By Anthony Rifilato
At a press conference on Aug. 9, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin) joined kids and community leaders in front of the Cradle of Aviation to give the historic Stein & Goldstein carousel - built in 1912 - a proper send-off before it was sent to Ohio, where it will be restored.
"It's a wonderful, unique part of Nassau County's history," Scannell said. "Everyone has a story about the carousel. So many people stepped up to the plate to make this happen."
Last month, county legislators approved a $484,000 contract with Carousel Works - an Ohio-based company and one of the largest manufactures of wooden carousels in the world - that will fully restore and revamp the carousel, including its 41 horses, one lion and Wurlitzer 153 organ.
The restoration is expected to be completed sometime next year, and will be the centerpiece of a planned expansion of the Cradle, children's and firefighter's museums.
"Our goal is that by 2009 - in the spring or earlier - these horses will be restored and in a building, a real completion to museum row," Suozzi said. "We're trying to make this into a complete destination point for all of Nassau County."
The restoration is being paid for with $420,000 in discretionary funds secured by Scannell, along with money raised by Pennies for Ponies, a non-profit group launched two years ago by 9-year-old Wantagh resident Rachel Obergh.
Pennies for Ponies has raised $81,000, after all 42 carousel animals were adopted by local schools - including three from Baldwin - as well as True Value Hardware in Baldwin, Suozzi and the Lercari family, who owned and operated Nunley's on Sunrise Highway. The county has also allocated $1 million for a new enclosure along Museum Row for the carousel. Musician Billy Joel has even pledged a song, "Waltz No. 1 (Nunley's Carousel)," to be played on the carousel's organ once it is restored.
Suozzi and other officials marveled at the amount of money Pennies for Ponies were able to raise after reaching out to schools across the county, who in turn donated $2,000 and named a carousel animal.
"It's a good next stage," said Rachel's mother, Beth. "When she first started, we were kind of like, 'What a cute little project, she'll raise a few dollars.' Once Billy Joel pledged his song for the band organ, that gave it a lot of publicity. And there were lots of positive stories in the news."
Most of the carousel was placed inside an 18-wheel truck, as county officials and kids celebrated the landmark's departure with a massive cake in front of several carousel horses.
"It really takes a team to make this happen," Scannell said. "It's very satisfying - they've been in the warehouse for 11 years, and 11 years later, we're excited by how everybody pulled together a great team effort."
The fund-raising for the carousel will continue, however. On Sunday, Sept. 23, there will be an antique event, "Restoring Nunley's Carousel," at Baldwin High School, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature an antique car exhibition, antique appraisals by TV personality John Bruno, as well as pony rides, music, and more.
"It will be great fun for the family," said Diane Lore, owner of True Value Hardware, who, along with Pennies for Ponies, is organizing the event. "I want to see this great piece of folk art restored."
