THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 3, 1995 TAG: 9504030070
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
More than 100 people, including some from as far as California, converged in Hampton over the weekend to go around in circles.
The National Carousel Association held its annual conference in Hampton, which features one of only 180 turn-of-the-century carousels left in the country, group members said.
The association's goal is to preserve historic carousels and raise the public's awareness of them.
The group publishes a series of technical manuals, operates a speakers bureau and provides money to communities and groups looking to restore merry-go-rounds.
``Part of it's just childhood memories,'' said Brian Morgan, the association's president, when asked about the carousel's allure.
``But they're also pieces of American history,'' he said. ``They're art.''
The first merry-go-round was made in Europe during the late 1700s or early 1800s.
Conference-goers pored over the Hampton carousel like archaeologists sifting through a new dig site.
Built by Philadelphia Toboggan Co. in 1920, the ride has 48 horses and two chariots that were hand-carved by European immigrant artisans.
No two horses are alike, although they all feature mournful eyes, powerful bodies and delicate faces.
The carousel was a mainstay of Buckroe Beach Amusement Park until the park closed in 1985.
After the city bought the carousel, a group of local residents banded together to repair and restore it.
In 1991, it reopened to the public at its new downtown home.
Jane Lang, 51, a conference-goer from Morris Plains, N.J., exulted in her ride on a cream-colored carousel pony.
She said she's attracted to carousels because of the music, the workmanship and the feeling of freedom a whirling ride allows.
And one ride on this merry-go-round wasn't nearly enough.
``Am I going to go again?'' she laughed.
``Is the sky blue?'' by CNB