A dose of nostalgia is inherent in any St. Louis Carousel tale—but Jim Foley’s version is unlike most.
“April 2, 1987,” says the Faust Park cultural site manager, recalling when the contraption was installed at the park. “The entire room was filled with parts, every part in here—except the main pole.”
Inside that 22-foot pole lies Foley’s point of concern: The main bearing’s wearing out after decades of use. The problem? Everything revolves around it.
Foley winces, imagining its ambitious overhaul—slated to begin January 1 and last eight weeks.
It’s no small undertaking. The building seems custom-made to house the 89-year-old carousel, making disassembly a problem-solving nightmare. A sprinkler head, for instance, hangs 24 inches above the pole, which must be delicately lifted off four bolts anchoring it to the floor. Then there are the myriad components: 65 horses (some worth $15,000), 18 beams going to the center pole, 1,000 light bulbs...
Once the ride’s stripped down, carousel expert Todd Goings will do mechanical repairs at his Ohio shop.
“I can relax once it’s in Todd’s hands,” says Foley.
Work’s slated to be done by early March.
