Weekend Recap

Between 1919 and 1934, industrialist George F. Johnson donated six carousels to parks in the greater Binghamton area in hopes that area children would have a happier childhood than his own. In addition, Johnson stipulated that the carousels would always operate free of charge, so even those who were as poor as he was in his youth could experience simple, positive entertainment. All six were manufactured by the Allan Herschell Companies of North Tonawanda, New York, and several contain unique elements – pigs, dogs, and monkeys, to name a few. To this day, over eighty years after the first opened, the carousels remain a source of pride for area residents and a summertime staple for Broome County children.

When I was a kid, my mom, brother, and I rode all six carousels and received a commemorative button. Jewel and I tried to recreate this odyssey on Saturday, but two of the carousels were closed (one for serious renovations and one for temporary repairs). We’re going to try and re-visit the fifth carousel so we can get buttons of our own. Still, we had a fun time, and Jewel got a whirlwind tour of the greater Binghamton area.

Here are some pictures of our day (taken by Jewel – “Why are all your pictures blurry?” she asked).



-its