THUNDER BAY -- The aging Chippewa Park carousel is in need of a $1.5-million fix and the group charged with preserving it says they’ll turn to the city and other government organizations to reach their goal.
Iain Angus, spokesman for the Friends of Chippewa Park, said the organization also plans to embark on a $185,000 fundraising campaign as part of their effort.
Angus on Monday confirmed the carousel, which was built between 1918 and 1920, is in need of major refurbishing.
“The electrical system no longer works, the lights no longer work," Angus said. "The music organ doesn’t work and hasn’t worked for years. The horses need redoing, the carriage needs redoing. It needs a full-blown historical renovation and we’re hoping to raise the funds to enable us, in conjunction with the city, to accomplish that."
The project also includes the construction of a building to surround the carousel in order to protect the heritage asset, just one of three of its kind left in Canada.
Angus said the refurbishment will cost about $650,000. They’ll need an additional $70,000 for conservation plan.
The new structure, which would have large windows to allow in natural light, is pegged at another $650,000.
“We’re looking at about $1.5 million. We’ve already submitted one application to the Canada 150 Fund, and in fact, that’s what triggered the work,” Angus said.
“We weren’t planning on doing this yet, but with all the infrastructure dollars that are now available, we thought it would be prudent to begin to put the asks out there. We’ll be going to Heritage Canada, we’ll be going to the Northern Ontario Heritage fund and we’ll be going to the city, which owns the facility and has a legal responsibility to maintain it.”
Designed by renowned architect C.W. Parker and featuring hand-carved horses, the carousel was officially designated a heritage property by the city on June 10, 1991.
It was sold to the City of Fort William in 1934 for $583.83, when Maude King’s traveling carnival arrived in the community and went bankrupt while she operated the ride at Chippewa Park.
Angus, who said the carousel could survive a few more years without the work, added it would be a shame to see it deteriorate any further.
“Aside from its historical importance, it’s been part of every child (life) growing up in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario for the last 80 years,” he said. “It really is a place to go, the younger children really enjoy it.”
The construction of a building to house the carousel would allow it to be open for special events, such as the Christmas holiday season.
