Family Matters: For Time and All Eternity

It all began with one breathtaking invention. At the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition, bridge engineer G.W.G. Ferris unveiled something the world had never seen before, the original Ferris Wheel. And among those who stood in awe was a young bridge engineer from Roodhouse, Illinois, named W.E. Sullivan.  Inspired but also practical, Sullivan and machinist J.H. Clements created a smaller version in 1900, using open buggy seats for a simple, charming design. When the Eli Bridge Company was officially formed in 1903, his investors insisted on keeping that name, just in case this "silly Ferris wheel fad" faded out, so they could always go back to building bridges!   But the fad never faded. It grew into a legacy. More than a century later, the Sullivan family’s Eli Bridge Company is still going strong, sending portable Ferris wheels to places as far away as India. What began as a bridge builder’s side project became a worldwide symb...

There are some things that aren't just built, they're crafted with care, history, and vision. The Dangler Swings is one of those treasures.  This beautiful ride was originally built back in 1920 by Fritz Kreis, a leading German manufacturer of amusement park attractions. What makes it even more special? It was created as a one-of-a-kind project. There's simply nothing else quite like it.    Before it found its home in Canada, the Dangler Swings was recognized as the largest of its kind in Europe. It evolved from the mechanical carousels that charmed crowds back in the 1870s, with its tall center pole powered by a reliable 7-horsepower electric motor, a marvel of engineering in its day.   In 1984, the ride was generously donated to Heritage Park by Jim Conklin, and after careful restoration, it made a grand appearance at the 1988 Calgary Stampede midway, bringing joy to a whole new generation. Then in 1989, it found its permanent ho...