The Ella Carousel

One object that marked itself as a huge attraction point in Dane county is the carousel that had rested in the parking lot of Ella’s Deli. Since the shutdown of the restaurant, Ella’s Carousel has been purchased and moved into EPIC’s Voyager Hall in Verona, Wisconsin, just a thirty- minute drive away.

The Carousel’s History

This glamorous carousel, built in 1927 in Leavenworth Kansas by the C.W. Parker Amusement Company, had been titled the “Parker Carousel” by the Deli, but I, as a commemoration to the deli, will refer to it from here forth as The Ella Carousel. One of the oldest in our country, this carousel is one of the original 75 carousels in America. The Ella Carousel originally operated in an amusement park but when it closed they stored the carousel with little care, causing it to be severely damaged. In the 1980s, Nate Balkin, the new owner of Ella’s, bought this carousel and had it restored. It took many months and lots of love to restore this beauty to its current glory.

It brought decades of joy to local children at Ella’s deli and provided core memories for thousands. Once the restaurant closed, EPIC recognized it's historic and cultural worth and proudly purchased the carousel in June of 2018.

An "Epic" Journey

The Ella Carousel has certainly made quite a journey across the country to now find itself resting within the Voyager Hall at Epic. Epic has an outstanding reputation for being a quirky company that attempts to better its surroundings. It saw The Ella Carousel as an opportunity to continue that goal and celebrate our history.

Significance of this Carousel

I thought to myself, what better way to show the impact than by asking those who grew up in Madison about their recollections of the carousel. These are a few of those responses:

“I remember being a little kid and seeing the lights and music and not being able to look away from the carousel...-Henry Goldberg

“When I was little, like five to seven, I would spend the weekend with my grandparents, and we’d go downtown for breakfast every Sunday and then go get ice cream at Ella’s and then ride the carousel. We did it almost every weekend; All the time. It’s some of my most fond memories as a kid.” -Michael Jordan

Every person I talked to had fond memories of Ella’s and the carousel, only supporting the theory that this carousel has been extremely significant to Madison’s culture.

The True Reason to Visit

The historic value of these amusement park rides isn’t just in their construction but also in the memories made from them. If there is anything that I have learned, it’s that memories make up the world around us. Culture, education, and passion are all made from memories, and these rides allow us to create amazing memories, making them deeply important to the culture and community we have created.

Timeline

1927

Carousel is created in Leavenworth Kansas

1930's - 1960

Carousel is in use at Amusement Park in Tonawanda, New York

1960's - 1980's

Carousel is poorly stored and loses quality due to neglect and natural causes

1963

Ella’s deli is opened on state street

1967

Ella’s deli switches owners

1969

Opens East Washington location to expand restaurant

1980s

Carousel is restored

1980s

Carousel introduced to Ella’s

1999

Ella’s on state street closes

2005

Epic moves its headquarters to Verona, Wisconsin

2018

Ella’s Deli and Ice Cream Parlor closes

2018-

Carousel is bought by Epic and moved into their Voyager Hall

Present

Carousel is displayed at Epic

Demographics

1927

Population: 1,377 (Verona) ~38,000 (Madison)
Common occupations: manufacturing and mechanics (88,000 milwaukee 1920s)

Today

Population: 14,276 (Verona) 269,196 (Madison) Median age: for riders (6-12)
Common Occupations: Sales
Average income: 50k/yr (verona) 35k/yr (Madison) Average life span: 50-60

Brief Biography (Why did you choose this object?)

I chose this object because I really wanted to choose something that left long lasting memories with me. Everyone I have talked to agrees that this carousel brought memories that they will always cherish, and I think that that was a beautiful way to commemorate growing up in Wisconsin (and as a UW-Madison student).