THUNDER BAY -- A Chicago-based specialist on the restoration of merry-go-rounds has been hired to share her expertise as work begins on fixing up the century-old Chippewa Park carousel.
Lisa Parr previously visited Thunder Bay to examine the horses on the carousel before the amusement ride was shut down for the year, and will return in early November to do further inspections and provide instruction manuals.
City councillor Iain Angus, the secretary of the Friends of Chippewa Park, says a Thunder Bay company has also been engaged to begin stripping the old paint from the horses.
"These are hollow horses, which we didn't know. And it's really a unique construction method which Lisa has educated us on," Angus said in an interview with tbnewswatch.com.
The paint has already been removed from two of the horses under Parr's direction, while three others are in progress.
On her upcoming visit, Parr will also participate in a meeting with parties interested in getting the contract to restore and re-paint the horses.
The city has told prospective bidders for the contract that the meeting is mandatory.
"The restoration involves repairing damaged wood, regluing using historical glues as opposed to modern glues, and other things," Angus said.
Parr will also provide colour schematics for each of the 28 horses, he said, as "they are all part of a pattern that has to be applied, and the horses have to be placed in a certain order based on their style, etc."
Angus said nobody in Thunder Bay, to his knowledge, has ever done this kind of work on this scale.
The carousel will return to operation at Chippewa next June with some of the horses already restored, while the remainder are expected to be refurbished after the 2018 season.
Upgrading is also needed for the mechanics, the motor and the lighting. Angus said the lights haven't functioned for about 40 years, "so we've got to re-do that using modern technology without destroying the look."
About half the projected budget of $1.5 million is for a new structure to enclose the carousel and protect it from the elements. That would eliminate the need to dismantle it every fall and reassemble it each spring.
Angus said his group is actively fundraising for the project and has received some commitments, but is not quite ready to make any announcements.
-Parr will give a public presentation about the work at a meeting Tuesday, November 7 at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
The meeting begins at 7:00 pm.
Given Parr's renowned expertise, Angus expects the presentation will be well-attended, but will be of particular interest to anyone involved in carving, restoration, or history.
