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Text by Lani Teshima, photos by Alex Stroup

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Minnie and Mickey lead the parade

The weekend was filled with activities that kept both Disney enthusiast and curiosity seeker busy. County fair- type favorites like pie eating contests, corn mazes, and square dances filled parts of the calendar, with some of the most precious events included fascinating talks by such invited guests as Michael Broggie, son of Imagineer Roger E. Broggie and author of the award-winning "Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small- Scale Fascination That Led to a Full- Scale Kingdom" and LaVerne Stevens, author of "Bread and Butter Days: A Biographical Novel Based on the Life of Clem Flickinger," a story based on research she conducted on one of Walt's closest boyhood friends in Marceline.

The Uptown Theater

One of the highlights of the weekend brought the Disneyland Resort, Disneyana Convention attendees, and Marceline together. On a grassy field behind Walt's Marceline home and not 100 feet from the "Dreaming Tree" where Walt used to sit and dream, is the site of a new barn. On this weekend, the town of Marceline had a barn raising to build a brand new barn, based on one that Walt had built at his California home; a barn that was, in turn, inspired by the barn that had originally been at his Marceline home.

The partially completed barn

That barn in California has been moved to Griffith park and is under the care of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society, which was the was sponsor of Marceline's raising. The barn raising included a very special event.

The wooden beam (above and below) being signed at the Disneyana convention.

A wooden beam that had been signed by the attendees of the 2001 Disneyana Convention held in Anaheim a few weeks ago had been shipped safely to Marceline. On Saturday, this beam was hoisted up into the center of the barn, to become a part of the structure. On hand to hammer in the last nail into the beam were Terry Lynn and wife, Robin, from the Society.

Kendra Trahan, a volunteer with the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society

"Terry is our crew chief," said Kendra Traham, a spirited volunteer with the Society, who had flown out from Marceline to celebrate the event and to help coordinate efforts with the barn raising. "Robin is Terry's wife... and also a crew chief!" she said, emphasizing the importance of both Robin and Terry in the organization.

Robin and Terry, also with Carolwood

Witnessing the installation of the Disneyana beam at the barn raising was Dave Venn from Chicago, who had attended the Disneyana Convention and had signed his name on the beam while in Anaheim.

Dave was attending the Marceline event as part of the Chicago NFFC Kazoo Band. Although half of the chapter's 80 members were able to attend Disneyana this year, only 20 of them also made the pilgrimage to Marceline. "This brings it full circle; it completes the circle," said Venn, on being able to sign the beam in California, and then seeing it installed in Marceline.

The beam, signed by many at the Disneyana convention, prominently placed in the barn

Marceline may not be as hectic during the rest of the year, but it is not to be missed by anyone who considers himself a Walt Disney fan. Visiting the theater that hosted movie premiers with Walt himself, or taking part in a three- hour tour are just the tip of the iceberg. Driving into town, you are likely to drive right past Walt's house and not even know it!

Small things, like realizing how closely Disneyland's Main Street USA resembles Marceline's Main Street, or hearing the tooting of the passing trains as you stand at Ripley Park are enough to cause goose bumps on most Disney enthusiasts. Even the real estate here is quite affordable, too. For the price of an import sedan for example, you can purchase your very own home in Walt's boyhood hometown.

Intrigued? Stay tuned... our Marceline coverage continues!

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Article by Lani Teshima

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