 Tanya and Ian Seppala aboard the 1916 number one special carousel at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. 2019 from the authors collection This blog post is part of a new series on the Carrousel Courier called Remember When. These posts are written by our staff, volunteers, and fans on memories of carousels and amusement. See how these memories have influenced us to this day. Interested in sharing a fond memory of your own? Leave a comment or email Ian K. Seppala at [email protected]. By: Ian K. Seppala As I began to write this series for the Museum, I started to notice how important carousels (and amusement in general) have been in my life. Today I want to share how important the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum and its number one special carousel have been to me. After graduating from SUNY Brockport in the Fall of 2014 I wanted to find a place to gain experience before graduate school. I was going to become a history teacher, like I had dreamed since I was a child. My then girlfriend Tanya suggested this place by her parents recently purchased home. "It looks like a museum" she said. This casual suggestion would change our lives. After being given a chance by then Director Rae Proefrock, I became a docent (tour guide) at the museum. I fell in love with museum work. It was amazing to be able to educate interested visitors in a casual setting. At this time I met the museum's new Education Director, Megan Hahin. She and I would develop a strong working relationship that would prove important down the road. I changed my career path because of the museum and went to graduate school for museum studies. I would volunteer at the museum when I was home. In the mean time I worked at various museums in Baltimore (where I attended Morgan State University) learning the different aspects of museums. After graduation and in the summer of 2017 we had a family emergency in which Tanya and I made the decision to move home. We moved in with her mother, two blocks from the museum. As I struggled looking for full-time work I was able to intern under Megan at the museum. I conducted tours again and did programming for the education department during the school year. This gave me an opportunity to continue gaining experience in the field. It also gave me confidence at a time I felt inadequate. As the internship ended in the spring of 2018, I got a job at the Rochester Museum and Science Center in the summer. I was excited and happy but sad to be leaving such an important place in my life. However, In the fall I received a call. Rae had decided to retire (she was later voted onto the museum's board) and Megan was chosen to take her place. I remember sitting in my office in Rochester when I got a phone call. Megan said she got the job, and only wanted me to take her role as the Education Director. I interviewed for the position and was offered. I had a decision to make. At one hand I was in arguably a better place. I was at a larger museum with a significant education staff who were all helpful and wonderful co-workers. There was possible room for upward mobility. However the opportunity to go back and positively impact the museum and community that supported me was too good to pass up. I wanted to make my mark on HCFM and North Tonawanda, and I was getting my chance. I have been the Education Director since October 2018. During that time we have increased our education staff (Adding Jenna through a Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Grant); increased our in-school and after school programming and developed new and exciting educational aspects within the museum. In personal news Tanya and I got married in July, 2019 after having her bridal shower at the museum. We have moved out of North Tonawanda but still visit regularly and consider it our second home. We have added a dog to our family, and countless museum staff and volunteers. No matter where life takes us, the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum will have a special place in our hearts. Ian K. Seppala is the Education Director of the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. He enjoys educating the public in local history and how history and science combine. He is also an avid sports fan and outdoorsman.
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 An image from a Crystal Beach Postcard, highlighting one of the park's rollercoasters. Photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Beach_Cyclone This blog post is part of a series on the Carrousel Courier called Remember When. These posts are written by our staff, volunteers, and fans on memories of carousels and amusement. See how these memories have influenced us to this day. Interested in sharing a fond memory of your own? Leave a comment or email Ian K. Seppala at [email protected]. By Rae Proefrock In the 1940's and 1950's my family took its traditional trip to Crystal Beach. We drove to Buffalo Harbor and boarded the Canadiana, a wonderful tourist boat that crossed Lake Erie to Crystal Beach. As we approached the long dock in Canada, the large roller coaster came into view. My sister, Elaine, and I knew we would soon be enjoying our favorite rides. These always included the Little Dipper, Caterpillar Ride and the Fun House with its laughing clown. My favorite ride, however, was the merry-go-round with its horses, lion and especially the blue wolf. Sadly, those enjoyable boat trips came to an end when the Canadiana went out of business. My family was on the last return trip to Buffalo. A band was playing and people were lamenting the end of a tradition. Rae Proefrock is a retired teacher and former Director of the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. She is currently the Board President of the Carousel Society of the Niagara Frontier.  Photo of the Canadiana, which ferried eager families between Buffalo New York and the Crystal Beach Amusement park in Canada. Photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Beach_Cyclone.  Fraley, Tobin. Carousel Animals: Artistry in Motion. 2002 Chronicle Books, San Francisco California. ISBN 081183347-x
By: Ian K. Seppala Tobin Fraley, is a well accomplished author within the amusement industry. He has written multiple books on carousels and circuses. I have read multiple books from Mr. Fraley, and recommend all of them. I chose to review this book this week because it works nicely with National Children's book week. This book has an adult target audience, but heavily relies on wonderfully detailed photographs. Kids will love the photographs, while their parents will enjoy learning about some of the most famous carousel carvers. Tobin Fraley's book is separated into eleven sections. The first section is a brief carousel history. Section two is on lesser known carvers. The next eight sections focus on individual carvers. The final section focuses on a completed carousel. He uses these sections to support his argument, which is laid out in the forward. According to Gary K. Wolf "Tobin believes the talented master craftsmen who sculpted these figures were fine artists, true masters of their art form". (Page 8) His argument is backed by the structure used in the book. Fraley blends technical information with wonderfully displayed photographs. The information he provides for each carver is impressive but not overwhelming. This method allows for the master carver's artistry to speak for itself. Fraley is able to provide photographs from private collections, museums, and amusement parks. The photographs are also diverse in age, maker, style (of course) and type. Rare animals such as Herschell polar bears and E. Joy Morris sea monsters. I enjoyed the variety of photographs, and Fraley's expert commentary on them. Overall, all of Fraley's book are worthy of a read. Carousel Animals: Artistry in Motion provides a great blend of quality information and high definition photographs. This book is a great option for those interested in the artistic value of carousels, or families with interested kids. This book can be used as a basis for dialogue with a child that has an interest in art, carousels, or both. Do you have a book you would like to review or recommend? What should we review next? Let us know in the comments below.  The author and his brother Seth Seppala where the air is clean, at the Strong National Museum of Play. 2003/2004 from author's collection. This blog post is part of a new series on the Carrousel Courier called Remember When. These posts are written by our staff, volunteers, and fans on memories of carousels and amusement. See how these memories have influenced us to this day. Interested in sharing a fond memory of your own? Leave a comment or email Ian K. Seppala at [email protected]. By: Ian K. Seppala The Strong National Museum of Play is one of the premier children's museums in the United States. It is also very important in the Seppala family. It is the first museum visit I can remember, and part of the reason I am a museum professional today. My family and I would meet my cousins (usually Hannah, sometimes Molly or Meaghan) at the museum often, and the whole day would culminate with a ride on the Elaine Wilson Carousel. Why yes the most important carousel of my childhood happens to be an Allan Herschell. I did not realize the amazing history of the ride until I was much older but still, the carousel was a highlight for our visits. When we arrived at the museum we would split into two groups. My aunt and mum would take the younger ones to go shopping in the model Wegmans and mail letters at the children's Post Office. They would always go visit Sesame Street as well. Sometimes we would join them. Most of the time Alec and I would head to the second floor, containing the National Toy Hall of Fame. Up there they had vintage video games free to play, and we would spend hours there with games like Pac-man and pong. We would stay up there laughing until our mum came and got us. It was time. We rode the carousel together as a big group. It was the entertainment we could all enjoy together, regardless of age. My youngest brother enjoyed being one of us, all three having fun entertained by the bright lights and loud sounds. With a large age difference (10 years) there were few rides we would all enjoy together. Looking back, this is even more important to me now than it was back then.  Carrying on the legacy, my cousin Meaghan takes her children to the museum often. They love the carousel and ride it regularly. This photo is the next generation of the Seppala family, enjoying the Elaine Wilson Carousel At Strong National Museum of Play, 2018. She is riding her favorite horse, she has nicknamed "Dale the Purple Pony" Ian K. Seppala is the Education Director of the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. He enjoys educating the public in local history and how history and science combine. He is also an avid sports fan and outdoorsman. Do you have memories of Strong National Museum of Play? Share them in the comments below!  The Seppala boys in the reading room at Strong National Museum of Play. 2004. From author's collection. By: Ian K. Seppala
Greetings everyone. In honor of children's book week I wanted to give adults a list of books to read. So if you are looking for something to read during these difficult times below are some recommended sources on carousels, amusement rides, band organs, or similar subjects. These are books I have personally used before, have been recommended to me, or are available in the museum gift shop. Provided will be author, title, ISBN (when available), and any other information to make the source easier to find. All of these sources have their own copyrights, accessibility and use restrictions. Books Anderson, Sherrell S. Carousel Horses: A Photographic Celebration. ISBN10:0762408472. Bartash, Linda M. Horses in Motion: The History of Carousels In Monroe County, New York and Beyond. ISBN10: 0970764618. Bopp, Ron. The American Carousel Organ: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. ISBN10: 0966342909. Fraley, Tobin, Carol Bialkowski. Carousels: The Myth, the Magic, and the Memories.ISBN10:0962469327. Fraley, Tobin. Carousel Animals: Artistry in Motion. ISBN10: 081183347-x Fraley, Tobin. The Great American Carousel: A century of Master Craftsmanship. ISBN10:0811806103. Futrell, Jim. Amusement Parks of New York. ISBN13:9780811732628. Hirsch, Rose Ann. Western New York Amusement Parks (Images of America). ISBN13: 9780738574561. Kennedy, Jeremy. Hang on Tight!: a Retrospective Look at the 2nd Generation of Amusement Rides (1950s-1980s). ISBN13:978-0-9978813-2-5. Digital ISBN13:9780997881318. Malia, Peter J. Flying Horses: The Golden Age of American Carousel Art, 1870-1930. ISBN13:9780982546826. O'Brien, Tim. Ripley's Legends: Pioneers of the Amusement Park Volume One. ISBN13: 9781893951136. Palkovic, Mark. Wurlitzer of Cincinnati: The Name That Means Music to Millions. ISBN13: 9781540210005. Samuelson, Dale, Wendy Yegoiants. The American Amusement Park. ISBN: 0760309817. Shilling, Donovan A. Rochester's Lakeside Resorts and Amusement Parks (Images of America). ISBN13: 9780738501635. Websites https://www.carrouselmuseum.org/#/ https://www.chancerides.com/history/ Archives Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum Archives. Wurlitzer Company Records at the Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University. The National Carousel Association Archives. Organizations NCA- National Carousel Association AMICA- Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors' Association COAA- Carousel Organ Association of America ATOS- American Theater Organ Society IAAPA- International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions NAPHA- National Amusement Park Historical Association Do you have any recommendations that I forgot? Would you recommend any of these books? Comment below! |
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