NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. -- Etched into many childhood memories, the carousel stands as one of the oldest symbols of public amusement.

However, according to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum director, Rae Proefrock, what most don't know is that when you trace the origins of the modern day carousel, many of those roads lead back to Western New York.

"The Tonawanda’s were the lumber capital of the world around the turn of the last century. We had six miles lumber piled out along the banks of the Niagara River. It was a natural drying kiln, so there was lumber. We also had a large German immigrant population, many of whom were wood carvers and we had a fantastic delivery system with the Erie Canal and the railroad system in New York State,” said Proefrock.

By the turn of the 19th century, Scottish immigrant Allan Herschell, had helped found several carousel companies in the area, but none would be as infamous as his namesake factory, which launched in 1915.

All of the products painted or crafted in house, even down to the music.

"We were the only city that produced American-made band organs. Every one of those notes had to be hand-punched. It's the only equipment left in the world to do this so we're very excited to have it here,” said Proefrock.

And everything was carefully tested before being shipped around the world. 

"The carousel would have to be assembled as it looks today and sandbagged tested, or they invited the neighborhood children in to be the testers,” said Proefrock.

Before it was sold to a competitor in Kansas in the 1970s, it’s estimated that the company produced more than 3,500 fully-equipped carousels.

Herschell's legacy lives on through the museum that has been working to restore and preserve his work, including one of the first-made carousels, for more than 30 years.

It’s expensive and tedious work, but the team says they do it to keep the music and the magic alive for the next generation.

"Like 37 years ago I was teaching fifth grade in North Tonawanda and the children didn't really have anything that they knew of that they could be proud of our city for. So when this opportunity came up for this, we did,” said Proefrock.

You can plan your visit, before it closes for the winter, or donate by clicking here.