The Daily Bee: Community gets peek at historic carousel

During a captivating “pre-unveiling” event, community members in Sandpoint got an exclusive first look at the fully assembled but unrestored 1920 Allan Herschell Carousel, a centerpiece of the Carousel of Smiles project initiated by Clay and Reno Hutchison. Reno Hutchison expressed that witnessing the carousel in its 1920s glory was a dream come true. Jan Griffitts, the director of Carousel of Smiles, described the moment as “awesome,” “unbelievable,” and “emotional.” The nonprofit organization, founded by the Hutchisons, unveiled the carousel to the public the following day at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, where it remained assembled for the community to enjoy. Clay Hutchison emphasized the seamless fit of all the pieces during assembly, thanks to the efforts of local volunteers known as the “gear and grease gang.” The carousel, rescued from a Kansas field where it had been stored since 1952, has become a cherished part of the Sandpoint community, with the Hutchisons aiming for it to be embraced as “Sandpoint’s carousel.”