FIREMAN’S PARK CAROUSEL TO BEGIN 10TH SUMMER ROUNDS
The Carousel at Fireman’s Park is beginning its 10th Summer rounds, with the summer schedule this year beginning on June 12th and 26th, July 10th and 24th, and August 7 and 21.
The rides are free for the children, and they may ride as many times as they wish.
The Washington County Arts Council, which was organized in 1981, has as its goal to provide activities for children who are unable to come to the carousel during the rest of the year.
The carousel, with its horses and benches, has been revolving here for decades, and its history is fascinating, says Dr. Wilfred Dietrich, President of the Arts Council.
Families are enjoying the history of the carousel and the beautiful park that is well-kept by the City of Brenham.
The wooden horses abandoned in Clay, 20 miles northeast of Brenham, were restored and placed at Fireman’s Park. The 16-sided building was built by the WPA and thought to be one of the few buildings left in Texas to house the horses.
According to research, wooden carousels date back to 1912. Before electricity, carousels were steam-powered.
Carousels are descendants of Old World Jousting machines that medieval knights used to practice their sport.
In carousel workshops that began as early as 1867 in Philadelphia, craftsman built the horses with hollow bodies and solid legs and heads that were joined with wooden dowels and glue. The master carvers added decorative accents and flourishes.
Some horses have golden manes, inlaid jewels, and patriotic flags and eagles. America’s oldest carousels are called “flying horses” like the Brenham carousel, because the horses hang on metal rods, rather than riding on a platform. The oldest Flying Horse Carousel is at the C.W. Park Carousel Museum in Leavenworth, Kansas, the oldest operating merry-go-round in the nation.
The Arts Council would like to sponsor activities at the Dr. Bobbie Dietrich Memorial Amphitheatre. The Council will make the reservation for the Amphitheatre.
For reservations, call 979-836-3120.