Seabreeze Carousel
and
Memorial
for
Merrick Price

Here is some home video footage of the Sea Breeze Carousel that was taken shortly before it was destroyed by fire March 31, 1994. We hope it evokes memories of your childhood carousel rides.

Click below to hear the original Carousel Bell

Click below to hear Toot Toot Tootsie (Goodbye)
from one of our Carousel Breezes Albums

The New Carousel Opening Day

(This picture was taken just as the new Carousel started "Officially" turning for the first time.)

Click on the picture for an enlarged view.

Click here to listen to sound clips and order our Carousel Band Organ Music.
WDYN Radio
An Independent Radio Station that plays Carousel Music Every Day.
(Including a special half hour of Carousel Band Organ Music
Every Every Sunday at 2:00 PM)

Click Here for a RealAudio / Video Clip of the First Spin of the New Carousel.

The new carousel at Seabreeze Park was officially opened June 1, 1996 to the delight of hundreds of visitors to the park. The hand carved wooden horses were whirling around to the happy music of the Wurlitzer 165 Band Organ (recorded by Merrick Price and Dave Kaspersin).
The new band organ began playing on July 3rd, and it too is GREAT! The horses are beautiful - what a wonderful tribute to the memory of PTC#36.
Susan Hofsass: Daughter of Merrick and Lois Long Price, and carousel horse restorer had restored the horses and chariots on PTC #36 to their original magnificence.
And now the horses that surrived the tragic fire are proudly part of the new Long/Price / Norris Carousel including one of Mr. Long's originals.
Because of Suzy, Merrick, Anne, the Norrises, Terry, Dean, and the dedicated staff at Seabreeze this Carousel is one of the FINEST "New" Carousels every created.
In fact this may be the LAST true Carousel EVER created because it was made by hand by REAL Carousel people.
(thoughts from Dave Kaspersin, most likely put in my mind by Merrick Price.)
Dave, Merrick , and Allan Mueller had spent two days recording the new band organ. A new GREAT Carousel CD
was released on December 17TH, 2001
and was dedicated to Merrick.
Please visit Seabreeze Park and experience this NEW and wonderful Merry Go Round! It is TRULY a Work of Art and a tribute to Mr George Long and his family.

Dave Kaspersin June 1st 1996.

Some of the Horses on the new Carousel.

Click on the picture for an enlarged view.

My very good friend Merrick Price passed away Tuesday November 12, 1996. He produced all of our Carousel Band Organ recordings, and he taught me, and a lot of other people how to really appreciate and love Band Organs and Carrousels. Merrick, Terry Furlong, (Chief Electrician, and Merrick's protege) and I have gotten together for breakfast (at SEVEN AM) every three to four weeks for many years. I went to the park with him every time we met for breakfast, and never grew tired of listening to his stories about park life. I will miss Merrick and his wonderful ways, and I will always be grateful to have had him for a friend.
Dave Kaspersin

Our deepest sympathies to Suzy, Anne, The Norrises, Terry, and everyone who knew and loved Merrick.
Dave and Jackie

Dave, Merrick, and Jackie 1995. Merrick is showing us where the new Carousel will be.

Click on the picture for an enlarged view.

Merrick and Dave with some of their friends in 1996.

Click on the picture for an enlarged view.

Enjoying a summer morning in front of the Wurlitzer Military Style 165 Band Organ (L to R.):

Click on the picture for an enlarged view.

Alan H. Mueller: Alan's dad worked the concessions at the Seabreeze Park dance halls in the 1920's. Alan remembers riding the carousel in the 1940's - 5 cents a ride! - and peering at the band organ (then located in the center of the carousel), trying to understand how it worked. He figured it out - Alan has been handling the major repairs of this Wurlitzer for many years.

Merrick Price: Son-in-law of George Long, Merrick has been at the park for over forty years, and could still be found in his office (or on his golf-cart) at 7:30 each morning. Merrick is holding Aaron Hofsass: grandson of Merrick and Lois Long Price, and son of Mark and Susan Price Hofsass. If he finds merry-go-rounds as appealing as his forebears, Aaron will be the sixth generation of the Long family to continue his family tradition.

Nicholas J. Rosica: As a young boy, Nick rode his bike to Seabreeze several times a week to hear the band organ (and record it on his cassette deck). Little did he know that as an adult it would be his meticulous care that keeps the Wurlitzer in such good working order.

Susan Hofsass: Daughter of Merrick and Lois Long Price, and carousel horse restorer. Suzy had restored the horses and chariots on PTC#36 to their original magnificence. And now the horses that surrived the tragic fire are proudly part of the new Price / Norris Carousel.

David R. Kaspersin: Owner of Dynamic Recording Studios, and carrousel enthusiast. Dave ran the arcade at Seabreeze for several years (and still gets a pretty good pinball score).

Jackie Kaspersin: Wife of David Kaspersin. Manages and promotes the Dynamic record label.