Carousel of Happiness

Dave Gibson

05/29/2008 - From 1967 through 1968 as a machine gun squad leader in Vietnam, Scott Harrison carried a hand-held music box that played “Tristess” by Chopin. The melody would transform him to a more hospitable peaceful place where he imagined himself in a mountain meadow operating a carousel. Forty some years later with a little help from his friends, Scott’s dream of the “Carousel of Happiness” is about to become a reality.

  In 1986 Scott purchased a well worn stripped-down 1910 Charles Looff carousel in American Fork, Utah, dismantled it, and moved the parts to his workshop in Nederland. Since then he has diligently restored its frame, sweeps, and machinery. Recycled 120 year old Southern Yellow Pine has been used in making the floor. The owner of the carousel before Scott sold the horses separately and creating the thirty six new animals needed for the two row ride has been a passion. Starting with a rabbit, his menagerie now includes an ostrich, panda, frog, zebra, elephant, cheetah, heron, dog, pig, cow, donkey, peacock, lion, kangaroo, duck, bear, alpaca, deer, fish, cat, camel, seal, sheep, horse, tiger, lynx, and mermaid. Each piece took anywhere from three to five months of his spare time to complete. 

  Scott prefers to use Basswood from the Linden Tree for its creamy texture, workability, and nearly knotless even grain. After doing his research on a particular subject, he glues blocks of wood together with dowels to make the basic form. Following pencil outlines, a grinder takes away excess material followed by the use of an array of chisels and gouges. I see forty of these of every shape and size hanging on the wall of his workshop. Even though he’s finished with all the animals that he needs, ”just for fun” he fashions a raccoon to decorate one of the eighteen spaces between the refurbished paintings of the upper rounding boards. Upon completion, each carving is treated with colorful acrylic paint. I am impressed by the skill and artistry that went into each one of the pieces and standing amongst them, vastly outnumbered, brings them to life for me. Scott cites no formal training but obviously time and dedication has been a very good teacher. A gorilla that could be a Walt Disney character will someday wrap his arm around you as you circle seated on a bench. The birds that rest on the moose’s antlers and the ribbons that flow from the coyote’s mouth are inspired touches. The snake adorned giraffe neck and life buoy wearing dolphin bring a chuckle. Local cartoonist George Blevins’s dragon is also included in the lineup. As if being one of only 150 antique carousels in the country weren’t enough, it is the intricacy and thought behind the details that make it special. Scott is modest about his work as any truly talented artist is. After my visit with him and his animals I consider him a master woodcarver.

  Since 1910 at the Saltair Amusement Park near Salt Lake City, Utah until 1959, the carousel provided enchanted visitors of every age with a fanciful escape. It had survived numerous wind storms, floods, and a fire that leveled the park when purchased by the Utah State Training School in 1960. Until 1986 it was part of their “Fairyland” for people with mental disabilities. The “Carousel of Happiness” is a non-profit organization that plans to continue giving to the people. Profits from rides and the gift shop will be allocated to underprivileged children and groups in need. The carousel’s design allows for several handicapped people to ride at once. A puppet theater inside an old band organ and reading area will grace the mezzanine. The twelve-sided building will also provide a one thousand square foot gallery showcasing international and local artwork along with a sunny section for parties and gatherings. The structure’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification guarantees that the project will not only be people friendly but earth friendly.

  Dreams rarely become reality without hard work. The town of Nederland has whole-heartily approved plans for the “Carousel of Happiness” which is slated to break ground this summer at the Caribou Village Shopping Center. Scott has donated the carousel and a 1915 Wurlitzer calliope collectively appraised at $300,000 to the cause. The Guercio family has generously provided a no-cost twenty year lease for the site valued at $85,000. $313,000 has been raised so far toward building costs with $274,000 left unfunded. Tax deductible donations are being accepted at www.carouselofhappiness.org or P.O. Box 1270, Nederland, CO. 80466. For more information Email: scottharrison1@gmail.com or call 303-258-9246.

  The day that I met with Scott he was sharing his carousel animals with three groups of school children. Wonderment filled their faces as he explained the carousel’s history and future. The tooting organ music was of the kind that they, and indeed most of us, had never heard. After the presentation, all of the children had left but one. She walked over to Scott and grabbed his hand, looking up at him with big brown eyes and sweetly stated, “Thanks for building the carousel for us Mr. Harrison.” Lack of motivation never being a factor, he now has a little more. Scott tells me that it is moments like these that make it all worthwhile.