THUNDER BAY – Members of the RCMP Musical Ride visited the horses on the carousel at Chippewa Park on Saturday.
Const. Christopher Russel, rider with the RCMP Musical Ride, said that Chippewa Park was fantastic and historic.
“It's something that I love and it was an honour for all of us that have been chosen to do this today.
“We’re putting on shows in this area today and tomorrow and it's a joy. It's one of the things you don't necessarily get to do with other parts of policing. When you get to do the musical ride, it certainly is a joy.”
The RCMP Musical Ride Members gave the carousel horses at Chippewa Park their stamp of approval.
Donna Gilhooly, co-chair of the carousel restoration committee, said six members from the RCMP generously inspected Chippewa’s horses.
“They've actually gotten on the carousel and ridden the horses with the kids and their families. It's a very generous thing that they've done,” Gilhooly said.
It’s been a five-year effort to get to this point with the carousel, she said.
“We appreciate the community involvement, their encouragement and their sponsorship.
“There is a bit more to go because it's an amusement ride. We need to have official legislative approval of some of the amusement ride aspects. And of course, we want to finish raising the money to put the new carousel in a building.”
The building would be attached to the pavilion, Gilhooly said.
“That's what we're working on right now because we want to protect the restoration for generations to come,” she said.
Gilhooly said they bought the carousel from a woman who had a travelling circus and went bankrupt here in 1935.
“It was built in 1917 in Kansas. It's one of three left in the world. It's a designated heritage structure and it has been restored to the highest of technical restoration standards set up by a restoration expert out of Chicago.”
On the carousel there are many pictures that were all painted by students at Superior High School, she said.
“The four or five master carvers who have contributed, volunteered their work. They've done all of the wood carving on every element,” she said.
It has been so gratifying, Gilhooly said.
“I think in the beginning we thought we would have to pay for all of the work. Now, there were certain aspects, like the restoration of the horses had to be done by professionals because there was stripping and everything else involved.
“But really the rest of the community has come together in every way. We've had students from high schools polish the metal stands and it's just been a real community effort,” she said.
Gilhooly said kids love it, and parents and grandparents get to remember it.
The RCMP Musical Ride will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at 600 Poleline Road. Gates will open at 11 a.m. and the RCMP Ride starts at 2 p.m. each day. The age-old tradition is returning to Murillo for the first time in 11 years. There will be music, food and fun. After the ride there will be a meet and greet at 3 p.m.
