I read this morning in Montreal's French newspaper, "Le Devoir",
that Canada's oldest galloping merry-go-round, was dismantled and
stored in containers.  Exposed to our harsh winter climate, it
no longer conformed to security rules.

After 35 years of service, it will be replaced by a modern carousel.
The US company, Six Flags Society, that bought the amusement park,
promises that the old carousel will "probably" stay in Montreal.

The carousel was built in Belgium in 1885.  Brought to the 1964 New
York World's Fair, Canada bought it for US$ 75,000, and it became one
of the favorite attractions of "La Ronde", the amusement park of the
World Fair of Montreal (Expo '67).  It was restored in 1970 at an
estimated cost of $250,000.

In 1994, a study by the Ministry of Culture of Quebec said that
Montreal was "the depositary of a unique specimen of the European
tradition that influenced the American builders."

The 89-key organ is the pneumatic mechanics type from Charles
Marenghi's workshops of Paris.  In 1999, the original mechanism was
replaced by electronic infrared readers, to insure a longer life
without modifying the tone of the organ.

A part of my youth that is vanishing!

Roland Bruno Tremblay, Montreal

 [ More about the carousel at
 [
http://www.canada.com/components/printstory/printstory.asp?id=683F2587-9AE3-48EC-98EA-E802021154BA
 [ -- Robbie