The Friends of the Paragon Carousel lease the land upon which the carousel and adjacent Clock Tower Building sit from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Clock Tower Building, another one of Nantasket Beach’s landmarks, dates to 1923 and is home to the Paragon Park Museum, a restoration studio, the Friends’ business office and The Paragon Creamery, which serves up Gifford’s ice cream and kid-friendly snacks. “There’s a huge love in the community for the carousel and what it represents as a piece of living history and artwork,” says Jim Callahan, director of operations.

The golden age of carousels spanned six decades, from 1870 to 1930. During this period, artisans from Europe hand-carved and painted nearly 3,000 carousels. Unfortunately, less than 150 of these ageless wonders are operating today. The Philadelphia Toboggan Company crafted 89 carousels in the early 20th century–one of which was the Paragon Carousel. The 1928 merry-go-round is classified as a Grand Carousel and earned its coveted title because it carries four rows of horses and two Roman-style chariots.

Paragon Carousel is one of only five remaining carousels designed by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company that features chariots. The bejeweled booth-like benches are considered rare and believed to be crafted by Frank Carretta, a master carver from Sicily. In 2003, James Hardison, the carousel’s restoration curator and chief mechanic restored one of the chariots to its original splendor–revealing its vibrant colors. Hardison, a Hull resident and fine artist, has been breathing life into the carousel for more than two decades. Over the years he has refurbished 44 of its horses. “I carefully remove the paint with heat,” explains Hardison. “These figures were painted over many times and there could be 20 or 30 coats of paint on a horse. I try to discover the original color scheme.” The carousel’s second chariot is currently being restored and is expected to be unveiled later this season.