There’s one more chance for locals to enjoy unlimited rides on Greenville’s lone carousel this week at E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center.
The third, and final, Cocktails at the Carousel events this summer will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday. Entrance to the carousel room at Bass, 323 S. Main St., for the event is free and open to the public.
“All of our events are open to everyone, you do not have to be a member to attend,” GAC Executive Director Eleanor Wright said.
Once folks arrive, they are welcome to grab a drink, relax and socialize.
Alcoholic beverages cost $3 for non-GAC members and GAC members drink for free. Non-alcoholic drinks cost $1.
Popcorn, made with locally-produced Crop to Pop popcorn, will be free for everyone to snack on.
“We have the best popcorn from John Mark Looney, we think it is just fabulous,” Wright said.
The centerpiece of the event, children and adults alike are welcome to take free rides on the historic 1901 Armitage-Herschell Carousel.
“We are very lucky to have this carousel, there aren’t that many in the 21st century and only about 160 of them in the United States left,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, everybody loves a carousel. It’s a lot of fun, it makes you happy when you walk in the room.”
The carousel room is also available to rent for birthday parties or other special events. For more information, call GAC at 662-332-2246.
Carousel history
The Armitage-Herschell Company made several “Steam Riding Galleries” for a decade, from 1892 to 1902.
Greenville’s carousel came to Greenville in 1901 under its first caretaker, Eli Wineman, who had it placed it along Broadway Street for locals to enjoy. It is a two-row track “county fair style” carousel with 24 horses and four chariots, with surrounded seating on the upper poplar-wood deck.
Several years later and having gone through several owners, the carousel closed in 1988. In 2000, it was dismantled and moved to Mansfield, Ohio, to be restored by Carousel Magic Inc.
In 2003, the Delta Children’s Museum bought the carousel and, with the Junior Women’s Club, continued raising funds to have it restored.
The carousel was returned to Greenville in 2006 and re-opened to the public in February 2007, this time with a new power system, canopy, seat backs, decorative fencing, three of its original chariots and all of its original horses. The horse tails are even made with real horse hair.
In 2012, the 1901 Armitage Hershell Carousel was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in Washington D.C. Today, it remains a facet for out-of-town visitors and locals alike to marvel and enjoy.
