Giddy up, Flying Horses! Meghan Rossol hops on board.
Ivy Ashe

Brass Rings Back in Action; Flying Horses Carousel Opens for 140th Season

Ivy Ashe
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<p>Blue skies, brisk winds, the sound of organ music in downtown Oak Bluffs--it must be spring on the Vineyard.</p>

Blue skies, brisk winds, the sound of organ music in downtown Oak Bluffs--it must be spring on the Vineyard. The Flying Horses carousel opened Saturday afternoon for its 140th season, drawing kids and families from across the Island and across the Sound for a ride on one of the 20 antique horses inside the beloved red building.

Round and round.
Ivy Ashe
Round and round.
Ivy Ashe

A banner across the concession stand read Happy Easter in bright marker, and the smell of buttery popcorn greeted riders as they lined up at the low white picket fences inside. Some took just one spin on the horses — unless, of course, they snagged a coveted brass ring — while others, like Anna Arnott in her tiara and tutu, returned again and again for a turn.

The Flying Horses was built in 1876 and is the nation’s oldest continually operating platform carousel. It was moved to Oak Bluffs from Coney Island in 1884.

The carousel is now owned by the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust and has been designated a national landmark.

Flying Horses will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Memorial Day, when it returns to a full schedule for the summer season.

View more photos from opening day at Flying Horses.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/05/2015 - 17:51

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Ray Simmons Coral Gables

There is also a Charles Dare Carousel at Watch Hill, Rhode Island. It dates from 1884 and has 22 horses with real tails and agate eyes. There is no platform, so the horse are free to swing outward as the ride rotates. There is a ring arm. This is one of the oldest operating carousel is America.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/06/2015 - 13:20

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Andrea Bejarano NYC

Hello carousel friends! I am starting a children's project bringing carousels to life! Please visit my website and let me know about a reading or carrying my story books.....CarouselsAreMagical.com... Andrea

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/07/2015 - 09:49

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SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt Edgartown, MA

Ivy, if this delightful story is your last hurrah for the Gazette ... may we cheer you on your journey, hoping your paths will be lined with gold rings and godwinks!

We've enjoyed your prolific and creative writings over the past few years and hoping we'll soon again see the wonderful word-picture outpourings of your mind and fingertips.

Wishes for winks!
SQuire & Louise

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/07/2015 - 12:18

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Ruth Nason Bergstrom California

I thought they didn't open until Memorial Day! Now I can go on them when I visit the area in a few weeks. If I timed it right, I used to be able to snatch 4 rings at a time! Would have liked operation days printed.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 11:50

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Lisa Ashe Pawtucket, RI

Confession-I have a silver ring in my jewelry box from 1976! I also used to be able to snag 4 rings at a time! No more! I will miss your wonderful writing and photos, Ivy.

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