Perkasie 's Menlo Park Carousel
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The Perkasie Carousel is located at 3rd Street and Park Avenue, Perkasie. The carousel is operated and maintained by the volunteer members of the Perkasie Historical Society
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Historic Menlo Park Carousel
Carousel schedule
In 1891, Samuel R. Kramer, Grier Scheetz and Isaac Groff organized the Menlo Park Association. The association purchased five acres of land at 5th Street and Park Avenue and leased water rights on the stream from there to the Sellersville dam.
The park became the property of Henry S. Wilson in 1926. The park, including the carousel was purchased by the Borough of Perkasie in 1955. The borough continued to operate the rides until the early 1960's after which the Whip, Dodgem and kiddie rides were sold. The roller rink, bowling alley and original bath house were subsequently demolished , leaving the carousel as the only remnant of days gone by. Perkasie Menlo Park Carousel History Booklet |
Carousel BuildingIn 1895, an open-sided building with a dirt floor was erected to house the carousel. In 1896 shutters and a wooden floor were added. That original building is still in place today, although it has undergone minor renovations and ultimately the major renovations of 1995-1996.
Abandon pipes beneath the floor suggest that the carousel was at one time powered by steam . it is believed that a single steam plant powered both the carousel and the former toboggan ride nearby. Carousel Souvenirs
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Perkasie CarouselA carousel with hand-carved wooden -horses was purchased in November of 1891 and delivered in May of 1892. The purchase price was $5,500. The manufacturer is unknown. In 1892-1894 the carousel operated under its canvas canopy from Decoration Day to Labor Day and then was stored away for the winter.
On September 18-19, 1893, the carousel was taken apart and loaded onto two freight cars at the railroad siding at Park Avenue and shipped to Allentown, where it would run during the Allentown Fair. On October 2 and 3, 1893, the carousel was returned by freight car to the railroad siding, and the carousel was returned to Menlo park to be stored away for the winter. The original carousel continued to operate until 1951, when it was replaced by the current carousel. Park owner, Henry S. Wilson, purchased the current carousel new from the Allan Herschell Company of North Towanda, New York in 1951. The carousel is a portable Spillman Engineering design and can be dismantled and moved.All the horses are "jumpers" |