Meet the Ponies of A Carousel for Missoula

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:28 AM Page 1

Meet the Ponies

MONTANA

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:29 AM Page 2

Ponies in order of appearance: Columbia Belle ................3

Bogie..............................11

Leo the Lionheart ............3

Moonlight ......................11

Star Boy ...........................3

Montana Appaloosa ......11

Evansgone .......................4

Red Ribbons ...................12

Bud...................................4

Meriwether ....................12

Marguerite.......................4

Seattle Sue .....................12

Dispatch ...........................5

Cannonball ....................13

Soro..................................5

Snapples ........................13

Rubie................................5

American Beauty ...........13

Silver ................................6

Paint...............................14

Toyo..................................6

Prince .............................14

Orchard Belle ..................6

Hard Hat........................14

Midnight Rose ..................7

Sleipnir ..........................15

Cherished Angel ..............7

Freya ............................. 15

Lil' Buck ............................7

Norm..............................15

Prairie Rose .....................8

Eagle Chariot .................16

Sweet Sue.........................8

Pal's Pal..........................16

Koko.................................8

Santa's Pony...................17

Altrusa Chariot ................9

Patches...........................17

Avalon..............................9

Low Bid ..........................17

Big Sky Gaiety ...............10

Scafti ..............................18

Sir Franklin ....................10

RING MACHINE

Zonta .............................10

Lucky Red Ringer ...........18

1

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:29 AM Page 3

Keep track of all the ponies you ride!

Altrusa Chariot American Beauty Avalon Big Sky Gaiety Bogie Bud Cannonball Cherished Angel Columbia Belle Dispatch Eagle Chariot Evansgone Freya Hard Hat Koko Leo the Lionheart Lil' Buck Low Bid Marguerite Meriwether Midnight Rose Montana Appaloosa

Moonlight Norm Orchard Belle Paint Pal's Pal Patches Prairie Rose Prince Red Ribbons Rubie Santa's Pony Scafti Seattle Sue Silver Sir Franklin Sleipnir Snapples Soro Star Boy Sweet Sue Toyo Zonta 2

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:29 AM Page 4

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: KITTE & PAT ROBINS

As the lead horse for Missoula’s Carousel, Columbia Belle is the most embellished, with gold hooves and mane; an American flag unfurled under her oversized saddle buckle; two 100-year-old jewels given by carousel historian Fred Fried; shamrocks; and an Irish green saddle blanket in recognition of the family’s immigrant grandparents. An angel behind the saddle is a tribute to Mary Robins and Mary Keane, mothers of Pat and Kitte, who died the year the family designed the horse. The pony’s name is in honor of the carousel at Butte’s Columbia Gardens amusement park, which burned in 1973.

Columbia Belle

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULA LIONS CLUBS

Leo is painted in the Lions Club blue-andgold colors and sports the club emblem on its chest. The pony is adorned with five lion heads to represent the grandchildren of his main carver. Their initials are also hidden in the carvings.

Leo the Lionheart

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MOMS FOR A CAROUSEL

This pony is one of the first four carved by Chuck Kaparich. It was adopted by a group of 25 Missoula moms. The Indian pony reminded the moms of “The Legend of Star Boy,” a story several in the group had read to their children.

Star Boy

3

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:29 AM Page 5

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MARVIN HORNER FAMILY

The eleven Horner children were raised on Evans Avenue, and the eldest Horner son thought Evansgone would be a good way to remember their childhood. Evansgone is modeled after a carved horse in Madrid, Spain. The 11 stones in Evansgone’s collar are the birthstones of the Horner children.

Evansgone

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: BUNTS & JUNE WATKINS

The Watkins family has been in the beer business and affiliated with Budweiser for 40 years. Their connection to the business led to the name and Clydesdale horse, adorned with the “Eagle” insignia of Anheuser-Busch.

Bud

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULA PEO’S

The Marguerite is the official name of the white daisy, and it is the PEO’s flower. The group chose a light-colored filly to represent it. Marguerite has daisies on her trappings.

Marguerite

4

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:29 AM Page 6

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: SUN MOUNTAIN SPORTS

Dispatch is a Pony Express horse, selected to reflect a frontier theme that has parallels to Sun Mountain Sports. The pony’s qualities are reflected in the name: speed and promptness in reaching a destination.

To be a Pony Express rider was a dream of many youth in America, when the notion of pony-delivered mail was an entrepreneurial idea, a new way of doing business. Sun Mountain Sports prides itself on its innovation in the golf industry.

Dispatch

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: SOROPTOMISTS INTERNATIONAL

This pony is modeled after an oldfashioned Stein and Goldstein carousel horse. It is a fanciful pony, with green streamers and a light-colored coat.

Soro

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MIKE & VICKI RUBIE FAMILY

Rubie was named after its adoptive family, and carries tennis balls on its breast collar in honor of their love of tennis. Even more unique are the wooden dollars carved on the saddlebags, placed there because of the family's involvement in the banking business.

Rubie

5

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:29 AM Page 7

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: RANDY, THERESA, JASON, JESSICA AND JAMIE COX

As a boy growing up on a ranch near Cascade, Montana, Randy had a horse named Silver. The pony looks like the real Silver in many ways, including the saddle style. The flowers across the rump are sweet peas, flowers that grow wild in the spring in the Smith River and upper Missouri River country. When Randy and Theresa first met, he would bring her sweet peas. The three J’s on the stirrup are for their three children.

Silver

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MINNIE WEAVER & JOY SHERRY

Toyo was Tom Sherry’s horse, the quarter horse he took into the hills whenever he could. Tom’s mother, Minnie Weaver, and his wife, Joy Sherry, decided to outfit the carousel horse as he was rigged when he carried Tom on his trips into the woods.

Tom’s initials, T.E.S., are carved into Toyo’s saddlebags. Tom died in January 1991, and Toyo the carousel horse carries his memories.

Toyo

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: ORCHARD HOMES COUNTRY LIFE CLUB

This farmers' market horse features a straw hat carved out of wood - and a summer’s supply of fresh vegetables. It is a tribute to the women's, service, and social clubs in the Orchard Homes area.

Orchard Belle

6

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:30 AM Page 8

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: FIRST INTERSTATE BANK

Midnight Rose was the name given to this horse by her carvers in Calgary, Alberta.

The carving of this pony was a gift to the Carousel from the Midnight Rose Carvers.

She is the only horse on the Carousel not carved in Missoula. Midnight Rose is dedicated to the memory of Pat Davis, a bank employee who was killed in a horseback riding accident.

Midnight Rose

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: CHUCK & JOYCE SHEPARD

Cherished Angel is named in honor of Carrie, the daughter of Chuck and Joyce Shepard, who died as an infant. The pansies on Cherished Angel were the favorite flower of Joyce Shepard’s grandmother. The cocker spaniel carries the memory of the Shepard’s dog, Angel.

Cherished Angel

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: SCOTT & KIM COONEY

Lil’ Buck is a Montana bucking bronco, happy and full of spunk. He loves little kids.

The Cooneys chose Lil’ Buck from the first four horses and would not have changed a thing about him. He lives to bring happiness to all, but hold on tight because he loves to buck!

Lil’ Buck

7

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:30 AM Page 9

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: JOHN & FRAN RUFFATTO, BILL & KAREN JONES

John and Bill came from the eastern Montana prairies where the prairie rose grows. They decided their horse should carry memories of John’s days in Brockton and Bill’s in Miles City. Fran designed much of the horse, including the colors.

Prairie Rose

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MARY HALL & FAMILY

Sweet Sue is the name of Mary Hall’s real horse. She already had the name when Hall bought her, but likely received it because of her gentle nature. The Carousel’s Sweet Sue is the twin of the real Sweet Sue.

Sweet Sue

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULA COUNTY EMPLOYEES

The employees of Missoula County are very devoted to their little pony. As individuals, many could not have afforded to adopt a pony. As a group, they adopted and designed the Western cow horse.

After selecting the quarter horse as their breed, the group added some “flash” with the southwestern saddle and bridle.

Koko

8

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:30 AM Page 10

The frame and motor of the Carousel were originally manufactured in 1918.

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL CLUB OF MISSOULA

Altrusa Club members show an enduring commitment to people with disabilities, and have lived out that commitment by sponsoring a chariot capable of carrying a person in a wheelchair. The Altrusa chariot is painted in the club’s blue and gold colors. It sports the Altrusa emblem on three sides.

Altrusa Chariot ADOPTIVE FAMILY: FRIENDS & FAMILY OF PAT SIMMONS

Avalon was one of the first four ponies designed and carved by Chuck Kaparich.

On a trip to the carousel in Burlington, Colorado, Kaparich fell in love with a similar armored pony. When Pat Simmons retired in 1992, friends and family, who knew of her lifelong fascination with the legends of King Arthur and his isle of Avalon, adopted this horse in her honor.

Avalon does not go up and down and has three feet on the ground, so she is one of the Carousel's 'standers.'

Avalon

Over 16,000 frame and motor pieces were restored by the mechanical crew.

9

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:30 AM Page 11

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: DAVID & JEANNE JOSCELYN LUBE AND OIL PLUS

The wooden Big Sky Gaiety is patterned after the Joscelyn’s Morgan horse of the same name. Carvers followed a photo of the “real” Big Sky Gaiety, as well as some pictures of Morgans. Big Sky Gaiety’s dark chestnut coat is bedecked with daisies because Jeanne Joscelyn loves riding through a pasture full of daisies.

Big Sky Gaiety

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULA SCHOOLCHILDREN

This armored charger was designed by June Brown’s fifth-grade class at Franklin School. With a Franklin bulldog on its shield, Sir Franklin carries young knights along the middle row of the Carousel.

Brown’s class collected 43,324 pennies to place second in the Pennies for Ponies campaign and earned the right to design one of the four Penny Ponies adopted by Missoula area schoolchildren.

Sir Franklin

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: ZONTA CLUB OF MISSOULA

Zonta

The first horse carved by Chuck Kaparich, Zonta is a traditional carousel horse whose carved embellishments - a corncob and sunflower - are tributes to Chuck’s wife, Beth, who grew up in Kansas. Zonta is a national organization of professional women; its Missoula chapter was chartered in 1961. Dwindling membership and a wish to organize more on a local level has prompted members to disband the formal group, but some still meet for social, educational and professional gatherings.

10

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:30 AM Page 12

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: KEITH & ENES WRIGHT

Bogie is an anniversary present Keith and Enes Wright gave each other, as well as a gift to the community they love. Keith, a golfer, chose the name for obvious reasons, and because that’s the nickname a friend’s grandchild gave Keith. They chose the design of a lively, energetic horse, and Enes picked the colors based on a horse her sister once owned.

Bogie

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULA SCHOOLCHILDREN

This circus pony, among the most colorful on the Carousel, was designed by Holly Raser’s fourth graders at Target Range School. Every child in the class selected one detail to be placed on the pony. They won rights to select the design by collecting 34,346 pennies in the Pennies for Ponies campaign.

Moonlight

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: FAMILY & FRIENDS OF HENRY G. BUGBEE

The Appaloosa is an inspiring horse and an appropriate choice for a Montana carousel. The horse also represents Native Americans’ traditional affinity with the Appaloosa. Carousel artist John Thompson and Henry G. Bugbee consulted people familiar with the Appaloosa, and studied books and pictures, to develop the design.

Henry's handprint adorns the pony's rump.

Montana Appaloosa

11

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:30 AM Page 13

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULIAN

As told in the book “Red Ribbons” by John H. Toole, Missoula’s first printing press was hauled to town by horse and wagon in 1870. Just outside of town, the driver, Joe Magee, stopped so his men could tie little red ribbons to the horse’s ears and mane.

Thus adorned, the horse pulled the printing press into town. Red Ribbons, the Carousel pony, pays tribute to this little known anecdote in Missoula history.

Red Ribbons ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULA SCHOOLCHILDREN

Third graders in Margaret Scott’s class at Lewis and Clark School collected 48,316 pennies - more than any other class - in the Pennies for Ponies campaign. The pony is named for Meriwether Lewis, part of the Lewis & Clark exploration team after whom the school was named. The class won the right to design the pony, with the help of Chuck Kaparich and John Thompson.

Meriwether

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MAURICE & MARION VOLKMAN

Seattle Sue was adopted in memory of the Volkman’s niece, Susan Fisher Beckwith, who was raised in Seattle. Susan was murdered in Denver just before A Carousel for Missoula began to take shape. Susan was the oldest daughter of Marion Volkman’s brother, Glenn Fisher. Glenn and Marion grew up in Missoula. Marion Volkman chose the design and her daughter, Debbie Liberko, selected the colors.

Seattle Sue

12

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:31 AM Page 14

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULA ROTARY CLUBS

An outside-row jumper, Cannonball was named for a beloved horse of worldfamous wilderness outfitter Smoke Elser, a Rotary member. The pony has gold armor emblazoned with the Rotary emblem, and royal blue and maroon trappings.

Cannonball

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MISSOULA SCHOOLCHILDREN

Sally Nelson’s fourth graders in Lolo designed Snapples, a shortening of “Sally Nelson’s Apples.” They won rights to design the pony by collecting 19,039 pennies in the Pennies for Ponies fundraiser.

Snapples

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: JIM & JEAN CARAS FAMILY

The American Beauty rose is no doubt the most popular and best-known red rose.

Here the roses symbolize Jim Caras’ business success with Garden City Floral and Nursery, as well as his pride in being an American. Four small faces on the collar are Jim and Jean’s children, James, Janet, Irene and George.

American Beauty

13

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:31 AM Page 15

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: IRENE & LARRY PIRNIE

World-renowned Missoula artist Larry Pirnie has always seen the running horse as an ever-changing array of electric colors. A favorite of Missoula children and visitors alike, Larry's personal design and painting represent his fantasy of jumping on the back of a wild horse and hanging on with great joy as it carries him on endless adventures.

Paint

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: CLARK FORK RIVERSIDE RESIDENTS

The residents of the Clark Fork Riverside have bird’s-eye and ground-level views of the Carousel’s life in Caras Park. A committee of tenants chose the name and the colors. The tenants all enjoy Caras Park and the riverfront walk, and they wanted to do something great for the city. Prince fulfills that wish.

Prince

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: IN MEMORY OF GEORGE R. “DICK” PEW

Hard Hat’s family has been in the construction business for four generations.

The pony has a construction worker and traditional tools of the trade carved into its trappings. The name “Hard Hat” was a natural choice.

Hard Hat

14

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:31 AM Page 16

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: SONS OF NORWAY, NORMANDEN 424

Sleipnir is a Norwegian Fjord horse with an intricate rosemaled saddle blanket and harness. He was adopted to honor the history of Norwegians in the timber industry in Montana. Fjord horses have a tightly cropped mane and a black stripe down the center of their backs.

Sleipnir

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: SONS OF NORWAY, HILSEN 520

Freya is the Norse goddess of love and beauty. Freya is patterned after a Norwegian Fjord horse. There are a small number of these horses in western Montana. From videos and photos of them, the lodge chose a young filly, full of energy and very playful. Artist John Thompson captured that energy and life in wood.

Freya

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: THE FRATERNITY OF PHI GAMMA DELTA

Named after the fraternity’s award for the best committee chairman among the brothers, Norm is painted with colors and symbols relating to the history of Phi Gamma Delta.

Norm symbolizes the fraternity’s dedication to community service.

Norm

15

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:31 AM Page 17

Thirty-six jumpers, one prancer and one stander ride A Carousel for Missoula.

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: THE MISSOULA BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Association members were anxious to provide a way for children and grownups of all abilities — especially those with disabilities and limited abilities — to enjoy the Carousel, and therefore decided to adopt a chariot that could be used by the very young, the very old and everyone in between. The seat can be lifted, and a wheelchair fastened into the chariot. The eagle and patriotic colors are symbols of the group’s umbrella organization, the National Association of Homebuilders.

Eagle Chariot

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: GERALD A . & ETHEL CARAS DIETTERT FAMILY

Pal was the parrot who lived in Sam and Grace Caras’ Garden City Floral Co. Now he rides behind the saddle on Pal’s Pal. A card hand on Pal’s Pal’s chest represents Grace’s love of playing bridge. Pal’s Pal is decked in roses and ribbons to depict the floral business. Ethel Caras Diettert is Sam and Grace’s daughter. Their grandchildren helped adopt Pal’s Pal. Pal’s Pal is a prancer - a horse that does not move up and down, and that has only two feet on the ground.

Pal’s Pal

Over 10,000 tokens are given annually to disadvantaged youth and individuals with disabilities.

16

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:31 AM Page 18

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: TERRY MCGILLIS FAMILY, DALE MOORE FAMILY, TIM BROWNE FAMILY

The pony was adopted at the Carousel's fundraising auction in April of 1994.

Santa's Pony is an outside row replacement pony, and rides the Carousel each winter to celebrate the magic of Christmas.

Santa’s Pony

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: THE MOSTAD & BERTLIN FAMILIES

Patches, the replacement pony, was adopted at the Carousel's fundraising auction in April, 1994. The Mostad and Bertlin families were joined by the marriage of Mrs. Mostad and Mr. Bertlin after each was widowed. Patches is a celebration of the merging of these families.

Patches

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: KEVIN & KIM GORDON GORDON CONSTRUCTION

Low Bid was one of three replacement horses offered at the Carousel’s groundbreaking auction in 1994. His name derives from one of the things that make a construction company successful. Adopter Kevin Gordon was instrumental in the development of the Carousel.

Low Bid

17

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:31 AM Page 19

The Carousel is not supported by the city, state or federal government, and does not receive money from the United Way or any umbrella organization.

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MARGARET CARAWAY, MIKE & GAY PETERSON, JOHN & GAYLE SALISBURY

The Carousel’s official artist, John Thompson, has long been fascinated by dragons and has always wanted to carve a dragon for Missoula’s Carousel. At a fundraising auction, friends worked together to become the dragon’s family. Scafti has books, jewelry and symbols to honor the combined families.

Scafti

ADOPTIVE FAMILY: MARS, INC.

Lucky Red Ringer, the Carousel’s ring machine dragon, dispenses rings for outside row riders to grab. The lucky rider who gets the brass ring — always one of the last rings in the sleeve — wins a free ride on the Carousel.

Lucky

The Carousel considers each and every donor a valuable partner in bringing magic to our visitors.

18

Book pages_Layout 1 6/4/13 11:31 AM Page 20

Magic is Made by Volunteers If you will give it a home, and promise no one will ever take it apart, I will build A Carousel for Missoula. That was the promise Missoula cabinet-maker Chuck Kaparich made to the Missoula City Council in 1991. Kaparich, who had spent many childhood hours on the carousel at Columbia Gardens in Butte, Montana, had already carved four carousel ponies and purchased an antique frame in thousands of pieces. The Council agreed and Kaparich’s dream of A Carousel for Missoula became the dream of a community.

A board of directors was formed to facilitate organization and fundraising, Kaparich taught others to carve, mechanics began the process of restoring 16,066 pieces, painters were recruited, and Missoula began working together to create a treasure.

By Opening Day, May 27, 1995, over 100,000 hours of volunteer time had gone into the construction of 38 permanent ponies, three replacement ponies, two chariots, 14 gargoyles, gargoyle frames and mirror frames, and the largest band organ in continuous use in the United States, all within a jewel box building.

Community members donated time, services, materials and encouragement. School children collected over one million pennies to adopt four ponies; stained glass artists constructed shimmering windows; mechanics poured babbitt; majestic horses’ heads emerged from blocks of wood; and people found lasting friendships among the woodchips. The community extended as far as Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where the Midnight Rose Carvers built a friendship horse for Missoula. The story of the Carousel includes wood and metal, concrete and colored glass, hearts and hands, and countless hours of loving labor.

Lucky Red Ringer, the Carousel’s dragon ring machine, began dispensing rings on May 24, 1997 — two years after the Carousel opened to the public. Riders of outside row horses grab for rings which roll off the dragon’s tongue, continuing a tradition from America’s Golden Age of Carousels — the late 1800s and early 1900s. Each ride, one lucky rider grabs the brass ring and wins a free ride.

Lucky Red Ringer was designed and carved

by John Thompson.

The spirit of giving which created the Carousel did not end when the building opened. Volunteers carve ponies for other carousels and local not-for-profit organizations, and restore ponies for antique carousels. The mechanical crew donates time to keep the machine in tip top condition, and many others help improve and maintain the Carousel as a gift to the community.

In the spring of 2001, over 4,000 volunteers gathered to create Dragon Hollow Playarea next to the Carousel in just nine days. A grassy field became a magical playland, once again with the help of the entire community and friends from around the world.

If magic can happen anywhere, it can happen in Missoula, where dreams are followed and promises are kept, and where people believe in making a life as well as making a living.

A Carousel for Missoula PO Box 3345 • Missoula, MT 59806 101 Carousel Drive • Missoula, MT 59802 Phone: (406) 549-8382 FAX: (406) 549-0314 www.carouselformissoula.com