An icon, a dream-maker, the soul of Seaside Heights. All words used by one of the former owners of the 104-year-old carousel there that bears his name. Doctor Floyd L. Moreland, of Ortley Beach, said he's thrilled about Seaside Heights proposed land deal that will save the the carousel in perpetuity.

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The carousel on the Seaside Heights boardwalk
The carousel on the Seaside Heights boardwalk (Rosetta Key, Townsquare Media NJ)
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"I think it's going to help Casino Pier because they'll be able to develop in ways that they want to that will appeal to younger people," said Moreland. "But it's also going to give Seaside the opportunity to keep an icon which really developed it."

Speaking of developing the shore front community, Moreland said in the 1900's carousel's were commonly placed in desolate areas by railroad companies in an effort to draw people.

"The railroad company that used to come from Pennsylvania to Seaside would frequently pay the fares of people on weekends in order to come and ride the carousel and also in order to be shown properties that were for sale."

Moreland said at one point there were an estimated 5,000 carousels in the U.S. However, the beginning of the end of the American-made carousel came when an art historian wrote a book called The Pictorial History of The Carousel. In hopes of preserving them and getting people to admire them.

"And People, after reading that book, began to look at carousel's as a major part of American folk art, not just as an amusement ride," said Moreland. He said the horses themselves began to command an incredible price in the art world.

A horse on the carousel on the Seaside Heights boardwalk
A horse on the carousel on the Seaside Heights boardwalk (Rosetta Key, Townsquare Media NJ)
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Moreland said he was 2 years old when he first rode on the Seaside Heights carousel. He said he worked as a carousel operator in Seaside while on summer recess from college and grad school in California and would commute home from the University of Berkeley California just to work at the Casino Building where the ride is still housed.

He said in the 1980's there was talk about selling the carousel then and the ride was in disrepair. Moreland said when he was a college professor in New York he wrote a proposal about restoring the carousel.

"And the owners then, in 1982 and three took it off the market, sent me a key to the building, and said do what you want with your carousel and I restored it."

He said a group of friends and family members would head to Seaside Heights on weekends to restore the carousel. The iconic amusement ride is still named the Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Historic Dentzel/Looff Carousel, along with a stationary horse that is located next to the lion, which is called Doctor Floyd. He also said that all of the carousel animals are named after someone as a way to raise money for its restoration.

"But the carousel, for me and for many others, it generates dreams, as its turning, as the music is playing. You can sort of close your eyes and conjure up any fantasies and special images that your heart desired."

 

 

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