the first year I have traveled since 2012 and just like 2013 was a blow to my spirits because I was not able to do so, this year was uplifting because I was able to go and do. I saw many things that were hidden in a file in the back of my mind for so long I felt the dust collecting within me. I knew how badly I yearned to stretch those muscles I use when I plan, photograph, and take a vacation. For me vacations preserv
Post a Comment
Read more