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HOLYOKE -- Her granddaughter and great niece both waved hi every time the carousel spun back to where Ann Dunne was sitting Friday (Aug. 15).

"Every time," said Dunne, of Chicopee with a laugh, on a bench at the Holyoke Merry Go Round.

Showing perhaps that while the Merry Go Round's 80's-themed Friday wasn't a huge success, waving hi to your grandmother and great aunt apparently never gets old.

Dunne was there with Olivia Dunne, 4, her granddaughter, and Emily Campos, 6, her great niece, both of Chicopee.

We haven't been here in a while. I love it. I remember it when it was at Mountain Park. Emily had one of her birthdays here. I don't know if it was her fourth," Dunne said.

"Hi, Grandma," Olivia shouted.

"Hi, Olivia," Dunne said.

"I'm going to go one more time," Olivia said.

"You're staying on?" Dunne said.

Lara McGeer, Merry Go Round concession manager, said the idea behind a 1980's theme was to draw in folks in the hope they would dress referencing the decade (Reaganomics? "The Big Chill?" Michael Jackson?), and that would net them a half-price ride on the antique restored carousel horses. (Rides are $2 each and 6 for $10.)

But it was pushing 2:30 p.m., and no one dressed like Madonna, "E.T." or anyone from "The Cosby Show" had shown up, she said.

"Sometimes we have like superhero days and the kids dress up. They like that," McGeer said.

The 48 hand-carved horses of the carousel were built in 1929 and rescued from the former Mountain Park amusement area. The carousel is at Holyoke Heritage State Park at 221 Appleton St.

With Valentine's Day approaching, PassportHolyoke wants folks to sport their fondness for the Paper City on Facebook and Twitter.

"Photo ideas include buildings and businesses, landscapes, local celebrities, restaurant offerings, and friends and family at events and activities," said a press release from PassportHolyoke, a group of organizations that promote the city.

" 'I Love Holyoke' encourages people to share what makes Holyoke meaningful to them while connecting with their community and exploring the city," the press release said.

All photos must be original and tagged with #ILoveHolyoke, #AmoHolyoke (Spanish) and #PassportHolyoke. Facebook posts should be made public so that they are viewable in their respective hashtag feeds, the press release said.

The campaign runs from Feb. 7 to Feb. 14, which is Valentine's Day.

PassportHolyoke will share many of the photos on its Facebook page and will exhibit some at Holyoke Heritage State Park visitors center, 221 Appleton St., after the campaign.

For information send an email to info@passportholyoke.org.

The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round marks 20 years in operation at Heritage Park this December.

Thus, this is a time of reflection and celebration in Holyoke, concerning both the remarkable story of how residents and businesses in the city rallied to keep the attraction within the community, and the success enjoyed since: more than 1 million riders, hundreds of events staged at the facility, restoration of nearly half the riders hand-crafted wooden horses, and the creation of untold memories for generations of area residents.

There will be many opportunities to rejoice and look back this year, with the highlight being a huge fund-raising gala at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House on Sept. 19, an event that is expected to severely test the facility’s fire-code capacity.

But for those most closely involved with this landmark, known to them as PTC 80 (the 80th carousel built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co.), this is a time for much more than celebrating — although they will do plenty of that. It’s an occasion to do some strategic planning and take important steps that will ensure there are many more anniversaries to celebrate down the road.

And it's a time, said Angela Wright, to do some difficult, yet very necessary, succession planning when it comes to management of what those in the city call the ‘happiness machine.’

Difficult, noted Wright, who was co-chair of the group that raised the money to keep the carousel in Holyoke and has been its volunteer director since it opened, because that’s the only word to describe what it will be like to “let go.” “We’re reluctant to give up something that is close to all of us, and something that we worked so hard at — it’s been a labor of love for all of us,” she said, referring to a strong corps of volunteers that has been with this project from the beginning and seen some of their ranks pass away in recent years. “We don’t want to let go of this, but it’s something we know we have to do.”

Elaborating, she said the Friends of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, as this group is called, is engaging in discussions about hiring a full-time executive director for the facility, an individual who will assume many duties currently carried out by those volunteers, from fund-raising to marketing, while also taking on the primary assignment — maintaining the relationships that have enabled this city treasure to survive and thrive, and creating new ones.

Hiring a director is one of many suggestions forwarded during strategic planning sessions staged recently with a consultant, Jeff Hayden, former city development director and current director of the Kittredge Center, said Maureen Costello, administrative manager of PTC 80. Others include everything from recruiting additional board members to developing and implementing a marketing plan; from multi-faceted efforts to increase visitation to a host of initiatives to increase revenues, especially the scheduling of more birthday parties and other events. These steps are in various, but mostly early, stages of implementation, said Costello, noting that one important step — a doubling of the price of a ride to $2 after more than 18 years — was undertaken in 2012.

“That was a difficult decision for us, because we had prided ourselves on keeping the ticket price at a dollar since we opened in 1993,” she explaned. “But it’s been very well-received by our visitors; many people said, ‘it’s about time you did this.’” There will be more difficult and far-reaching steps taken in the months and years to come, said Jim Jackowski, business liaison and customer service and credit manager for Holyoke Gas & Electric and current president of the Friends board. He noted that, while the attraction’s first two decades in operation could be deemed an unqualified success, these are tenuous times for independently operated carousels like this one.

The challenges are many, and include everything from the high cost of insurance (carousels have historically had high mishap rates, although this one hasn’t recorded any) to the escalating competition for the time of young children (the ride’s lifeblood) and their parents. There are just a lot more things for kids and families to do today, said Jackowski. “We have to respond to that by promoting ourselves and doing what we’ve always done — providing a truly unique experience. Wright agreed. Many carousels are closing hardly a week goes that we don't hear of one of them shutting down,” she said, noting that she and others read about such casualties in industry publications like the Carousel News & Trader and Merry-Go-Round Roundup. “These things are becoming very expensive our liability insurance is extremely high. Between insurance, staffing, maintenance, upkeep, promotions, and marketing, they’re becoming simply too expensive for many operators to run.” For this issue and its focus on travel and tourism, BusinessWest takes a quick look back at how PTC 80 remained a Holyoke institution, but a more comprehensive glance ahead to the challenge of making sure the happiness machine will be there to create memories for future generations of area residents. Turns for the Better

Click here to read the full article.

If the Red Sox got your spirits down lately with the long losing streak they just managed to break, there’s something coming to remind you how great a ball team they really are.

On June 7, the 2013 World Series Trophy will be making a stop at the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round at Heritage State Park in Holyoke for all to worship for two hours from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The visit to the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round is part of an effort to share the 2013 World Series trophy with fans throughout New England, the United States and the globe.

It's the third time the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round has played host to a World Series Trophy – hosting the magnificent award from the 2004 and 2007 Red Sox wins.

What can I say, we’re big fans of the Red Sox down here,” said Angela Wright, who helped lead a campaign to purchase the former Mountain Park carousel and transplant the Holyoke treasure inside a new building at Holyoke Heritage State Park. There is no admission charge to view or have your photo taken alongside the trophy. Rides on the antique carousel are $2 per ticket, however, if Red Sox fans or otherwise wear their MLB Red Sox attire, then they will receive a half-price ride.

The trophy, first awarded in 1967 to the St. Louis Cardinals, when ironically they beat the Boston Red Sox, was redesigned in 1999 and made by Tiffany & Co. Made of silver, the trophy weighs some 30 pounds and features 30 gold-plated flags representing each Major League team. The flags rise above a silver baseball covered with latitude and longitude lines that symbolize the world. The baseball also contains 24-karat vermeil baseball stitches.

We'll also have plenty to keep the kids busy who would rather ride the merry-go-round than catch a glimpse of the trophy; said Wright.

Mr. K will make balloon sculptures from 1:30 to 4 p.m., and “Stephanie” will be face painting from 12 to 4 p.m. Shuffles the Clown will also entertain visitors with magic from 2 to 4 p.m.

There will also be hot dogs and snacks for sale.

Wright said they are preparing for their summer season when the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round opens its door six days a week beginning July 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Current hours are Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. On Two-For-Tuesdays during the summer, visitors get two rides for the price of one. For Senior Day on Wednesday, grandparents accompanied by a paying child, ride free. Thursday is make a craft day.

The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, originally installed at Mountain Park in 1929, is one of only 60 of its kind left in North America. Constructed by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, it consists of 48 horses and two chariots all handcarved by craftsmen from Italy and Germany. Its band organ was made at the Artizan Factories of North Tonowanda, New York.

While at Heritage State Park, the park's Visitors' Center features exhibits about paper manufacturing and Holyoke's industrial history. A slide show celebrates the city's rich blend of cultures and people. The Children's Museum and the Volleyball Hall of Fame are also located at the park. The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round is also available for children’s birthday parties, corporate and other private party rental and is equipped to accommodate wheelchairs and other special access needs.

In my mind, there are three kinds of anniversaries. 

There are sad ones, like Dec. 7, the date in 1941 that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Sept. 11, the date in 2001 when terrorists struck our nation, and the dates which mark the deaths of family and friends. 

Second, there are practical, necessary and non-emotional anniversaries, like the dates we have for drivers’ license and auto registration renewals and mortgage payments. And, then there are joyful anniversaries. These are the day for which flags should fly, like a marriage which lasted and was fun for 50 years, the college reunions AND right here in Holyoke, where we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round. 

And, oh, what a celebration there is going to be. It is one which is so justified. 

Mountain Park amusement park closed on Sept. 27, 1987. I don’t know for certain, but I am willing to guess that was the day the late John Hickey became determined not to let the dearly treasured carousel be sold to outsiders. 

Hickey conferred with Holyoke’s mayor at the time, Marty Dunn, the state representatives Bob Rowan, Walter DiFillippi, and then-state Sen. John Burke. They all met with park owner John “Jay” Collins, and, although the initial asking price was frightening, they still felt the idea was “doable.” 

On March 6, 1988, Hickey wrote a stirring column for the Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, bearing the message, “City Should Fight for the Carousel.” Dunn and Hickey immediately created a committee, Save the Carousel for Holyoke. 

Friends of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round was incorporated on May 14, 1988. John Hickey and Alderman Karen Cavanaugh were co-chairs of the board, and Angela Wright and Mark Parent, president of United Engineers, became co-chairs of the successful fundraising effort. 

It is interesting to note that Angie Wright continues as the volunteer executive director of the merry-go-round and for years the volunteer treasurer of the board of directors. In spite of receiving substantially higher offers for the carousel, Jay Collins offered to give it to the friends’ group for $850,000 and was willing to give the fundraising project two years to produce this amount of money. 

On June 9, 1993, architect Tim Murphy was issued the building permit, and construction started on July 26, 1993 to prepare a site for carousel’s new home. The contractor was WHJ Construction, of Springfield. 

Jim Curran disassembled the carousel and prepared it for secure storage. He meticulously archived every part so that it could be reassembled accurately, a job which he later did. Volunteers painted the wooden frames of the merry-go-round at the Wherehouse?. 

Jim Curran also brought in and operated his company’s crane equipment to place the permanent flat on top of the building. He also installed the Tiffany window which had been commissioned by Albert Steiger in 1896. 

There was nothing which Jim was asked to do that he did not do to perfection. Always available for support was the late Roger Fortin, who, for 40 years, had been the superintendent of Mountain Park. 

When Marty Dunn became state senator, he with another great Holyoke mayor, Bill Hamilton, succeeded in getting financial support from the state Department of Environmental Management for the construction of the building. Peter Webber, the commissioner of this department, facilitated the merry-go-round’s location at Heritage Park and arranged a $300,000 grant for construction of the building to hold the carousel.

I was a trustee at the PeoplesBank, and the late Warren Rhoades, bank president, had the support and enthusiasm of our entire board to secure the financial backing of Holyoke’s banks for the project. The building’s construction was supervised by Joe Wright, who continues to volunteer to help with the building’s maintenance. Joe’s best friend, the late Will Girard, often called the “chief engineer,” was available day and night whenever a problem arose. 

Donors “bought” horses to help with the project. Children collected dimes. Fundraising parties were held. Thousands of Holyokers and area residents contributed and continue to contribute to the effort to maintain this outstanding, remarkable carousel, one of the few in the country. 

The 20th anniversary has arrived, and there will be a gala to celebrate on Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Dan Kane & Friends will entertain, and there will be plenty of food, friends and fun. Tickets are $45. A table purchased for 10 will get two free tickets, making each ticket at that table only $36, so it is worth while to gather your family and friends and come celebrate 20 years of a dream come true thanks to the efforts of John Hickey and Angela Wright who got the horses running! 

HOLYOKE –The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round at Heritage State Park "represents very precious memories for children and families," says Maureen S. Costello, administrative manager. "And, it offers an opportunity for children and families to create new memories."

Located at 221 Appleton St., the Holyoke-Merry-Go-Round is celebrating its 20th anniversary there. During that time, it has carried more than1 million riders and has hosted more than 5,000 children's birthday parties and hundreds of functions for families and businesses.

"We want to encourage visitors so we can continue to preserve our merry-go-round and be able to operate it so future generations can enjoy what those who have ridden it over 20 years have enjoyed,"Costello said.

The Philadelphia Toboggan Co. ride was assembled in the old modified pavilion at Mountain Park in Holyoke and opened for the 1929 season.

In 1953, John Collins purchased Mountain Park, and, after it closed in 1987, he sold the carousel to the Friends of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round for $875,000.

Donations came from near and far; Holyoke schoolchildren raised $32,000 from activities like bake sales. The lead armored horse, Lancelot, is dedicated to the schoolchildren.

The ride has 48 horses and two chariots for a capacity of 56 riders.

After the ride was purchased, it was relocated to Heritage State Park, in the center of the downtown. "We made a commitment to downtown Holyoke to support its revitalization," Costello said.

Timothy Murphy, a local architect, donated his services to design the recreation of the original carousel pavilion. On Dec. 7, 1993, Philadelphia Toboggan Co. merry-go-round 80 re-opened to the public in its new home.

"We're one of only 100 antique, classic wooden merry-go-rounds operating in North America," Costello said, noting riders have ranged in age from newborn to 104 years.

"It's not uncommon to have four generations of a family come to ride the merry-go-round together," she said. "Many people remember riding the merry-go-round at Mountain Park and now bring their children and grandchildren to the Holyoke Heritage State Park" to ride it.

"I feel when someone rides a merry-go-round, they can be transported to be able to experience something magical," Costello said.

The merry-go-round is also a venue for children's birthday parties and private parties. Call for prices and details. Costello said there have been wedding receptions and memorial gatherings there, too.