Westside Park Whirl-Around
Etnyre International (SMF Inc.) has agreed to restore the Whirl-Around from Westside Park to its original condition, or as closely as possible, as it was first manufactured in the 1920s. The Whirl-Around had begun to show signs of age and posed safety concerns for children, making this restoration of a century-old piece of playground equipment essential.
Once the Whirl-Around is ready to be reinstalled in Westside Park, we will inform the community so everyone can participate in the celebration of this historic playground fixture.
Whirl-Around History
In the early 1920s, the Louden Machinery Company, based in Fairfield, Iowa, acquired the J.C. Porter Company of Ottawa, Illinois, a manufacturer of playground equipment. J.C. Porter held the patent for a component essential to Louden’s overhead carrier systems. Following World War I, there was a growing advocacy for improved health for children through physical exercise and organized play. As a result, Louden began marketing the Porter line of playground equipment. From the 1920s to the 1950s, numerous schools and parks in Fairfield, Iowa, prominently featured Louden playground equipment.
The Whirl-Around, also known as the merry-go-round, was constructed around 1930 on the grounds of the Fairfield Country Club. This playground apparatus serves as a testament to the company’s expansion during the 1920s.