HomeMy WebLinkAboutStewart Park Carousel - 2011 (3/14/201=1)Julie Holcomb- Re: Stewart Park Carousel Page 1
From: Zachary Lifton<zacharylifton @gmail.com>
To: Julie Holcomb <julieh @cityofithaca.org>
Date: 2/24/2011 2:21 PM
Subject: Re: Stewart Park Carousel
Hi Julie,
You did indeed help me out with this a while ago when my project was just
starting out. I actually stopped by your office today around noon but you
didn't appear to be around so I talked with Cindy(I think...I'm terrible
with names!) I have to come by City Hall again within the next few days so
I figured I could swing by and find you later just to touch base.
But now that you have written (thank you) I am curious about a couple
things:
1)Your last findings included the following from September 28th 1968:
"The Clerk read a letter from W. W. Willis requesting that his
merry-go-round concession at Stewart Park be renewed for the 1967 season,
under its present terms and conditions.
By Comm. Yengo: Seconded by Comm. McGee
RESOLVED, that the request be referred to the Buildings &Grounds Committee
for study and report.
Carried"
(and)
October 12, 1966
"RESOLVED, that the Merry-go-Round concession at Stewart Park, currently
operated by W.W. Willis, be renewed for the 1967 season under its present
terms and conditions as requested by him.
Carried"
Essentially I'm trying to figure out when the carousel was installed, by
whom, and any information about.... well, "why." I'm trying to tell the
basic historical story of the machine from its arrival in the park
(supposedly in 1951)to present. I have found one brief notice from October
20th, 1951 from F.J. Laverty(then Superintendent of Public Works) putting
out a call for bidders on "the operation of a merry-go-round in stewart
park" but that's all I have in terms of any sort of official record.
W.W. Willis, it seems, was likely that original bidder, unless the above is
a reference to the actual food concessions stand that was opened next to the
carousel.
I don't know what type of easy database searching you are able to do
(perhaps none) but if it's simple to look for anything having to do with
W.W. Willis or any parks/streets/engineering/public works records that have
to do with the park from 1951, that would be great. Have all the public
works records from 1951 been lost? I am happy to come in and help with this
(3114/20'*1)Julie Holcomb- Re: Stewart Park Carousel Page 2
endeavor-- I'd hate to have you waste your personal time with this!
Oh, and on a final note, there seems to be vast confusion regarding whether
there was a carousel in Renwick Park, before the 1950's version came in.
You mentioned it in one of our earlier exchanges: do you know if this is
merely urban myth, or if an earlier machine existed in the park?
Whew. I know I tend to be long-winded. I am in town through Monday evening
if you think it'd be helpful to come by. I'd be more than willing.
Thanks as always,
Zach Lifton
503-927-3630
On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 1:36 PM, Julie Holcomb<julieh @cityofithaca.org>wrote:
> Hi -
> I think that I assisted Zach last year with some research. There is very
•little in the Board of Public Works or Common Council minutes on the
•Carousel. The information that I did find, I have shared with him.
> Julie
•>>> JoAnn Cornish 2/24/2011 12:56 PM >>>
• 1 am looking for any and all information on the Stewart Park Carousel and
•need your help. Zachary Lifton, a grad student at Columbia University, is
•doing his thesis on the Carousel, its history, its value to the community,
•etc. We have not been able to find much information on the carousel and are
•hoping someone in the city may know or possess information that may be
•useful.
• I have copied Zach Lifton and Leslie Chatterton on this a mail. If you
•have information or want to respond, please reply to the three of us.
>Thanks so much!
>JoAnn
>JoAnn Cornish
> Director of Planning and Development
>City of Ithaca
> 108 East Green Street
> Ithaca, New York 14850
>607-274-6550