Carousel in the Park, Topeka, Kansas, 100th Birthday
Facility decked out in birthday balloons Pond north of carousel Singers wait in the shade Singers do patriotic songs Front row seats
Norton Bonaparte, City Manager, greets attendees Norton's son watches his dad Bob Keckeisen, Kansas State Historical Society, gives historical perspective of 100 years Anita Walgast, long time carousel supporter, comments Patrick thanked for service in prompting carousel Anna Yoho honored in service of the carousel
The First 100 Years
     In 1903 Allan Herschell and his brother-in-law, Edward Spillman, bought out the Armitage Hershall Company renaming it the Herschell-Spillman Company. The Carousel in The Park located in Gage Park, Topeka, Kansas was constructed around 1908 by The Herschell-Spillman Company of North Towanda, New York and celebrates its 100th birthday in 2008.
     Topeka’s Carousel in the Park is a portable carousel and was meant to be dismantled and reconstructed as it was taken from town to town. It left New York and traveled across the United States fi nally fi nding a stopping place in The Philadelphia City Park. In 1945 the Carousel was sold to an amusement park in Longview, Texas. Charles Boyles, owner of Boyles Joyland, bought the carousel in 1957 and brought it home to Topeka. A short move from Boyles Joyland to ownership by the City of Topeka in 1986 brought the carousel to its present home in Gage Park. Will Morton of Denver, Colorado performed expert restorations on the animals in the late 1980’s.
     There is a mix of menagerie animals and horses on this carousel. Among the menagerie animals are two zebras, two camels, two dogs, two chickens, two rabbits, two boars, a reindeer and a billy goat.
     Horse figures include the wonderful Kansas horse with its wheat sheaf and unique medallion K seal, two horses with carved wolf-like hides instead of traditional saddles and a girl’s choice horse decked out with a delicately carved yellow rose on the bridle and a matching yellow ribbon on the tail.
     The Carousel in the Park is enjoyed by Topeka’s citizens seven days a week during the year from a late March-early April opening to its public use season closure at the end of
October. The remainder of the year, the Carousel is in demand when the Carousel Room, attached to the Carousel building, is rented out for birthdays, baby & bridal showers, reunions, wedding anniversaries …all types of celebrations!
     The Carousel in the Park truly is a Topeka treasure which is enjoyed year 'round!
Calendar model get honorary ride Carol WAS there Carousel inner column Waiting for start of the ride Sweet girls ride carousel Whirling 1
Whirling 2 Joel rides the goat Whirling 3 Calendar models ride as dignataries Anna's fan club
Dignataries Anita Wolgast and Bob Keckeisen Waiting their turn for rides Line to ride carousel Watching the program
Hupmobile rear window view of rumble seat Hupmobile restored Before and after photos of Hupmobile restoration Max Yoho admires Hupmobile
The Carousel 100th Birthday Program
May 31, 2008
9:45 a.m.
Music.......Sunflower Harmony Chorus
Welcome.......Morey Sullivan
Flag Ceremony.......We Ta Se, American Legion Post 410
Song.......National Anthem
Proclamation.......Norton Bonaparte, Topeka City Manager
Remarks.......Robert Kecheisen, Director, Kansas Museum of History
National Carousel Association Centennial Plaque Presentation
Other Brief Remarks
Song.......Happy Birthday
Ceremonial Rides.......Dignitaries
Birthday cupcakes, Pepsi, Carousel rides, Songs by Kyler Carpenter, "The Balloon Lady" & Sunshine the clown, "Henry the Juggler," Children's crafts & Face painter Dawnelle Frye, Old-fashioned candy by Potwin Drug Store/Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Historic Site, Hupmobile display/an automobile built from 1908-41 by the Hupp Motor Co. of Detroit
Anna and Patrick onstageAnna and her plaqueOld-fashioned cande, Potwin Drug Store, n the terrace after the program
 Henry the Juggler balances Indian club Henry the Juggler juggles five balls Norton B. IV and Norton B. III
Joel has his face painted by Dawnelle Frye
Program cover
Kids enjoy treats
 Baby rides carousel
Clown bends balloonsKids craft table is busy
 Blong girl has monkey face painting

Young Mr. Scarecrow 2008, Year of the Carousel in the Park Calendar
2008 Year of the Carousel in The Park Proclamation

WHEREAS, The City Of Topeka, Kansas, became owner and host to a 1908 Herschell-Spillman Carousel in 1986; and WHEREAS, the magic and beauty of the restored carousel was dedicated to The City and people of Topeka in 1989; and
WHEREAS, The Carousel has served many communities across the vast United States prior to coming home to Topeka, Kansas,
WHEREAS, thousands of Topekan families called The Carousel theirs for decades at Boyles Joyland, many of them being born in Topeka proper but many also visiting from around the world as witnessed by the names in The Carousel Guestbook; and
WHEREAS, the 1908 Herschell-Spillman Carousel later transitioned into a stellar city attraction in Gage Park and is now known as The Carousel in The Park; and
WHEREAS, the City Employees now serve their City Of Topeka proudly while maintaining and operating this magnifi cent and unique piece of Americana,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, William W. Bunten, Mayor of the City of Topeka, Kansas, do hereby proclaim the year 2008, as The Year of The Carousel in The Park in recognition of the rededication of The Carousel to The City and people of Topeka and wish this treasure and its riders the best of success for another 100 years and more.
—William W. Bunten, Mayor, City Of Topeka


Dignitaries invitation to celebrationTopeka Capital-Journal promotion, page 1 Topeka Capital-Journal promotion, page 2

See also: Hupmobile Tour, June 30-July 4, 2008

All photos © 2008 by Carol Yoho
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