Herschell-Spillman Carrousel/Three Abreast/40 foot Portable.  Thirty-Six Animals: 
                     29 original Horses (three sizes)
                       3 New Horses
                       2 Spillman Dogs (all jumpers) * 
                       1 Looff Lion (stander) **
                       1 Looff Elephant (stander) **        (* not on machine after restoration — ** on display in pavilion) 

Fourteen interior scenery panels, rounding boards, and mirrored shields.  Artizan A-2 Band Organ acquired in 1997.

Owned, administered and operated by the City of Shelby Parks and Recreation Dept., Box 207,  Shelby, NC,  28151  Telephone: (704) 484-6839.  Mr. Charlie Holtzclaw, Director. Carrousel telephone: (704) 484-6476.

HISTORY
The Carrousel  operated at the Shelby City Park from 1952 until 1982. The First National Bank and The Union Trust Company shared the $6500 cost. The bill of sale was signed in Charleston, SC in 1951 by Mr. James E. Strates, founder and head of Strates Shows and business associate of  Dr. J. S. Dorton of Shelby's Parks Commission and manager of the Cleveland County Fair.  The ride was picked up in Stewart, FL.  There is some possibility that it once was a part of the Johnny J. Jones Exposition.

RESTORATION
In 1985, the National Carousel Association held its annual convention in North Carolina.  Shelby's Herschell-Spillman Carrousel was found to be restorable but deteriorating.  An estimate from a group of restorers was rejected by the City so an in-house project was begun with state and local matching funds.

Mr. Tommy Forney was hired to strip and repair the animals.  Forney attended NCA Technical Assistance Conferences in Raleigh, the Indianapolis Children's Museum, and Meridian, MS. He served as project coordinator and is now Carrousel Supervisor.

Mrs. Alice Johnson attended the TAC in St. Paul, MN and Meridian, MS.  All of the horses have been repaired and twenty-eight have been painted by volunteer painters under Mrs. Johnson's direction.

Mr. David Caldwell is a craftsman/woodcarver and maintenace technician who worked for the Building and Grounds Division,City of Shelby, Mr. Caldwell carved three new horses and was responsible for many jobs including varnish top coats.

Many volunteers have contributed countless hours and expertise. Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Nancy Haynes, and Mrs. Brenda Lowery have painted new landscape scenes on each of the fourteen new rounding boards and also  the interior scenery panels in addition to painting most of the horses, all on a volunteer basis. 

SHELBY CITY PARK CARROUSEL FRIENDS, INCORPORATED  A private, non-profit corporation helping the City of Shelby with the restoration.
Board members:  President-Debbie Sharp, VP -Dean Garver, Sec.- Becca Schweppe, Tres.- Lucille Evans, Brenda Page, Lois Barry, Mary Jane Darr, Barbara Earl, Calvin Blalock, Sandra Garver, .  For information call 704 484-6476

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