Walt's Barn Dedication
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Morey Hauser was the next special guest to be called to the microphone. He became an Imagineer in 1959. He said that it began through an interest in steam locomotives. He knew that drawings and castings of his miniature the Lilly Belle was available to the public. Over various holidays he pieced together portions of that live steamer. He eventually called Michael's father, Roger Broggie to let him know he was moving to California.  He was eventually hired to work on the monorail. He stayed working for the company for 25 years. He said he "met a lot of good people" and "made a lot of good friends". His partially constructed Lilly Belle chassis, which is pictured in Broggie's book Walt Disney's Railroad Story, was on display in the barn. Many steamer enthusiasts stood awestruck by its beauty and its craftsmanship.

According to Michael Broggie, Sam McKim can draw anything from description. He drew the first map of Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. After 20th Century Fox let him go Sam went to work on Disneyland and remained there for 32 years. He was only there for 12 years with Walt and remarked that he had "nothing but good feelings" when remembering him.

For the film So Dear to My Heart John V. Cowles designed a barn from memories Walt recounted from Marceline, Missouri. Walt often called his four years in Marceline the most important time in his life. Walt used this same design for his workshop at their new home on Carolwood Drive. It was the center of operations and a workshop for his 1/8 scale, live steam Carolwood Pacific Railroad.

Miguel Fernandez, licensed architect, did the building plans for this reconstruction. He used John V. Cowles' original drawings. Fernandez described this as "Not a task, more like asking a kid to go into a candy store." Extending a hand to Cowles he explained that he felt "like a small town dinner theater hack walking up to Laurence Olivier and saying yeah, I’m a thespian, too.”

 

Mary Alice Hill, executive director of Industrial Development Authority and Kaye Malins spoke of an event in the late 1950’s when Walt came to dedicate a pool in Marceline, Missouri. He shared his unfulfilled dream to buy his boyhood farm. Plans began but were cut short by his untimely death. Well Marceline, Missouri hopes to see his dreams for that small town come true for Walt's 100th birthday in 2001.

 

-- Story by Rebekah Moseley
-- Pictures by Doobie Moseley and Dave Mastanich
-- Published  August 27, 1999