Lake Compounce Carousel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lake Compounce Carousel
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lake Compounce Amusement Park, Southington, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Looff; et al |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002865 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1978 |
The Lake Compounce Carousel is a super old and special ride at the Lake Compounce amusement park. You can find this park in Southington, Connecticut. A famous builder named Charles I. D. Looff designed it way back in 1890.
This carousel is one of the few carousels made by Looff that still works today! Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's recognized as a very important historical landmark.
What Makes This Carousel Special?
The Lake Compounce Carousel is located in the southern part of the amusement park. It sits near the northern shore of Lake Compounce, with a water slide and the Starlight Theater nearby.
The carousel is inside a unique building. This building has 12 sides and a roof that looks like fish scales. The roof also has a special raised center part and a small tower on top. Wooden posts hold up the roof. There are also decorative railings between the posts.
The Carousel's Design
The main part of the carousel where you ride is about 45 feet (13.7 meters) wide. It has 18 rows where people can sit or stand. Most of these rows have three horse figures side-by-side.
Sixteen of the rows have these beautiful horses. The other two rows have a stationary chariot, which is like a fancy carriage. One of these rows also has a goat figure! Each horse is painted differently and has its own unique pose and facial expression. All the decorations on the carousel's platform are still the original ones from when it was built.
A Journey Through Time: Carousel History
This amazing carousel was built around 1890. It was made at the factory of Charles Looff in Riverside, Rhode Island. Looff was a very famous carousel maker.
The carousel did not start its life at Lake Compounce. It was first located at Savin Rock Amusement Park in West Haven, Connecticut. In 1911, the carousel was moved to Lake Compounce. At that time, it was also updated by a person named Tim Murphy. He added a new invention that made the horses move up and down as the carousel spun. This made the ride even more exciting!
