CFJ Park

About Us:

George F. Johnson donated six carousels to the Triple Cities between 1919 and 1934. There are fewer than 170 antique carousels remaining in the United States and Canada. All were built by the well-known carousel maker Allan Herschell and contain wood-carved figures. Each summer they are open to the public to ride for free. The largest and most ornate of these carousels is located in CFJ Park.

The Village is proud to be a custodian of one of the only 19 remaining Allan Herschell Carousels in the world. The largest of the Broome County collection and one of the largest in the country, with 72 horses, our carousel is an example of one of the only three Allan Herschell Company’s four abreast models still operating in the entire country. The beautiful wooden, hand carved horses are called “jumpers” because the figures jump up and down as the carousel spins around on its platform. The carousel is still in its original location in CFJ Park. The Village of Johnson City purchased the park on July 17, 1968.

In 1992 we were honored to have our carousel, along with Broome County’s 5 other carousels, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1993 the horses, scenic panels and rounding boards were restored. In 2010 the building housing the carousel was completely restored. The restoration of the carousel building was partially funded with a grant from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Environmental Protection Fund and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds from the Town of Union.

“Let me tell you this, if anything has been done for you that has made you a bit happier, hand it on to somebody else just as soon as you can. That’s the way to keep square with the world. And now look. In that big park…there’s a merry-go-round...Help yourselves.” - George F. Johnson, 1934