The elements depicted on the farm chariot are from the “home” place where Bun and his brother grew up in the mid-Willamette Valley. Oak trees, leaves, and acorns are all symbols of the property. The house was built in the 1870s and was known as High House. It served as a social center where horse races were run in the field by the lane on Sundays. The main floor ceilings are 14 feet high and the fireplace was brought by ship around the tip of South America. Small tree frogs live in the shrubs around the house and serenade but are rarely seen. There are two vintage barns and a windmill which give the farmyard some of its characters. The family still wonders how Bun’s father erected the windmill without assistance. For years it sported an old school bell and the platform hosted grandchildren. The farm has two lakes, one of which can be seen from the house, thus the bullfrog and cattails plus wild roses grew near that lake. Since the valley is on a major flyway, a number of waterfowl visit the property seasonally. The raccoon, Ollie, had a very sweet disposition and was a much-loved pet in the 1940s. The lamb on the side is Sally. Born on the farm in the ‘60s, she was rejected by her mother and hand-raised by our family in Albany. She didn’t know she was a sheep until she grew up and moved to the farm where she spent many good years and raised her own lambs, always welcoming her two-legged family for visits. The piglet on the other side is Eadie. She represents a very dear friend who collected pigs, was an avid carousel enthusiast, and was a woodcarver. Eadie’s small carving tools have contributed to the carvings on this carousel for a number of years. Our family has been carousel fans since the 1960s. As a retired therapist, Jan wanted people with limitations to be able to enjoy the ride which delights so many of us. Thus, it meets ADA standards.
Farm Chariot
