When editing yesterday's 18.05.23 MMD, I was floored to learn from Ian
Gillis' posting "Treasures From The Past" that the well-known carousel
horse restorer Will Morton had died. I was also saddened to find that
Will's death just a half year ago went unnoticed by the MMD, although he
was only peripherally involved in mechanical music through his carousel
work.
Art Reblitz, who was also discussed in the "Treasures From The Past" video,
did for the Burlington, Colorado Kit Carson Carousel's Wurlitzer Monster
band organ what Will Morton did for the carousel, making it play and sound
like it originally did.
The only thing a Google search produced for me was this undated picture of
Will:
https://www.kitcarsoncountycarousel.com/blog/dear-friend-will-be-missed-and-remembered
Dan Robinson, the National Carousel Association's editor, was kind enough
to send me a scan of Jo Downey's write-up from the Spring 2018 issue of the
NCA's "Merry-Go-Roundup" on the life and work of Will Morton (April 16,
1929-November 9, 2017). Jo had a close association with Will because of
her connection with the Kit Carson Carousel (PTC #6), which Will was
instrumental in restoring, returning it to its original glory at a time
when carousel restoration was in its infancy as an art form.
It is sad to see the graveyard claim so many talented people from our
midst. We must not let them pass unremembered.
Matthew Caulfield,
Irondequoit, NY
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