Description

HISTORY AND RARITY:

The “Legends of the Forest Carousel” is the brain child of long-time carousel lover, Peter Newland, who upon returning from a carousel auction in the 1980s was sad to see how many machines around the country were being broken up, and started to dream of building his own carousel. Peter called upon his friend and master-carver Jim Toner. They met for breakfast and originally “hatched” the idea for the carousel in the ‘Woodcarver Room” at Weller’s Chalet  Northbound I-5 exit 208 Island Crossing. WA, sketching it out on paper place mats. The carousel would consist of 5 animals on a swing mechanism designed to look like a tree and branches. Each animal was chosen for the carousel because it was routinely seen on the Northwest watersheds acreage where Peter lived at the time. As he is involved with organizations trying to preserve the great northwest landscape, he decided to apply carousel magic to teach children ages 4 to 12 about the environment as well as to entertain them and inspire their imaginations. Peter and Jim developed the story line that these animals were born in spring of the same year and grew up together. Each year, in late fall, the animals return to the same tree in the ancient forest where they camp, prepare for winter and share stories of their adventures. While the children “wait their turn” to ride, they look at pictures of actual footprints of the animal’s real counterparts and learn a few “forest and animal facts” from the docent. The carousel would be a perfect permanent addition to a Children’s Museum. Also, it is easily disassembled and packed into an SUV for easy transport to children’s parties, special promotions and charity events.