Talk about a gift that keeps on giving: In 2006, local philanthropist Fred Scott donated an antique carousel to the Virginia Discovery Museum, which oversaw its installation on the Downtown Mall. After 15 years and millions of rotations by seven horses (the VDM estimates that more than 100,000 children ride the carousel every year!), the beloved whirling wonder—one of the oldest remaining self-propelled carousels in the country—was in need of restoration.
Re-enter Scott, who, in honor of the museum’s 40th anniversary, made a generous pledge to restore the 1910 carousel to spinning glory. Then came a matching grant challenge from the Perry Foundation, and area families, businesses, and foundations quickly stepped up. Local contractor Martin Horn and artist Christy Baker did the work, with a monetary assist from Apex Clean Energy, Bama Works Fund, The Caplin Foundation, Chilton Trust, Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates, Martin Horn, S&P Global, and Virginia National Bank.
During the May ribbon-cutting ceremony, Janine Dozier, the VDM’s executive director, said restoring the carousel, which is free to ride and open to the public during the museum’s hours, was “truly a labor of love. …After what has been a long and difficult two years for everyone, reviving the carousel [is] a wonderful gift to the families of Charlottesville.” To which we say: Giddyup!