There are some who say they are monuments to extraterrestrial beings that landed here in Binghamton and ran in circles to happy music some four millennia ago. Others say that they are epitaphs to the former rulers of this valley.

And these people are just odd.

As for me, I don’t call these things are monuments or epitaphs, I just say that they are quite a hoot!

But what exactly am I talking about? What are these things that litter the Susquehanna Valley? That’s right you guessed it (no you didn’t) I’m talking about the carousels that dot the area.

In all there are six fully restored carousels in the area, with the oldest dating back to 1920, located in Ross Park, on the south side of Binghamton.

For those of you who don’t know, a carousel is a fantastical machine that has a number of wooden horses (around 50) connected in a circle by a system of mechanics that allows them to rise up and down (as if galloping) to the tune of ragtime songs.

But what exactly do you do on these horses?

Besides have fun? Well, you hop on board (after you’ve paid your fare, which is a single piece of garbage from the park) and then ride your sorrows away.

These “machines-O-fun” which I have never called them, are full of potential for enjoyment. Granted I’ve been enjoying them for years and see them as more than just a bunch of wooden horses moving around in circles. And in time, you too can realize the potential for fun on these devices. Just look at the name.

Carousel. Carousel. What word is hidden in that seemingly benign title. That’s right fellow English majors: carouse (yes arouse is in there too, but I run a clean column). Which, according to our friend the Oxford English Dictionary, means: To drink ‘all out’; drink freely and repeatedly.

Then again, in today’s day and age that’s not exactly an accepted practice in Binghamton’s park. Perhaps its just something left over from prohibition.

As a matter of non-fact, I would like to suggest that Binghamton was quite the happening place during prohibition, and in order to accommodate all the illegal carousers numerous carousels were constructed to provide an enjoyable night spot for the revelers.

In truth, the carousels (also known as merry-go-rounds) were donated by George F. Johnson in the 1920s and 30s. It was he who established the “one piece of litter” admission fee.

In all Binghamton’s merry-go-rounds comprise six of barely 170 working units in the country today, and they are all historic. Unfortunately they’re all closed… until Memorial Day. Which is why the timing of this column was pretty darn bad.

Dan Lyons is a junior English and biology major.