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Our Goal

We have embarked on a capital campaign to bring the 1924 De Angelis Carousel to Canalside, the western terminus of the Erie Canal in Buffalo, NY. Our goal is to provide a financially secure and self-sustaining family-oriented destination through financial discipline, sound business practice and a rich volunteer base. It will provide a vibrant, entertaining experience in an atmosphere where history and artistry meet the world of fantasy and fun, creating lasting memories for all who visit Canalside in the years to come.

To become a donor, click on "Reach for the Brass Ring". To sponsor an animal or carousel decorative element of this menagerie-style historic carousel, click on "Adopt-a-Horse". You can also donate at any time with PayPal:

About Us & Our Mission

Buffalo Heritage Carousel, Inc. was formed as a 501c3 non-profit organization to bring a solar-powered carousel to our revitalized urban waterfront, one that celebrates the history of carousel manufacturing in WNY, the Erie Canal and our legacy of leadership in the use of renewable energy.

The mission of Buffalo Heritage Carousel, Inc. is to provide entertainment and education about renewable energy technologies in a way that stimulates life-long learning about our environment and the responsible use of our natural resources.

A carousel, powered by the sun, will provide family entertainment. Hands-on interactive exhibits will demonstrate how the sun powers the carousel. A renewable energy demonstration path surrounding the carousel will provide more opportunities to learn about the use of our natural resources to power the everyday activities of our lives in the future.

By restoring the De Angelis carousel, designed and built by Spillman Engineering in 1924, we celebrate the history of carousel manufacturing in WNY. The Herschell-Spillman Companies of N. Tonawanda, NY were leading manufacturers during the Golden Age of Carousels. Herschell-Spillman carousels began their journey to worldwide destinations on the Erie Canal. By installing it at Canalside, it will create a family-friendly destination for families and tourists at our emerging, revitalized urban waterfront.

A carousel powered by the sun celebrates our legacy of leadership in the use of renewable energy that began with the transmission of hydro-electric power from Niagara Falls to Buffalo in 1901. A vintage carousel, powered by the sun will entertain, educate and create an ICONIC symbol of Buffalo's waterfront revitalization, one that demonstrates The Buffalo Story and promotes Heritage Tourism while looking to the future with both the use of and demonstration of renewable energy technologies.

Adopt-a-Horse

Contact: Corky Burger, Capital Campaign Manager
corky@buffaloheritagecarousel.org.
Buffalo Heritage Carousel, Inc. invites you to Adopt-a-Horse, menagerie animal, chariot or carousel decorative element to ensure that this historic treasure is here to enrich our lives and delight our children, families, and tourists at Canalside for generations to come. Your support will ensure that this vintage carousel becomes an ICONIC addition to our emerging, vibrant waterfront. Adopt one of the animals or decorative elements to become a supporter of Buffalo Heritage Carousel, Inc.

The 1924 Spillman carousel features 34 hand carved and painted animals and 3 chariots. There are 31 existing animals and 2 chariots to be restored. Adoption status recognizes the sponsor with a plaque on the carousel and the right to name the animal.

The 3 missing animals will be replaced; SAL, the Erie Canal mule, and 2 other animals. The missing chariot will be replaced by an ADA accessible chariot to resemble an Erie Canal Barge. Chariots are stationary benches for people who are unable or prefer not to ride the animals.

The exterior of a carousel main frame, the crown, is covered by painted decorative rim panels or rounding boards. The 1924 Spillman carousel ‘crown' includes 14 scenic panels and 14 shields. Sponsor one or all!

On the interior, scenery panels decorate the upper and lower interior framework of the carousel mechanism. There are 7 upper scenery panels that alternate with 7 mirror panels and 14 lower scenery panels. Sponsor one or all!

Reach for the Brass Ring!

Buffalo Heritage Carousel, Inc. invites you to ‘Reach for the Brass Ring" to ensure the longevity of the 1924 Spillman Engineering wood menagerie carousel. Becoming a donor gives individuals, families, groups and businesses the opportunity to celebrate a family member, create a thoughtful memorial or acknowledge a school, group or business of one's choice. Your support will ensure that this carousel becomes an ICONIC addition to our emerging, vibrant waterfront at Canalside for generations to come.

Contact: Corky Burger, Capital Campaign Manager
corky@buffaloheritagecarousel.org.

Become a DONOR at one of the levels below:

CHROME RING : $100-$499

Recognition on web site

SILVER RING : $500-$999

Recognition on web site
Your brochure in Carousel gift shop

GOLD RING : $1000-$4999

Recognition on web site
Your brochure in Carousel gift shop
Plaque inside carousel building

PLATINUM RING : $5000-$9999

Recognition on web site
Your brochure in Carousel gift shop
Plaque inside carousel building

BRASS RING : $10,000+

Recognition on web site
Your brochure in Carousel gift shop
Plaque inside carousel building
Opportunity to 'sponsor' a Buffalo Heritage Carousel event, i.e. Derby Day

Become a Major Sponsor!

To sponsor, please contact Corky Burger, Capital Campaign Manager at corky@buffaloheritagecarousel.org.
BUILDING NAMING RIGHTS : $1,200,000 - SOLD
First Niagara Foundation in partnership with KeyBank

Naming rights to building to provide a home for the carousel at Canalside
Recognition on web site
Your brochure in Carousel gift shop
Plaque inside and outside carousel building

The carousel will be enclosed in an environmentally conditioned ‘green' building, utilizing renewable energy, to protect the carousel from the elements and provide year-round use. Many educational and recreational activities are planned and space can be rented for community events as well. A catering kitchen and toilet rooms will be included.

History of De Angelis Carousel

Buffalo Heritage Carousel, Inc. has purchased a wood, park style, menagerie carousel designed and manufactured in 1924 by the Spillman Engineering Company of N. Tonawanda, NY for Domenick De Angelis of Massachusetts. Mr. De Angelis operated it in various locations in Massachusetts until 1954 and owned by his family until now. It is a rare opportunity to acquire a vintage carousel in this condition that was manufactured in Western New York. It has been in storage at Carousel Works in Mansfield, Ohio and will be restored by them for Buffalo Heritage Carousel, Inc. Carousel Works is the world's largest manufacturer and restorer of wooden carousels.

The following history is summarized from an article published in the December 1988 Carousel News and Trader as told by Robert Brill, grandson of Domenick De Angelis.

Domenick DeAngleis was born in Torre Nocce Pro Auillino, Italy in 1891. At the age of 14 he immigrated to the United States by himself, lived with his aunt and worked everyday in carnivals to save his money. At 18 he bought a taxi cab and worked in the city of Boston. He dreamed of owning a carnival one day and saved his money for 15 years. In 1924, at the age of 33, Domenick traveled to Spillman Engineering in N. Tonawanda, NY to commission an all wood, menagerie carousel.

The De Angelis Carousel was located at Mayflower Grove in Pembroke, MA where Domenick leased the land and started a carnival that included a penny arcade. Seven years later he purchased Gleneco Park in Staughton, MA, a 35 acre park that included a pond, boat house, hotel and dance hall all of which complemented his carousel and penny arcade.

Business went well for the next 2 years until the great depression. In 1933 Domenick exhausted his savings trying to maintain the park. The rainy summer of 1934 reduced attendance and further exacerbated his financial situation. When he could no longer make the mortgage payments, the family lost the park in the winter of 1934.

Domenick, described by his grandson as a shrewd businessman, did not believe in insurance and did not take too many chances. However, he did not quit and started over. In 1934 he relocated his family to Roslindale. He still had pinball machines from the arcade and distributed them throughout Boston. He sold Christmas trees in the winter. In1936 he opened a roller skating rink in Swansea, MA with an arcade. The December '38 hurricane swept everything into the ocean. In 1940 he opened a carousel and arcade in the Hough's Neck section of Quincy, MA. It prospered enough for Domenick to build a house adjacent to it. In 1952 Domenick died and the land the carousel occupied was taken by Eminent Domain for a new school. Mrs. Antonetta De Angelis lived in the house until she died. The carousel was stored in the house from 1952 to 1988 when the family moved it to Carousel Works in Mansfield, Ohio with hopes to restore it and relocate it to a new location. It has been in storage at Carousel Works for the past 28 years.

Buffalo Heritage Carousel, Inc. has the rare and wonderful opportunity to restore and repurpose this most important carousel with a new life in its birthplace, Western New York. Let the De Angelis carousel's legendary story continue at Canalside at the terminus of the Erie Canal in Buffalo, NY. Let it entertain and provide smiles and laughter to children and adults once again in memory of Domenick De Angelis.