Subscribe to our Newsletter

Click on the link below to sign up for our e-newsletter. Sent out periodically, the newsletter will provide you with information on all of the fun and excitement happening at the Silver Beach Carousel. Stay posted on our upcoming events, hear about the very important people who keep the carousel spinning, learn about the carousel figures and more!

SEPTEMBER 19-23, 2012

Five Amazing Days Whirling with
Incredible Tours!

The most unconventional NCA convention ever!

The Great Lakes States are breathtaking in the fall and this year the NCA is meeting in one of the region’s most beautiful cities – St. Joseph, Michigan. Located on the golden sand shores of Lake Michigan, our resort town will welcome you with Victorian-era charm, boutiques and art galleries, jewel-colored trees and Silver Beach’s contagious happiness!

While you’re here you’ll see some of the world’s finest carousels up and down the coasts!

• Brookfield Zoo Endangered Species Carousel (2006),
  Chicago, IL

• C.W. Parker Carousel (1912),
  Crossroads Village, Flint, MI
• DeBoer Brothers Carousel (1908),
  Windmill Island, Holland, MI
• Eden Palais Carousel (1890),
  “Place de la Musique,” Sanfilippo Estate, Barrington Hills, IL
• Herschell-Spillman Carousel (1913),
  Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI
• Silver Beach Carousel (2010),
  Silver Beach Center, St. Joseph, MI
• Spillman Carousel (1928),
  Grand RapidsPublic Museum, Grand Rapids, MI

Plus New Ideas for Your Carousel!

Learn from national experts how to put exciting new spins on your:

• Carousel technology
• Promotions & marketing
• Band organs
• Retail shops
• Maintenance & safety

Thank you!

Thank you for volunteering your time to the Carousel.

Fall/Winter Hours

Thursday 4pm - 8:30pm (Family Fun Night, for more information click here.)

Friday 10am - 5pm

Saturday 10am - 5pm

Sunday Noon - 5pm

Founders’ Week

Sunday June 24 – Saturday June 30

Join us as we celebrate the history of Silver Beach throughout the week. Special themed days, guests and more planned.

Token Prices

1 token per ride

1 token - $2
3 tokens - $5
7 tokens - $10
15 tokens - $20

Headphones & Ear Plugs are now available if you want to experience a quieter ride. Please ask the carousel operator for them when you are at the gate.

Operators are pleased to assist you with step ladders or a helping hand. Wheelchair ramp available for accessibility.

Donate or Sponsor

Help make children happy for generation after generation.

Thanks to the generosity of many people we were able to create this magnificent carousel. Now our goal is to keep making memories for generations to come.

We cover many of our operating expenses with ride tokens and admission tickets to special fundraising events. But we also need donations, sponsorships and memorial gifts to cover maintenance costs, provide rides to children from low-income families, add activities, and create special experiences and innovative programs for our visitors. The Silver Beach Carousel is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization so most gifts are tax deductible. We invite you to help us with:

• Annual donations to our operations fund. You can make your pledge with payments once a month, quarterly, semi-annually or once a year.
• Memorial gifts for loved ones or donations to honor a family member, friend, co-worker or graduating class on a special occasion or “just because.”
• Special tributes in honor or memory of a pet, horse or favorite animal.
• Planned gifts that will leave a legacy of happiness for future generations. Your gift will help us sustain our facilities, operations and programs for years to come. Contact us for information about arranging your gift.
• Sponsorships of carousel items such as the ornate mirrored shields and rocking chairs or special events. Your personal or corporate gift will be recognized in the carousel house and in promotional materials.

You may give your tax-deductible donation directly to the Silver Beach Carousel or through the Berrien Community Foundation’s Silver Beach Carousel Society, Inc. Operations Fund. You can donate with:

• Cash, check or credit card. We can accept your gift in person or by mail at 333 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI 49085 or online through our PayPal account.
• Stock, life insurance or other charitable gift options.
• Matching funds from your company. Please check with your employer’s program to see how to qualify for matching dollars.

If you choose to make your gift through the Berrien Community Foundation, please make your check payable to BCF/Silver Beach Carousel Society, Inc. Operations Fund and mail it to:
Berrien Community Foundation
2900 S. State, Ste. 2E
St. Joseph, MI 49085

If you have questions about donation or sponsorship opportunities, or if you need more information, please contact us.

Or donate your most precious gift – your time.

Downloads and Media

Coloring Pages

Have coloring fun with these free and printable pages! Download and print as many copies as you like for your personal use. Click on image to download.

Butterfly Horse		Raptor		Integrity
Midnight Run		Peanut the Elephant				Marcie: The Mardi Gras Mare

Desktop Wallpapers

Decorate your desktop with your favorite Silver Beach Carousel scenes by downloading one of these wallpapers. Just click your screen resolution below the wallpaper you would like to download.  You will then have the option to save on your computer. Be sure to come back often to see what new images we are offering!

Carousel Outside at Night		Carousel Lit Up		Carousel Inside at Night
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MSU Horse		U of M Horse		WMU Horse
1024x768 1280x1024 1280x800 1366x768	1440x900 1680x1050 1920x1200	1024x768 1280x1024 1280x800 1366x768	1440x900 1680x1050 1920x1200	1024x768 1280x1024 1280x800 1366x768	1440x900 1680x1050 1920x1200

Photography packages for special occasions.

Two options are available for photography at the Silver Beach Carousel.

Exclusive Session

$250 for 30 minutes during regularly scheduled operating hours; carousel operator in attendance; no public in carousel building or riding during this half-hour.

Only one session scheduled per day. Priority scheduling is given to wedding party booked that day into the Shadowland Ballroom.

Requests outside of regularly scheduled hours will be handled on an individual basis.

Public Session

$50 for bridal parties and $25 for senior pictures. Includes carousel rides during regularly scheduled operating hours; carousel operator in attendance; general public is allowed to ride during this time. Payment must be made to Carousel Operator in advance of rides.

Availability
Multiple sessions can be accommodated each day except during an Exclusive Session.

Riding Rules for Bridal Party/Senior and Photographer
The carousel will be in regular operation during any Public Session and will not be “held” for photography. All posted riding rules apply during session. Photographers must remain stationary during rides and follow carousel operator directives at all times.

For further information and booking, please contact the Silver Beach Carousel. Requests outisde of regularly scheduled hours will be handled on an individual basis.

More irresistible Fun!

Who can resist doing silly faces and antics behind a photo booth curtain? This is a great way to entertain guests at your wedding or special event at Shadowland on Silver Beach.

Hours of photo booth entertainment

Create laugh-out-loud memories in our photo booth. We’ll include an attendant and a scrapbook artist who will create a keepsake book of your guests’ photos and well wishes. Your guests will receive a duplicate photo strip to remember your special day, too.

$350 for 2 hours, $150 each additional hour.

Good times keep popping up!

Everything you need, including an attendant, will be available to cook, bag and present batch after batch of warm, buttered popcorn to your guests.

$100 per 90-minute session

Spin some old-fashioned fun!

This isn’t that clumpy cotton candy you get in bags. It’s the real deal, finely spun around a paper cone and melts instantly in your mouth!

$100 per 90-minute session

Silver Beach Center

Create a day full of fun!

The Silver Beach Carousel is located at the Silver Beach Center – one of the newest, year-round entertainment venues in Southwestern Michigan. It’s a fun place for all ages! Walk through the doors and you can look up into Michigan’s tallest kaleidoscope and watch the beautiful changing patterns (Wait? Was that YOU and your family splitting into geometric shapes?).

Stroll the boardwalk to the Silver Beach Carousel house. As soon as you enter you’ll feel a rush of happiness. Pick your favorite figure or chariot and take a spin … then pick another and another. Make silly faces in the photo booth. Then explore the free Silver Beach Amusement Park Museum. This wonder-filled place graced the shores of Lake Michigan from 1891-1971. It meant something special to every one of its millions of patrons through the years – and here you can experience its delightful past through interactive exhibits and memorabilia (be sure to ask the Great Zandini to tell your fortune).

Across the boardwalk from the Silver Beach Carousel is Shadowland on Silver Beach . This beautiful ballroom is the site of fun public and private activities throughout the year. Check our events page for upcoming good times or schedule your own unforgettable occasion – a romantic wedding, family or business celebration, prom or class reunion. Yes, you can reserve the carousel for your event, too.

Next explore Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone by Curious Kids' Museum. For a family-friendly admittance fee, kids ages 2 to 100 years old will have a blast for an hour or two interacting with 15 water activities, a climbing wall, virtual reality fun and traveling hands-on educational exhibits. Be sure to see what the roof is made of when you leave!

Then spend time in our gift shop where there are ideas for all ages -- from toys to books to scented decorative soaps. Need great gift ideas now? Browse our online gift shop and we’ll ship your selections to the destinations you give us! Shopping couldn’t be easier!

But making happy memories doesn’t stop here! Grab a bag of fresh popcorn or fluffy cotton candy from the carousel house and head across the street to the free, interactive Whirlpool Compass Fountain and splash in its mist on warm days. Or relax on Silver Beach, named one of the top ten family beaches in the U.S. by Parents Magazine. Stroll the pier to our historic lighthouse, go fishing or watch an angler reel in a big one.

There’s lots to do up on the bluff, too – shopping in quaint downtown St. Joseph, listening to outdoor concerts, golfing on Jack Nicklaus’ Signature Golf Course at Harbor Shores Resort or getting an ice cream. And don’t be in a hurry to go home. The sunsets on Lake Michigan are spectacular – and we have so many great places to stay from cottages along the beach to luxurious hotels – that you’ll want to turn a day of fun into a weekend or week of good times!

Privacy Policy

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY

The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society respects your privacy. We are particularly sensitive to privacy issues on the Internet and therefore we provide this Privacy Policy so you know about our online information practices and understand how we treat the information we receive about you from the Internet.

THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT

In general, you can browse our Web site without telling us who you are or revealing any personal information about yourself. We are however able to determine your IP address. We use your IP address to help administer our Web site, to measure the use of our Web site and to improve the content of our Web site. Our Web site's registration and contact forms require users to give us contact information (like their names, addresses and email addresses).

We use customer contact information from our forms to send the user requested information about our company and our services. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

We may use your personal information for particular purposes such as market research and other marketing purposes; or for providing you with the latest service and promotional information that might be useful to you. We will not give or sell this information to any other company for its use in marketing or solicitation. If you have provided us your personal information and do not wish to receive further information from The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society, you can send us an email as noted below and tell us that you do not want to receive future communications.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

www.silverbeachcarousel.com may contain links to other sites. We do not endorse or otherwise accept responsibility for the content or privacy policies of those sites. By using this Web site you are agreeing to the terms of the www.silverbeachcarousel.com Privacy Policy.

We reserve the right to modify our privacy policy as business needs require. We will post such changes on our Web site.

CONTACTING THE WEB SITE

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this Web site, or your dealings with this Web site, you can contact

Webmaster
The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society
333 Broad St.
St. Joseph, MI, 49085

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

In General

This Web site is provided to you by The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society Access to and use of this Web site and the services available at this Web site are subject to the following terms and conditions as set forth in this notice. By accessing or using the Web site or downloading materials from the Web site, you agree to be legally bound by the terms and conditions set forth below without any modification. Please, review them carefully. If you do not agree to the terms, do not use this Web site.

Copyright and Trademarks

Copyright © 2011 The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society

333 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI, 49085

Reserved

The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society hereby grants to any person the right to reproduce and distribute copies of this work subject to the following conditions:

The information found on this Web site is constantly being updated. Users are responsible for checking the site on a regular basis to keep up with these changes. The publication is to be used for informational purposes only and may not be sold or distributed for commercial gain.

The above copyright notice must appear on every copy of the publication or any portion thereof.

Except as noted above, no right or license is granted under any copyright, patent, or trademark of The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society to any other party.

Information contained in this publication is furnished free of charge. Because conditions of use are outside our control, The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society makes no warranties, express or implied, and assumes no liability in connection with any use of this information.

Electronic Information Submitted to this Web site

Any communication or material other than your personal information submitted to this Web site by electronic mail is the exclusive property of The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society and is considered to be non-confidential and non-proprietary. Such communication may include without limitation questions, comments, suggestions and ideas. The Silver Beach^SM Carousel Society shall be free to use them for any purpose whatsoever without restriction or compensation.

Disclaimer

THE INFORMATION IN THIS WEB SITE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTIBILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. THE SILVER BEACH^SM CAROUSEL SOCIETY SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR TECHNICAL INACCURACIES IN THIS WEB SITE.

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Sponsorship Opportunities

Around the top of the carousel are 18 rounding boards. Traditionally they are hand-painted, pastoral scenes. But we commissioned computer graphic artists to create what we believe are the first rounding boards to use a montage of colorized, historic photographs. Each board takes you back in time to tell our area's rich story through the people, places and events that we never want to forget.

These unique rounding boards are available for private and corporate sponsorships. We invite you to honor a family member, friend, workplace or yourself with a lasting gift by choosing a rounding board or decorative shield to sponsor. A gift of $5,000 will sponsor a rounding board; $2,000 will sponsor one of the decorative, mirrored shields that will separate each rounding board. Your generosity will be acknowledged on individual donor plaques displayed within the carousel building.
Be part of this magnificent carousel... and keep our memories around forever.

$2,000 will sponsor one of the decorative, mirrored shields that will separate each rounding board. Your generosity will be acknowledged on individual donor plaques displayed within the carousel building.
Only 3 corner shields remain.

For more information send an email request to info@silverbeachcarousel.com .

Thank you for contacting us today!

We will be contacting your shortly about your inquiry.

Thank you for your reservation request!

We will be contacting your shortly about your request.

Thank you!

Thank you for giving wonderful memories for years to come.

Silver Beach Carousel  Online Gift Shop

We will be re-launching the online gift store within the next few days. Please check back soon.

Make a memory all year round!

The horses, the tigers, the hippocampus, the panda, the clown fish – in all, 48 unique carousel figures and two chariots – are whirling with excitement to see you. Come pick your favorite and ride beneath 1000 twinkling lights as the band organ’s music happily soars and dips with the gears. Each figure is beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted by the artisans at The Carousel Works. Around the top of the carousel you can learn about our local history – told as no one else in the world has told it on a carousel – using historic photographs. As you gaze at those 18 rounding boards, you’ll become part of our story, too.

You’ll find all the magic and wonder of the Silver Beach Carousel below the bluff in St. Joseph, just yards from Lake Michigan’s Silver Beach, named one of the top 10 family beaches by Parents magazine. Open all four seasons, you can ride a different carousel figure or chariot every week and fill the year with a new memory each time. Our sea serpent chariot is wheelchair accessible so everyone can ride! Tokens are available for cash or credit card at the admissions desk or for cash from our token machine. To find us, click here for a map and directions.

There’s so much more to do!

Riding the carousel is just one of the fun things you can do at Silver Beach. Steps away from the carousel is Michigan’s tallest kaleidoscope and Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone by Curious Kids Museum, an entertaining place for toddlers to teens to explore water exhibits, a climbing wall and traveling exhibits. Next door to us is the beautiful Silver Beach Shadowland Ballroom, where special celebrations and wedding dreams come true. Across the road is the Whirlpool Compass Fountain where you can splash in the mist on warm days. And throughout the year, plan to join us for lots of fun events.

Our Silver Beach Center packages let you create hours of fun at special prices. The Activities Room is an easy place to celebrate your child’s next birthday or a special event. Just let us know what day you’d like to book by clicking here. You’ll also find carousel gift ideas in our onsite and online gift shops. Or check out other gift ideas and sponsorship opportunities here.

So come for the best ride in town – it’s unforgettably happy!

Phone: (269) 982-8500

Address: 333 Broad Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085

Favorite Links

• St. Joseph Today
• Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council
• West Michigan Tourist Association
• Southwest Michigan Directory
• Box Factory for the Arts
• Citadel Dance and Music Center
• City of St. Joseph
• Curious Kids Museum and Discovery Zone
• Fernwood's Botanical Gardens and Nature Preserve
• The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center
• Krasl Art Center
• Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library
• Sarett Nature Center
• Shadowland on Silver Beach
• Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra
• St. Joseph Municipal Band
• The New Territory Arts Association
• Whirlpool

• Carousel News & Trader
• Carousel Organ Association of America
• Museum of Carousel Art and History
• National Carousel Association
• The Carousel Store

• The Kit Carson County Carousel Museum
• C.W. Parker Carousel Museum
• The Sandusky Merry-Go-Round Museum
• The New England Carousel Museum
• The International Museum of Carousel Art
• The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum

Friends of the Carousel

Volunteer for the FUN of it!

Come share in the excitement of this brand new adventure! The 48 figures and two chariots need you to help make Silver Beach Carousel one of the happiest places on earth!

We need volunteer:

• Carousel Operator Assistants
• Museum Associates
• Event Specialists
• Concession Operators
• Greeters

Please join us – there is lots of fun to go around!

If you are a new volunteer or are already registered, click here to sign up for the Carousel's upcoming volunteer opportunities.

To download a PDF of the Volunteer Guidelines click here.

Carousel Greeters

Our greeters welcome visitors to the Silver Beach Carousel. Greeters assist visitors with purchasing carousel tokens and direct them to the carousel entrance gate. They are on hand to direct visitors to the Gift Shop, kaleidoscope, Discovery Zone and Shadowland Ballroom within the Silver Beach Center.

Carousel Operator Assistants

Carousel Operator Assistants staff the entrance and exit gates of the carousel. They work inside the fenced carousel area enforce safety rules, and help riders to mount and dismount as needed. Our Carousel Assistants also provide TLC to our carousel by keeping it clean and dust-free. (Must be 16 yrs. or older for this position.)

Museum Associates

Museum Associates monitor the Silver Beach Amusement Park Museum adjacent to the carousel. They may be asked to give short talks to school  and tour groups. Light cleaning, crowd control, and sharing history are activities of the Museum Associates.

Event Specialists

Event specialists assist with dances, parties, concerts, and fund raisers that are always happening at the Silver Beach Center. They lend a hand with decorating, ticket sales, clean-up, photo booth operation, and so many  other tasks that go into creating a successful and fun event.

Concession Stand Sales

Our Concession Stand team is responsible for making and selling popcorn, along with cotton candy and other items.  Responsibilities include set up and cleaning of the popcorn machine and the sales area. Our new Concession Stand and awning make this a fun place to volunteer.

Volunteer Photo Gallery

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The Silver Beach Carousel Band Organ

Fairground organs, or band organs, comprise some of the most colorful automatic musical instruments ever made. These instruments, loudly-voiced so they could be heard above the surrounding din, provided music for carousels, carnivals, circuses, amusement parks, skating rinks, and similar attractions. The North Tonawanda band organs were sold primarily for use in skating rinks, which accounted for about 90% of the company's band organ business.

The Silver Beach Band Organ on mobile trailer. 2001 - 2009

The Silver Beach Carousel had three band organs over its 50-plus years of operation. This model was the third and last to operate in the park. Originally manufactured by the Herschell Spillman Company in 1911, its ownership and location prior to 1945 is unknown.

It was located at the Silver Beach Amusement Park in St. Joseph, Michigan, from 1945 to 1972. Upon the park’s closing and the sell-off of the rides, the organ was purchased by Gerry O’Reagan of Staten Island, New York, who later sold it to Alan M. Gibson of Houston, Texas in 1983.

It was then acquired by Fritz Gellerman of DeLand, Florida, in 1994. In the spring of 2001, he sold the organ to Ben F. Donaldson II of St. Joseph. In July 2001, Ben and his family formally donated the band organ to the Silver Beach Carousel Society, Inc.

During a recent full restoration of the machine and its façade, paint stripping revealed the original outlined letters from the manufacturer (Herschell Spillman Company). The lettering was re-applied and four scenes from the original Silver Beach Amusement Park were painted to fill the oval frames on the façade.

Restoration work done by Carousel Works of Mansfield, Ohio.

Sadly, Ben Donaldson passed away in November 2009, just weeks before the band organ was to be placed in the building housing the new Silver Beach Carousel. In its new location the organ once again thrills the ear with the familiar marches and waltzes known to generations of carousel riders.

An Inside Look at the Band Organ

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This particular model was made in two versions, identical in appearance: the Style 87, which used a pinned cylinder as the music recording medium; and the Style 187, which used an endless paper roll. Most surviving North Tonawanda band organs have been converted to paper rolls with either the Artizan or the Wurlitzer roll mechanisms. This band organ was converted in 1929, probably at the Wurlitzer factory, to the Wurlitzer style 150 duplex roll system. The duplex system has two roll mechanisms, so arranged that when one reaches the end of its roll it automatically switches to the other roll player and rewinds the first roll. In this way the machine is capable of continuous play.

Band Organ Details

Make:
North Tonawanda Musical Instrument Works
North Tonawanda, New York

Model:
Military Band Organ No. 187
Serial Number 877

Year: 1911

Pipes:
3 trombones, 3 open basses, 3 stopped basses
3 stopped octave basses, 15 trumpets
18 stopped and 9 open pipes in accompaniment
16 stopped and 16 open pipes in melody
16 violin pipes, 16 brass clarionettes

Percussion:
Bass Drum
Cymbal
Snare Drum
Glockenspiel (added in 1996)

Silver Beach Amusement Park

Below the bluffs of downtown St. Joseph there was once an amusement park. Years ago on Silver Beach, carnival rides and games of chance entertained crowds on the midway.

The Silver Beach Amusement Park that graced the shores of St. Joseph, Michigan, from 1891-1971 meant something special to every one of its millions of patrons through the years – regardless of age. To some the Silver Beach Amusement Park meant an afternoon of carnival rides, snacks, and games of chance and skill. To others it meant a family picnic, a swim in the big lake, or just a moonlight stroll along the boardwalk. Still others saw Silver Beach Amusement Park as a way of life.

Though the Silver Beach Amusement Park was closed more than 30 years ago, memories of that popular place are still vivid. The sound of the old band organ booming down the boardwalk and the way the wind whipped through your hair when you rode the roller coaster, the smell of the ozone from the bumper cars and the "pinging" of the penny arcade machines still live on in the memories of thousands of residents and visitors.

The Silver Beach Amusement Park was first opened on the shores of Lake Michigan in 1891, when two men, who were partners in the boat building business, decided they could make more money by opening a boardwalk. It started small with concessions and games. Then came the carnival rides.

For less than $2, a family could take a dip in Lake Michigan, gobble up sweets, and play games of chance. They could spend the day riding the toboggan slide or the roller coaster called "Chase through the Clouds," which was a main attraction. As the 1920’s roared on, Silver Beach kept climbing. The last improvement was made to the park in 1927. It was called the Shadowland Ballroom.

As the years passed, tourism slowed at Silver Beach and in 1971 the park was closed, as was the carousel. Forty years later Silver Beach still draws a crowd. Most days it's a quiet place to take in the sun. Some say if you listen closely to the summer breeze, you'll hear the old band organ, playing a song of years gone by.

Carousel History

The Silver Beach Carousel, with its brass ring machine and 44 hand-carved, life-like horses began thrilling crowds of visitors in 1910. The three-row, Coney Island-style machine was built by Fred Dolle of North Bergen, New Jersey. It was sold to Silver Beach owners Louis Wallace and Logan Drake. It was operated at Silver Beach by a partnership of Fred Dolle and another carousel builder, M.D. Borelli.

The wonderful horses were purchased from Charles Carmel, one of the acknowledged "Master Carvers" of the Golden Age of the carousel. Charlotte Dinger in the The Art of the Carousel praises Carmel as having "created what many believe to be the most perfect carousel horse, a harmonious balance of gentleness and drama."

Silver Beach Carousel - September 1, 1971 (Photograph courtesy Barbara Fahs Charles)

In the early 1920's, the carousel was immensely popular with visitors and efforts were made to keep the technology of the machine "cutting-edge" and add to its impressive decor. In early 1920 the carousel was converted into a "jumping machine", with eight pairs of jumping horses replacing 16 inner-row standers. M.D. Borelli and his wife visited the carousel in 1924, spending several months adding their trademark bejeweled decorations to the horses.

The Silver Beach Amusement Company purchased full ownership of the carousel and band organ from Fred Dolle's widow and M.D. Borelli in November 1930. During a facelift in the early 1940's, the horses took on the well-known, all-white bejeweled appearance. During a planned repainting of the carousel, the painter died, leaving the horses in their white primer. When a replacement artist was hired, only the trappings and secondary carvings were painted. This magical look was later adopted for the Disney carousels, thinking that it sped the rider's selection process when loading the ride.

The park's founder and remaining owner, Logan Drake, passed away on September 27, 1947, leaving the park to his daughter Rebecca and her husband, St. Joseph Police Chief Harold Terrill. Although loss by fire was the fate of numerous operating carousels, the Silver Beach Carousel operated continuously until the park closed in 1971 due to declining attendance, deteriorating structures, and social issues.

Marianne Stevens of Roswell, New Mexico, a founding member of the National Carousel Association and the American Carousel Society, co-author of Painted Ponies, a renowned collector, restorer, and owner of carousels, was contacted by Harold Terrill. Marianne had run an ad in the trade publication Amusement Business, offering to purchase vintage carousels. She visited the St. Joseph area in 1972 and, in the following year, she purchased the Silver Beach Carousel.

In 1997, individuals interested in returning the original carousel to its home formed the Silver Beach Carousel Society, Inc., and began to promote the idea to the community. They were unable to secure a site and funding for the machine before it was sold in 2003 to a group of businessmen representing the Tri-Cities area of Washington state. The "Three Rivers Carousel," as the merry-go-round will be known, is currently undergoing figure restoration and a fundraising campaign is still underway to purchase the necessary machinery for the carousel's permanent installation along with a capital campaign necessary to build a structure for housing the carousel.

Despite the 2003 setback, the Silver Beach Carousel Society repurposed its mission to bring a new, hand-carved and hand-painted carousel to St. Joseph that would include six white and jeweled horses identical to the original machine, along with a variety of unique horses and animal figures designed to delight all ages. As a key attraction for the development below the bluff, incorporating both sides of Broad Street, the Silver Beach Carousel will welcome its first riders on January 2nd 2010.

About Carousel Works

Preeminent carvers are creating the new Silver Beach Carousel.

Artists from the Carousel Works company in Mansfield, Ohio, have created more than 25 new carousels around the country. They are hard at work re-creating six horses from the original Silver Beach carousel, originally done by master carver Charles Carmel in 1910. They are also carving 20 unique horses and 22 newly designed animals to complete the 48-figure machine. Two chariots, one handicap-accessible, will also be part of the new carousel.

Carousel works carves all figures basswood using traditional patterns and poses in the tradition of carousels manufactured in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The figures are glued together, using no nails or screws, just as was done a century ago. Then the figures are finish sanded, primed in white, decorated using multiple coats of colorful paint and jewels where appropriate, and finished in a high gloss for durability.

Carousel Works is currently producing seven new carousels (including ours) with completion dates ranging from March 2008 through 2010. The Silver Beach Carousel will be their 30th new carousel creation. Additionally, Carousel Works has restored several antique carousels, including a 1916 machine at the Santa Monica Pier in California and the 1908 Central Park machine in New York City.

Click here for more info on the Carousel Works.

Carousel Rounding Boards

About the boards and our generous sponsors

Around the top of the carousel are 18 rounding boards. Traditionally they are hand-painted, pastoral scenes. But we commissioned computer graphic artists to create what we believe are the first rounding boards to use a montage of colorized, historic photographs. Each board takes you back in time to tell our area's rich story through the people, places and events that we never want to forget. You can learn about each one in a booklet available through out gift shop.

Click on a thumbnail to enlarge the photo and read information about the selected rounding board.

• Shield Shield
• Blossomtime Blossomtime
• Downtown Remembered Downtown Remembered
• Entrepreneurial Spirit Entrepreneurial Spirit
• Faith in Our Lives Faith in Our Lives
• Farming the Land Farming the Land
• Historical Landmarks Historical Landmarks
• History of the Territory History of the Territory
• Innovations in Transportation Innovations in Transportation
• Music in Our Lives Music in Our Lives
• On the Water On the Water
• Proudly We Serve Proudly We Serve
• Sentinels of the Harbor Sentinels of the Harbor
• Silver Beach Amusement Park Silver Beach Amusement Park
• Summer in the City Summer in the City
• The House of David The House of David
• The Whitcomb Hotel The Whitcomb Hotel
• Winter in the City Winter in the City
• Yesterday's Enterprises Yesterday's Enterprises
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Map and Directions

Click here to view a map of downtown St. Joseph and its many attractions.

Silver Beach Carousel Band Organ Music

CLICK ON UNDERLINED SONGS TO DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE

Silver Beach Carousel Band Organ Volume 2 (Marches)

1. Under The Double Eagle
2. Officer Of The Day
3. Ben Hur Chariot Race
4. Paul Revere's Ride
5. Our Director
6. The Triumphant Banner
7. The Homecoming
8. Kaiser Frederic
9. Bulgarian March
10. Royal Trumpeters March

Silver Beach Carousel Band Organ Volume 3 (Ragtime, Waltzes, Foxtrots, Marches)

1. Crazy Otto Rag
2. Karnter Liender
3. Moonlight and Roses Foxtrot
4. Cannade March
5. Tiger Rag
6. Es Lebe Der Sport
7. Collegiate Foxtrot
8. We March
9. St. Louis Tickle
10. Black Forest Boys
11. Ah-Ha Foxtrot
12. Top Notch March
13. The Cascades
14. The Dam Busters
15. Come to Me Waltz
16. Kick Off March
17. Coronation Rag
18. Unter Den Linden
19. Who Takes Care of the Carpenter
20. The Idolizer
21. Felicity Rag
22. Alte Komeraden
23. Nantucket Man Foxtrot
24. The Vanguard March
25. Rattlesnake Rag
26. Melody that Made You Mine
27. Peacherine Rag
28. Grandpa's Spells