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The History of Storybook Land/Land of Oz

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The History of Storybook Land/Land of Oz THE HISTORY OF STORYBOOK LAND/LAND OF OZ Storybook Land The world is built on dreams! These dreams require hard work and dedication. Thanks to the efforts of the Aberdeen Sertoma Club, the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department and innumerable service clubs, businesses and individuals that have donated labor, materials and money, the development of Storybook Land and the Land of Oz has become a reality. In 1971, the Aberdeen Park and Recreation Board entered into an agreement with Hoskins – Western Sonderegger Engineers Architects from Lincoln, Nebraska to complete a master plan for the development of Wylie Park. The master plan reflected on the increasing use of Wylie Park and the need to develop a plan guiding future park improvements. Major features of the plan included improving picnic and playground areas, development of walking trails and zoo exhibits, as well as establishing a campground. A major feature of the master plan called for the development of a Storybook Land theme play area relating to various books, fairytales and nursery rhymes. The Storybook exhibits would be designed and constructed in such a way as to encourage active involvement by the participants. The plan also called for the development of another theme play area called the Land of Oz relating to the story written by L. Frank Baum, “The Wizard of Oz”. A separate master plan for Storybook Land and the Land of Oz was completed by Hoskins - Western Sonderegger in 1972. The master plan explained that the basic concept of Storybook Land and the Land of Oz was to provide children of all ages an area where active participation will create individual interest in each of the storybook and Oz characters presented. Storybook Land and Land of Oz will be a fantasy of design, color, animation and music that will delight young and old alike with an outdoor stage of settings pertaining to fairytales, nursery rhymes and the Wizard of Oz. The Aberdeen Sertoma Club agreed to provide the $3,575 required to fund the Storybook Land/Land of Oz Master Plan. Upon completion of the master plan, the Sertoma Club made a commitment to adopt the development of the theme park areas as their club project. Over the years, Sertoma members have poured over 1,200 feet of sidewalk in Storybook Land, including the Yellow Brick Road and the entrance plaza. The Sertoma Club, the Army Reserve and City crews hauled rock for the entrance plaza and for rip rapping the stream. Sertoma members alone have volunteered over 8,000 hours of labor to the development of Storybook Land. Along with that are countless hours and dollars put into the park by other service organizations, businesses, individuals and park department employees. Without this community support, the dreams of a few could not have become reality for thousands. In 1973, the City received a Land and Water Conservation Grant for $69,000 to begin the development of Storybook Land. These funds were used for site development that included placing boundary fences, installing security lighting and constructing the stream and moat. In 1976, a mill with waterwheel was sponsored and constructed by the Cosmopolitan Club. Water is pumped over the wheel, down the stream and is returned to the moat. The second project finished was the Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater House, sponsored by Zonta Club. The pumpkin was built from concrete and was designed large enough to host children’s birthday parties. 1 The development of Storybook Land had a slow start, as from 1973 to 1980 only two fairytale “sets” were completed. In the next three years, 25 “sets” were completed. A “set” is a complete, life-size or larger display depicting a favorite children’s fairytale rhyme scene or character. A variety of methods have been used to raise funds for Storybook Land. The Kiwanis Club held their annual pancake feed to help raise funds for the construction of Hickory Dickory Dock and Humpty Dumpty. KSDN Radio sponsored a gift certificate promotion that raised $2,000 for Storybook Land. Not all donations have been monetary. The Aberdeen Board of Realtors planted trees for Arbor Day. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) provides volunteers to clean up litter and assist in maintaining the grounds at Storybook Land. Volunteers also staff the Santa House Visitor Information Center. Some other examples of projects donated to Storybook Land by service clubs and organizations include: the Flagpole and Flag sponsored by the Exchange Club; the Lion Drinking Fountain sponsored by the Lion’s Club; the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe sponsored by LaSertoma Club; Mary, Mary Quite Contrary sponsored by the Association for Childhood Education; Frosty the Snowman sponsored by the Jaycees, and Snyder the Spider sponsored by Xi Alpha Sigma. The Sertoma Club sponsored the Billy Goats Gruff Bridge and the Jayceettes and LaSertoma Clubs sponsor the spring animals. The Jack and Jill project was sponsored by Norwest Bank and constructed by the Parks Division staff. Construction began on Jack and Jill’s Hill late in 1983 and was completed in June of 1984. The project required $7,800 worth of materials, which consisted of 1,000 yards of fill material, a wishing well and water line materials, a drinking fountain, wave slide, sod, fence and concrete. The hill with the fountain and slide is a popular attraction for children of all ages. In addition to donations from service clubs, organizations and businesses, there have been donations from individuals as well, such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears sponsored by K. Squire, Sr. and the Pheasants, which were donated by Leo Weber. The Pheasants were formerly displayed on Sixth Avenue and by the Orpheum Theatre. Originally they were gold and represented the Aberdeen Golden Pheasant Festival. Mr. Weber also designed and constructed other projects with volunteers from Sertoma Club assisting. These projects include the Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe; the Cow Jumped over the Moon; Goldilocks and the Three Bears; the Wolf from the Three Little Pigs; the Cinderella set; Moby Dick; Mary, Mary Quite Contrary; and Frosty the Snowman. Don Nordling and KSDN Radio donated the Storybook Land entrance sign. The Sertoma Club funded the landscaping at the entrance to Storybook Land. In 1985, the Sertoma Club conducted a community-wide fundraising event for the construction of the Storybook Land Castle that serves a focal point and center of attraction and activity for Storybook Land. The Sertoma Club raised over $250,000 for completion of the project as a result of the generous support of the entire community. Today, the Castle serves as the sight of the Storybook Land Theatre Company performances, band concerts, family movies, Fables and Fairytales Story Time, and numerous special events. The development of Storybook Land continued in 1986 with the completion of the Maze sponsored by the District I Medical Auxiliary, and in 1997, the Ramkota Inn sponsored the Bambi display, Bugsy was sponsored by Aberdeen Central High School Class of 1977, the Castle Knights were sponsored by LaSertoma Club and Hatterscheidt Foundation, Knight on White Horse by Kiwanis Sunrisers, and Yogi Bear and Boo Boo by the Robert McGee and Kyle Kary families. 2 In 1988, the Dakota Midland Hospital Auxiliary sponsored the construction of Santa’s House, a 320 square foot building with a Christmas theme. A fiberglass Santa Claus character sponsored by LaSertoma Club sits on a park bench outside Santa’s House and waves to park visitors as they stroll by. Santa’s House serves as the Visitor Information Center and is staffed by the Aberdeen Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB distributes information to park visitors on the Aberdeen area and Northeastern South Dakota. The Paul Bunyan character was sponsored by Modern Woodmen of America Camp 13373 and Schatz Insurance Agency in 1989. In addition, the Gingerbread Man was sponsored as a memorial to Mr. and Mrs. J.A. McDairmid. The Aberdeen Sertoma Club purchased a small rubber-tire miniature train in March of 1989 from an individual in Keystone, South Dakota. The Sertoma Club paid $7,200 for the train consisting of a locomotive and four small passenger cars that would carry from 20-24 riders. A train route was established around the perimeter of Storybook Land, one-half mile in length. The train locomotive was constructed of fiberglass and retrofitted to attach to the frame of a small tractor. The Sertoma Club established a fee of 50¢ per person to ride the train. In the train’s first season of operation in 1989, 28,435 rides were given. The Aberdeen Sertoma Club and Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department would operate and manage the operation of the train with all profits used for future Storybook Land improvements. In 1989, the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department remodeled the School House from the Mary had a Little Lamb exhibit to be used as a gift shop to serve Storybook Land. The gift shop is operated by the Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department and net profits are used for Storybook Land improvements. The gift shop is very small and future plans are to expand and develop a new gift shop. The Recreation Division of the Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department established the Storybook Land Theatre Company in 1989. Conceived as theatre by adults for children, the company consisted of a director and four actors of high school or college age. A different play was presented three times each week for four weeks. The theatre performances were a great success with over 3,500 people attending the 12 performances. Due to the success of this program and the interest shown by the community, the theatre program has expanded over the years.
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