The
people's choice in Livingston County... and beyond!
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The
people's choice in Livingston County... and beyond!
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When I was 7 years old, my grandmother, a proper English lady who wore her braided
hair neatly pinned up on the back of her head, took me to Seabreeze Park on
the edge of Irondequoit Bay. My mother had dressed me in a pink and white seersucker
playsuit, but Grandmother returned me home to be properly attired in a dress,
maryjanes and white socks.
I can remember going on only one ride that day: the wonderful 1909 carousel,
or merry-go-round, as we called it. I remember marching and galloping horses
decked in gold, wearing colorful painted saddles and fancy bridles. Some snorted,
eager to be off on their circular journey. Others waited patiently for a gentle
rider.
Between groups of horses were the chariots-painted with angels and cherubs,
fanciful landscapes and trimmed with gold-waiting to hold less equestrian types
and a proper English lady and her 7-year-old charge.
In later years, I rode the galloping horses that bounded over imaginary obstacles
as they moved up and down on shiny posts well-worn by sticky cotton candy hands.
As a teenager I flirted with young men who ran the brass ring machine. Often
I sat in the oversized, slippery, wooden, red rocking chairs that surrounded
the carousel just to listen to the Wurlitzer Band organ grind out songs like
"Silver Moon" and "Bells!!The Ride Begins!!"
When the Seabreeze carousel burned to the ground March 31, 1994, all that was
left were those memories.
"We will rebuild," the owners declared in Rochester newspapers. The
Long family, which had come to Seabreeze in 1904 as carousel builders and operators,
are keeping their promise.
Fifth generation family member John Norris, along with park staff, has built
a new 86-foot octagonal Victorian structure to house the 50-foot diameter carousel
and its 44 horses.
Ed Roth of Lakewood, Calif., working under Seabreeze staff direction, carved
38 new horses. Two horses carved by George Long in the 1970s, plus four horses
from the old carousel (out for repair and not destroyed in the fire) will be
reinstated in their new home.
Red rockers will again entice visitors to sit and listen to a new band organ
manufactured by J. Verbeek Organ Manufacturers of St.-Job-in't-Goor, Belgium.
The Seabreeze story, which began in 1880, adds a new chapter this summer. Thanks
to the Long family, guests who relish their carousel memories can return with
their children and grandchildren to create new ones.
If you go: Seabreeze Amusement Park, 4600 Culver Road, Rochester. 800-395-2500.
·Open early May to mid-June, Saturdays and Sundays at noon. Mid-June
to Labor Day, daily, noon to 10 p.m. (Friday & Saturday until 11 p.m.) Waterpark
open daily 11 a.m to 8 p.m. 75 attractions for all ages
·Price options include a Ride & Slide Pass, the Kid Pass for children
under 48" tall, and a Night Rider Pass for after 5 p.m. Special prices
for non-riders, senior citizens and groups of 25 or more.
Sylvia Farrer-Bornarth lives in Pultneyville.
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