Carousel's military 'ghost horse' reborn
From the Lansing State Journal:
www.lsj.com/news/local/040503_horse_3b.html
Carousel's military 'ghost horse' reborn
Replica of ride from Lake Lansing on display in St. Johns
By Hugh Leach
Lansing State Journal
ST. JOHNS - The beautifully detailed, carved basswood carousel horse brought back pleasant memories from Elaine Twichell's childhood.
When she learned the horse was a replica of one that spent nearly 30 years at the old Lake Lansing Amusement Park, it became even more special.
"I never rode on the carousel at Lake Lansing myself, but a lot of people in the area did," she said.
Twichell, a member of the Clinton County Arts Council Board of Directors, arranged to have "the military horse" displayed at the Depot Center for the Arts through May, offering a nostalgic journey back in time for those who fondly remember the attraction.
The horse is the work of Frank and Darlene Wirtz of Greenville, who said they saw a similar horse at an art show in Saginaw.
"When we saw it, we thought this was something we'd like to try," Darlene Wirtz said. "It took us nearly two years working off and on to finish it."
Frank did most of the intricate carving, and Darlene did the painting.
"When she was painting some of the finely detailed parts of the horse, I couldn't watch," Frank said.
"But I think what she did makes it look great."
The Wirtzes have other wood carvings on display at the Depot, including southwestern kachina dolls and ostrich eggs, but the carousel horse is the largest piece they have completed.
The horse is complete with a carved six-shooter in a holster hanging in front of the saddle and a sheathed cavalry saber along the horse's right flank.
When the Lake Lansing carousel was moved to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, in 1971, the military horse acquired a reputation of its own.
"It was called the 'ghost horse' because people say they saw the ghost of a woman riding it after the park closed," Frank Wirtz said.
According to legend, the ghostly woman climbed on the horse, and the extinguished lights of the carousel began to glow faintly as it slowly turned.
There are two separate versions of whom the ghost might have been.
According to one, the woman's lover proposed to her during a romantic carousel ride before heading off to war and dying in battle. The woman returns to recall a happy time in her life.
The daughter of the man who carved the original said the horse was her mother's favorite, and she thought the ghost might be her mother coming to once again enjoy a ride on it.
No such legends were attached to the horse when it was at Lake Lansing, and the alleged hauntings ceased when it was replaced by a copy when the carousel was moved to another amusement park in 1995.
The original "ghost horse" remains on display at Cedar Point.
www.lsj.com/news/local/040503_horse_3b.html
Carousel's military 'ghost horse' reborn
Replica of ride from Lake Lansing on display in St. Johns
By Hugh Leach
Lansing State Journal
ST. JOHNS - The beautifully detailed, carved basswood carousel horse brought back pleasant memories from Elaine Twichell's childhood.
When she learned the horse was a replica of one that spent nearly 30 years at the old Lake Lansing Amusement Park, it became even more special.
"I never rode on the carousel at Lake Lansing myself, but a lot of people in the area did," she said.
Twichell, a member of the Clinton County Arts Council Board of Directors, arranged to have "the military horse" displayed at the Depot Center for the Arts through May, offering a nostalgic journey back in time for those who fondly remember the attraction.
The horse is the work of Frank and Darlene Wirtz of Greenville, who said they saw a similar horse at an art show in Saginaw.
"When we saw it, we thought this was something we'd like to try," Darlene Wirtz said. "It took us nearly two years working off and on to finish it."
Frank did most of the intricate carving, and Darlene did the painting.
"When she was painting some of the finely detailed parts of the horse, I couldn't watch," Frank said.
"But I think what she did makes it look great."
The Wirtzes have other wood carvings on display at the Depot, including southwestern kachina dolls and ostrich eggs, but the carousel horse is the largest piece they have completed.
The horse is complete with a carved six-shooter in a holster hanging in front of the saddle and a sheathed cavalry saber along the horse's right flank.
When the Lake Lansing carousel was moved to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, in 1971, the military horse acquired a reputation of its own.
"It was called the 'ghost horse' because people say they saw the ghost of a woman riding it after the park closed," Frank Wirtz said.
According to legend, the ghostly woman climbed on the horse, and the extinguished lights of the carousel began to glow faintly as it slowly turned.
There are two separate versions of whom the ghost might have been.
According to one, the woman's lover proposed to her during a romantic carousel ride before heading off to war and dying in battle. The woman returns to recall a happy time in her life.
The daughter of the man who carved the original said the horse was her mother's favorite, and she thought the ghost might be her mother coming to once again enjoy a ride on it.
No such legends were attached to the horse when it was at Lake Lansing, and the alleged hauntings ceased when it was replaced by a copy when the carousel was moved to another amusement park in 1995.
The original "ghost horse" remains on display at Cedar Point.
posted by mitchel at 8:54 PM - 
1 Comments:
Is this the same carousel horse that Cedar Point moved to Dorney Park Pa?
If so is the military horse the one that when a picture of it has been taken that the picture will not turn out ok? Would like to know.
If you know, was this something that Cedar Point created for their Halloween stories?
Thank you I would like to know!
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