, 2008
ECO Staff – Laure Cioffi, senior journalist
ELLWOOD CITY – There’s the frolic, the paratrooper and the
little swings and don’t forget the merry-go-round and the slide and bounce.
Those are the rides at the annual Holy
Redeemer Church Bazaar that Henry Swope brings each year.
Swope of Dawson, Pa., has been bringing
the rides and some game and food booths to the annual bazaar since he bought
the company eight years ago. Swope is among a handful of small operators who
frequent the smaller events such as the church bazaar.
“There are a lot of big companies that
go to county fairs, but I don’t want to do the big county fairs,” Swope
said.
He prefers to keep his business small
offering only five or six rides and some game and food booths.
The reason, Swope says is to keep the
business within the family.
Swope’s Family Amusements is truly a
family business with Swope’s own children, siblings, nieces and nephews
working with him throughout the summer as he travels to small carnivals and
festivals in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
“We’re out pretty much every week from
mid-April to the end of October,” Swope said.
During the school year, Swope said he
tries to book work close to home so his three sons, ages 10, 12 and 14, can
stay in school, but the rest of the season they travel with the rest of the
family.
“It’s a learning experience for them all
year long. They are working and using their math skills and helping with the
business,” he said.
Swope said most of the games and rides are operated by his brothers,
sisters, nieces and nephews. All are required to take safety classes through
the state where they have to learn to properly operate the rides and be
aware of any safety problems.
“You just can’t take someone off the
street. There are a lot of safety regulations,” he said.
Swope noted that their biggest concern
is lightening. They can’t operate if a storm is even approaching.
The amusement ride owner is also a state
amusement ride inspector. He said he inspects each ride before each carnival
and an independent state inspector looks them over too.
Swope’s sister, Helen Wolfe, who travels
with the company, said it takes about two days to set up for a festival the
size of the Holy Redeemer Bazaar.
Swope said the Holy Redeemer Bazaar is
one of his more successful weeks because it’s a well-attended event.
After this week they will be heading to
West Virginia for another small fair.
Swope said working the carnival life
isn’t for everyone.
“It’s an experience that a normal person
wouldn’t like. You’ve got to jump every week to a different town,” he said.
Swope says it can be hectic, but it can
also be fun traveling with his family.
Swope’s Family Amusements will be at the
Holy Redeemer Bazaar through Saturday.
(Laure Cioffi can be reached at
LaureCioffi@EllwoodCity.org)