The Daily Bee: Community gets first look at classic ride

Over the weekend, a 1920 Allan Herschell Carousel, dormant for 64 years, was joyfully unveiled by its new owners, Clay and Reno Hutchison, at the Sandpoint Granary Warehouse in Idaho. Approximately 150 people gathered to witness the restoration project’s exciting start as 36 hand-carved wooden horses were carefully removed from vintage cargo trailers. The Hutchisons, who named the carousel “Carousel of Smiles,” purchased it 16 years ago after it languished in storage since a Midwest fair closure in 1952. The restoration effort, to be undertaken with community support, aims to revive the 14-sweep, three-row, 40-foot diameter carousel. Despite the need for significant restoration, the carousel is complete with original components, making it a rare find among vintage wooden carousels. Local woodworker Dan Mimmack, a carousel enthusiast, expressed enthusiasm for the project, adopting one of the horses to restore and hoping to showcase the restoration process publicly. The community anticipates the return of the carousel to its former glory and a permanent home in Sandpoint.