From parcels to ponies

This story was featured in the October 2024 edition of Sandusky Living magazine. If you're interested in purchasing a copy, call the Register at 419-502-2130 while supplies last. Nestled in the heart of downtown Sandusky stands a building with a rich history. The building located on the corner of West Washington and Jackson streets has been the home of the Merry-Go-Round Museum since its inception on July 14, 1990. It's best known for housing vibrant and historic carousel displays. But before it became a sanctuary for carousel lovers, the building served a different purpose. The early years Prior to housing fanciful sculpted animals and a carnival-style ride, the structure had a much less glamorous, albeit important, function. Construction on the notable downtown structure started on Nov. 1, 1925, intended to be the city's new post office. It opened to the public in 1927 to replace the smaller one at Columbus Avenue and Market Street. It served the community for 60 years before closing in 1987, according to the Sandusky Library History Blog. It served as a post office and meeting ground for top state and local agencies, such as housing offices for U.S. Customs, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Weather Bureau. The building also served as a recruiting office for the nation's military. The building, which was constructed in the 20th century, came after Ohio Congressmen James T. Begg introduced a bill in the U.S. House explaining that the city's current Post Office and U.S. Customs House, which was built before the Civil War, was becoming outdated and could no longer support the increase in demand. Transformation That post office stayed in operation until 1987. Following its closing, the building sat vacant for roughly three years before being bought from the Fike Company. That happened after a successful event stemming from — appropriately enough — a postage stamp. In 1988, the U.S. Postal Service released four stamps featuring carousel animals. One of those featured a "King Armored" horse from Cedar Point's Kiddieland carousel, according to the museum's website. Stamford, Connecticut, resident Paul Calle designed the stamps. To commemorate the stamps' release, a group of local enthusiasts borrowed the former post office to host a carousel display, which drew a higher-than-expected amount of visitors — more than 2,000, the website states. After the event, a nonprofit was formed to "preserve and promote the art and history of the carousel." It culminated with the group purchasing the building and, soon after, debuting the Merry-Go-Round Museum. The project's pioneers were a group of people that included Ruth Parker, a well-known local philanthropist, and Rachel Pratt, who served as the museum's curator in the early 90s, according to Kurri Lewis, the museum's current curator and executive director. Turning the page The Merry-Go-Round Museum's primary mission is to "preserve and showcase the art of carousel making," Lewis said. Lewis began as a curator at the museum in December 2008 and became the executive director in June 2016. Museum guests can ride the main carousel located in the center of the building, view dozens of carousel horses and other displays throughout the museum and buy souvenirs at the gift shop. The museum boasts over 70 historic carousel pieces, most of which date from 1870 to 1930. Most pieces can be found on the carousel in the main part of the museum. "Everything on display in the museum is historic, and the carousel itself features a variety of craftsman styles, including 'county fair' and 'Coney Island' style horses," Lewis said. County fair-styled horses are considered more sturdy. They were meant to carry riders and, due to their simplistic look, made them easier to transport. Charles Dare, C.W. Parker, Armitage Herschell Co., Herschell-Spillman Co. and Spillman-Engineering Co. are well-known carousel manufacturers for this type of design, and the Merry-Go-Round museum features many pieces from them. Coney Island-style horses are the complete opposite. This particular style features flamboyant horses bedecked with jewels and gold and silver leaf. Carousels like the one found in the Merry-Go-Round Museum are often resplendent, with mirrors to catch and reflect the light. Well-known carousel manufacturers of the past include Carles Looff, M.C. Illions and Sons, Stein and Goldstein and Charles Carmel. "Our mission has always been to preserve the art of the carousel," Lewis said. "We hope to continue and expand our operations and share our love for these pieces and the craftsmanship that goes behind them." The museum sources its carousel horses from U.S.-based collectors, many of whom have spent years collecting various historical pieces, Lewis said. The many rooms in the building that were once used as offices have since been used as storage for vintage carousel animals. Lewis said the majority of its visitors are locals — some of whom are older individuals who remember the building when it was a post office — who bring their grandchildren to check out the museum and ride its carousel. But that's not to say that visitors to the area don't stop by the museum, especially in the summertime. On March 23, Erie, Pennsylvania residents Angelina Parrish, and her son, Benjamin Schafer, were seen enjoying the museum's carousel. "It was really cool," Schafer said after riding on the carousel. Origins of the carousel According to information from Bryant Park, located in New York City, the concept of the "carousel" can be traced back to the twelfth century, when Turkish and Arabian horsemen played a game on horseback. By the sixteenth century, the games made their way to France and were considered extravagant, as most people in attendance, including the horses, were dressed in fancy attire. Carousels would eventually make their way to the United States, and Gustav Dentzel, a young German immigrant, became a pioneer in the art of carousel-making in the United States. According to an article written by Carousel History: "In 1867, Dentzel founded the Dentzel Carousel Company in Germantown, Pennsylvania, where he is credited with introducing the first steam-powered carousel and the use of menagerie animals, such as cats, lions, tigers and deer, in addition to horses and chariots."