BIDDEFORD — When Dr. James Naismith invented “basket ball” in 1891 at a YMCA in Springfield, Mass. to entertain young people indoors in the winter, it was similar but different from the game that most Americans have played at least once in their life.

At that time, there were nine members on a team, compared to five today, dribbling wasn’t allowed, and there was no back board, said John Michalowski Jr., director of 19th Century Willowbrook Village.

Saturday, which was 19th Century Sports Day, was the grand opening of a replica of the first “basket ball” court at Willowbrook. This is first newly constructed project in the museum village in many years, said Michalowski.

Although Willowbrook’s court is outside and the original court was inside, where most official games ”“ for both school athletes and professionals ”“ are played today, many other facets of the court, from the 35 by 50 foot court, with the two 16-inch diameter peach baskets at either end, are true to the original.

The court was added, said Michalowski, because “we want more interactive activities, and we know basketball is very popular in Maine.”

One of the goals of Willowbrook, he said, “is to show the ingenuity of the 19th century man.”

“More patents were issued in the 19th century than in any other period,” said Michalowski.

Willowbrook, he said, was started in 1970 by Don King, who is deceased.

King “decided to open a museum of the 19th century because he saw a lot of history was being lost,”

said Michalowski.

One of the high points at the museum village is a carousel, the second oldest in the country, said staff member Judy Bickford.

Ivory H. Fenderson IV of Saco purchased the carousel in 1896. He operated the amusement around northern New England for a number of years and then put it in storage for 55 years.

Fenderson’s son donated it to Willowbrook. Then staff and volunteers spent more than 10 years restoring the hand-carved wooden horses with glass eyes and horsehair tails and other fixtures to their original state, said Bickford.

Riding the carousel “is a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Adam Charest of Fryeburg, who has been on the amusement several times.

He was visiting the village museum with several people including his mother, Donnette Barnes, who was celebrating her birthday there.

She said she likes visiting Willowbrook because “I love old stuff and history.” There are many parts she loves at Willowbrook in addition to the carousel, said Barnes, such as a music room with the will

tree paintings.

“The items they have here are unique,” said Lesley Ortiz, who was visiting with her husband Bob from Pensacola, Fla.

“I like farm equipment that depicts the old life in Maine,” she said. “Their collection is a treasure.”

Another “treasure” of the collection, of which Michalowski is proud, is a 19th century Concord coach that was made in New Hampshire. The elaborately painted stagecoach is similar in style to those used in the old West, he said.

The coach at Willowbrook was previously owned by a Maine ship captain who used it to transport people to a hotel in Bath, said Michalowski.

On Saturday, as part of 19th Century Sports Day, a game of croquet was set up on the lawn outside of the carousel. It was the first time Michalowski played the game, which was invented in the 19th century.

Other games invented in that time period that museum village visitors could take part in included hoops, marbles and checkers.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.