BUFFALO, N.Y. — Developers hope the revitalization of the DeAngelis Carousel for Canalside will draw more tourists to the waterfront.


What You Need To Know

  • Massachusetts woman reunited with vintage carousel 70 years later in Buffalo
  • Gretchen Ashton adopted one of the wooden horses of the Buffalo Heritage Carousel
  • Ashton is a recent Buffalo transplant and learned the DeAngelis Carousel is being restored for Canalside

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For a Buffalo woman, the revamped merry-go-round will reunite her with her past.

While growing up in Massachusetts, Gretchen Ashton rode the original DeAngelis Carousel before it was taken out of service in the 1950s.

Seventy years later and after recently moving to Buffalo, she learned the attraction will be spinning again at Canalside.

"When I heard about it, I couldn't believe it because I knew how long ago it was put together cause I was just a little kid," said Ashton. "It was a mind blower. I was jumping up and down."

Ashton adopted one of the many wooden horses that will be displayed with the Buffalo Heritage Carousel.

The Carousel is scheduled to open to the public in May.