From the City of Wahpeton web page:
The carousel is an exquisitely restored 1926 Spillman carousel. Twenty handcrafted wooden horses, two chariots, and an enchanting calliope are a funfilled reminder of happy childhood memories.
When Roger Jensen and Jim Oliver, Wahpeton, took on the project of finding and restoring an antique carousel, their search took them around the United States. Their hopes were growing dim when a lead came about a carousel in Minnesota. After tracking down the owner of the carousel, Roger Hildebrand, of Pelican Rapids, MN, they were happy to find that the original carousel he had was complete and original. All of the machinery and horses were there and in restorable shape. It was purchased and a new search was on for the money and the people who had the talent to restore it.
We were fortunate to find Lonnie Halverson and Dolores Berg. They were the key artists responsible for the majority of the restoration process. After the 20 plus coats of paint were stripped, the horses were brought to Lonnie. Many of them had to have legs, teeth, tails, saddles, etc., recarved. In addition, many of them had a case of wood rot. All of the rotten and damaged wood was removed and Lonnie carved new pieces in their place. When the woodwork was done, (estimated 60 to 80 hours each) the horses were taken to be painted. Dolores painted each of them to have a different personality and flare, spending as much as 50 hours on each one.
HOW WERE THEY NAMED?
· Wil and Rich: These two horses are sponsored by Wil-Rich Manufacturing of Wahpeton.
· Jerida and Jedari: These 2 horses were sponsored by Bill and Betty Richardson and were named for their grandchildren. The letters of each name were used in different ways to get Jerida and Jedari.
· Pat and Della: These horses were sponsored by Della Stern and named for her and Pat Stern.
· Sugar: Named by Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative and this was the first horse to be restored.
· King Leo: Adopted by the Wahpeton Lions Club.
· Berta Howard and Janell Jensen of Wahpeton, sponsored by Berta, in memory of Janell's mother.
· Hugo: Custom Interiors, owned by Don Steward of Wahpeton sponsored Hugo, naming him after a friend who died of cancer.
· Teddy: Adopted by Teddy Bellmore, Wahpeton.
· Pegasus The flying horse: Pegasus was sponsored by Tri-State Aviation. Gerry and Cindy Beck, Wahpeton.
· Santana: Adopted by Ed and Cathy Uhlich and named after their son's first horse.
· Babe: Sponsored by Lucille Sturdevant and given the nickname Babe in memory of her husband Virgil.
· K.C.: The last horse to be finished, K.C. was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in Wahpeton.
· Cash: Adopted by Norwest Bank of Wahpeton.
· Silver Dollar: Adopted by Community First Bank of Wahpeton.
· Bella Russ: Adopted by Meredith Mitskog, Wahpeton, and named after her parents, Bella and Russ Munson, who died in an airplane crash in 1961.
· Pal: Lucille Milloy named Pal using her husband and her initials-Pat And Lucille.
· Noel: Sponsored by Bob Furst as a Chistmas gift to his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Bob Furst, and his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Royer.
· Smiley Face: Stephanie Ehnstrom sponsored this horse in memory of Rodger, who passed away in 1989. Rodger used to call their daughter Terri 'Smiley Face'.
· Scotty: 3M's horse Scotty is named after the Scotch brand tapes.
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