LICENSE TO RIDE
Official notice: State certifies public rides for Carousel at Pottstown Tasteful fundraiser: Thousands flock to 13th annual food festival
It won’t be long now.
The historic Carousel at Pottstown, one of the oldest all-wood carousels in America, has been certified by the state to offer rides for the public, clearing a major hurdle.
The news came during Sunday’s 13th Annual Carousel of Flavor, a food festival fundraiser held two blocks away from the carousel building itself.
George Wausnock, the president of the non-profit group, said Joe Filoromo, supervisor of the Amusement Ride Safety Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, was there Sunday to provide the final certification.
“He actually certified us today for the public to take rides on the carousel, but we don’t have the insurance yet to cover that, but its coming soon,” said Wausnock.
It was particularly sweet to have the certification happen, Wausnock said, during the organization’s premiere fundraising event.
“This is really the first time that the public is going to get to see it turning,” he said. “But we have to be up front with them because everyone wants to know why they can’t ride it.”
Branden Lors, 5, and Brenton McDowell, 2, who live just down King Street from the carousel, don’t know too much about licenses and insurance. But they know they want to ride it, very badly, said their mom Esther Jean-Louis. “They’re very excited,” she said. Don and Frances Plummer came up from Phoenixville to see the carousel and took particular interest in the two vintage band organs on display in the building, located across from Pottstown’s Memorial Park.
But there are few things more vintage — or, paradoxically, more modern — than Philadelphia To-
boggan Co. No. 9, which is the all-wooden bones and mechanism of the Derek Scott Saylor Memorial Carousel.
Filoromo, who said Pennsylvania probably has more vintage carousels than any other state, said the one in Pottstown now has one of the most modern electronic control systems running a vintage mechanism.
“This one is now more up to date than most,” he said.
Originally a Chester County resident, Filoromo said he was particularly determined to help the Pottstown carousel get licensed because he is haunted by the memory of what collectors did to the old Lenape Park Carousel near West Chester.
“They destroyed it. That kind of drove me to help this one get up and running,” Filoromo said.
Of course, the animals on the carousel are not original to PTC No. 9. But they are unique. They were handcarved by Disney carousel artist Ed Roth and sanded, seasoned and painted by an army of artists.
One of those volunteers is Bob Roebuck, who is completely blind.
He began in 2004 when John Dolan, who carved the two chariots that will allow handicapped riders to enjoy the carousel, asked Roebuck if he would like to sand the wood.
“I said I would try it,” said Roebuck, who has also helped with sanding a few of the carousel animals as well.
“They are quite a challenge because they are very intricately carved,” he said. “But they are beautiful works of art and they are certainly something to be very proud of in town.”
If there is an army of volunteers making the carousel happen, there was enough food to feed an army on High Street Sunday.
Dozens of food vendors fed thousands of people who packed High Street in front of Smith Family Plaza and borough hall Sunday.
One of them was Pottstown Borough Councilman Jim Arms, who tried edamame and rib eye wrapped asparagus from Gatsby’s while his fiance tried the crab mac and cheese from Lilly’s Grill.
Both were pronounced delicious.
At the booth for iCreate Cafe, vegan and vegetarian fare was featured, with black bean humus, baba ghanouj and Syrian salad.
Over at the Trojan Grille, Pottstown High School culinary students showed their best. They included senior Ernest McCalvin and juniors Eriq Johnson, Julia Day and Amaya Stevenson.
Pottstown residents Michael and Angela Novelli were attending their very first Carousel of Flavor and seemed a bit overwhelmed by their choices.
“There are so many things you want to taste,” said Michael Novelli.
Over in the beer tent, Pottstown’s own Sly Fox Brewery was joined by Pottstown Beverage Company, a beer distributor at 375 N. Hanover St., who’s offerings include Blue Moon pumpkin ale and Not-Your-Father’s Root Beer.
Local historian and former Pottstown High School music teacher Mike Snyder said he sampled some of the fare, but added expansively “I recommend everything.”
“Based on a random sampling, I would say everything has to be of equal quality, or better,” Snyder said fairly, adding confidentially that he is partial to the Bause Catered events ice tea mix and the donuts made by the Ice House Deli.
But in the end, some result has to come from the effort put in by the Montgomery
“There are so many things you want to taste.” Michael Novelli, first-time Carousel of Flavor visitor
County Community College’s culinary students and staff who award the prizes each year.
Jim Bauer, a Carousel volunteer who helped organize each event, said the best appetizer award this year went to Gatsby’s; the best main dish to Bause Catered Events; the best desert to Monsanto Brothers and the best-decorated booth to Beverly’s Pastries.