Thelma Jarvis Peterson
Projects: Carousel
In the summer of 2004, Bay Creek’s Resort and Club owner and developer, Richard Foster, met with local artist Thelma Peterson and presented his exciting idea of having designed and built a full size Eastern Shore Carousel. The carousel, known to many as a merry-go-round, when completed, would be located in the newly planned beach community, Bayside Village, within the Bay Creek Golf and Resort development, and would reflect the areas past, present and future through its rich history, culture, beauty and abundant wildlife.
Loving a challenge, and more importantly loving what this carousel would represent, Thelma quickly began the project of
designing each aspect of the carousel, from its 46 wooden hand carved rides, both horses and animals, to its four chariots, rounding boards and all interior and exterior adornment. (Follow the design and building process in photos.)
The horses on the carousel will feature Misty of Assateague, as well as some of her most popular descendants. Each horse will be painted realistically and adorned with carvings that help identify various themes of the Eastern Shore, such as coastal life, agriculture, Native Americans, working watermen, patriotic pride, the State of Virginia and of course for golf lovers, an Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus themed horse.
Other rides on the carousel will feature a variety of animals found on the Eastern Shore, which also through their carved adornment, teach something about each species.
Four chariots have been designed for the carousel. Two will be rocking chariots, featuring jumping Dolphins and pinching Blue Crabs, and two will be stationary chariots, with one featuring a flashing Assateague Lighthouse and the other an oversized carved flounder, which will be handicap accessible.
The rounding board, on the exterior of the carousel, will be constructed with eighteen framed panels, each one featuring an Eastern Shore scene to be painted by local artists, which will identify and help chronicle important historic events of the area, that have helped shape its strong sense of place and character.
The Bay Creek Carousel will in essence put a new spin on the way people, while having great fun, could gain exposure to many significant aspects of the shore. From past to present, from people to ponies, from wildlife to habitat, from bayside to seaside, the carousel would act as a revolving classroom with endless possibilities for leaning and discovering more about life here on the shore.