FAIR: Carousel seems in poor condition

I was shocked and disgusted to see the severe deterioration happening to the very rare 1917 PTC carousel at the Washington State Fair.

This ride was generously donated to the fair in 1983 by Bob Bollinger to preserve it for future generations. Now the fair is allowing the wooden horses and chariots to fall apart from neglect. They have serious seam and joint separation, cracked wood, badly chipped paint, etc. I even pried up a pie-wedge chunk of loose wood from a horse's neck! This is totally inexcusable.

The fair has failed miserably in keeping Bollinger's gift in good condition. As a volunteer worker and operator on the beautiful Carousel of Dreams in Kennewick, I cannot just stand silently by and watch as this other vintage ride is allowed to rot.

The fair should be ashamed. The carousel needs a full restoration, and soon, before it's lost forever.

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 4:28 PM with the headline "FAIR: Carousel seems in poor condition."