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Another antique Looff carousel is the Slater Memorial Park Carousel in Pawtucket. Built between 1880 and 1890, the carousel's whereabouts are unknown until it was purchased by noted carousel concessionaire, John Walker, and moved to Slater Park in 1910. It is situated near a lake and picnic grounds reminiscent of turn of the century family recreation. When the city of Pawtucket put its Looff carousel up for sale in 1971, there was such a public outcry that the city was forced to relent and begin making the necessary repairs. In 1979, for the first time in 12 years, the newly refurbished carousel began turning. It is said to be the fastest Looff carousel ever made.

The Slater Park Carousel has 44 horses, three dogs, one camel, one giraffe and two double benches. All but one of the hand-carved horses are original, and all have genuine horsehair tails. When you ride, see if you can identify the lead horse, the one that all the others seem to follow. Also, as you watch the many paintings turning on the center of the carousel, tip your hat to the man in a derby hat--he's Charles I.D. Looff.

The surrounding structure has stained glass windows and houses an ice cream truck which was operated by Americo Pierini in 1906. the truck's lettering misspells his name "Peirini." The Slater Memorial Park Carousel was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Since that time, the city has maintained and operated the carousel as a seasonal attraction. Over 10,000 people annually visit and ride the carousel which remains an active and important attraction and component of Slater Park.

CREDIT: State of Rhode Island Tourism