Walt's Barn Dedication
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Walt Disney tinkers in the Barn
Carolwood Pacific Historical
Society's
Celebration of Walt Disney's Barn Relocation
Family and friends of the Disney family, members of the Los Angeles Live Steamers, members of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society and various Los Angeles city officials gathered July 18, 1999 for an afternoon of fun and recreation. At one point during the event Michael Broggie introduced the various individuals who were responsible for the Disney barn's relocation.
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Bill Abel of Abel Builders was the general contractor for the project. He shared his memory of Walt Disney. For Disneyland's opening Walt sought children to represent different nations of the world. Mr. Abel, 7 years old at the time, and his sister represented Chile.
Broggie called the Disney barn relocation a "team effort". He commented that "very often I saw different faces throughout the various steps of construction. Individuals from Valley Crest saved the deadline. He explained that you can’t have a Disney building without Disney landscaping. Bill Evans the dean of Disney landscaping suggested Valley Crest. Bill Evans along with Valley Crest installed the original landscaping at Carolwood for the Disney family. He was also responsible for the over 2 million plants and trees at Animal Kingdom.
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Tom LaBonge called this a "special night at Griffith Park... I saw it [the barn] at the original...I haven’t been to heaven yet but I’ve been in Walt Disney's backyard and that’s pretty close”
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According to Michael Broggie “everything that has wheels at Disneyland on it has Bob Gurr’s fingerprints on it” Bob Gurr said that Broggie was his test driver. "We kept crashing a vehicle until we broke the curb." Gurr told a tale of the Lilly Belle. The model sat underneath his drafting table. Walt would come in, chat and look at the locomotive. It wasn't until much later that Gurr realized that it was "Walt's connection to Lillian”
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Tony Vanderban knows every plant, tree, etc at Carolwood. Tony said the place “looks wonderful. Exactly the way it was. Although the cement floor was cracked a different way.” He then said it was like coming home. "Sometimes I miss the place but I don’t miss the work." Michelle Sullivan, at the request of Bill Evans, took on the project as a volunteer from the original plans to create the landscaping atmosphere seen around the barn.
Broggie introduced Steve Soboroff, the president of the Los Angeles City Recreation and Park Commissioners, describing him "as right at the top of the list of those who made this thing happen. He knows the city of LA. He has a great love of Walt Disney and visited Carolwood." Soboroff recounted that 1 ½ years ago he had what he called the "unbelievable experience of seeing Walt’s house." It gave him and his daughter (it was take your daughter to work day) goosebumps. They saw the original Mickey and Minnie and as he looked at the Barn he decided that he would have to participate in this relocation. That the barn is "something for Los Angeles...one of the great treasures of the city, unique to Los Angeles."
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Roland Fogerty of the Live Steamers spoke briefly at the celebration, “We’re very proud to have Walt’s Barn here with us. It fits right in with the legacy of what he left behind and the work we try to do.” He presented a plaque to the Disney Family on behalf of the Live Steamers.
Bob Wilson, family friend and and formerly of Retlaw Enterprises commented that it "“looks just like it did at Carolwood." He was happy to see it place in a park setting. He ended his brief remarks by stating “let’s hope that literally thousands of kids can come out here and enjoy the barn, experience the trains and experience Walt’s hobby"
Several of the Disney grandchildren were at the celebration. Joanna, daughter of Diane Disney Miller remarked on a nearby citrus tree. She commented that that type of tree played an important part in their childhood. Broggie stated they had to go all the way to San Diego for that tree.
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Ward Kimball is described by Broggie as his favorite living cartoon character. Kimball approached the podium eating his pretzel. "The pretzel is a wonderful invention…try to make it myself but can’t remember which goes on top." Ward explained. Kimball went on to recount a day when Walt had various guests at Carolwood. Among these high-level guests was Salvadore Dali whose lucite cane was still richly remembered by Kimball. He went on to explain that Walt asked his guests to wait a moment and then disappeared into the barn leaving Kimball to entertain his guests. From the barn the guests could hear all sorts of machine noises. They waited for minutes and then Walt opened the barn door and invited his guests in. He has created each of them huge ice cream sundaes and forced them on his Hollywood guests.
Broggie also thanked his wife Sharon. He stated it “wouldn’t have happened without the hours she put in.”