THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 15, 1995 TAG: 9502150467
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
A man who recently gave his million-dollar train and toy collection to the Children's Museum of Virginia got a special thank you on Valentine's Day.
Seventeen first-graders from Court Street Academy in Portsmouth went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. ``Junie'' Lancaster Jr. at Bennetts Creek to make a personal delivery of the Valentines they made for Lancaster, who is incapacitated by Parkinson's disease.
The youngsters, representing families from every South Hampton Roads city, gathered around his bed to sing for Lancaster, who counts children and music among his favorite interests.
Although it obviously was difficult for him, Lancaster sang along with the children when they launched into his favorite song, ``Smile.'' His smile stayed put when they began ``I've Been Workin' On The Railroad.''
The children were among several school groups that participated in pre-opening test runs at the new Children's Museum in Portsmouth, and all of them have been back since.
``Now we'll have to go back again to see the trains,'' Carl Ennis said Tuesday.
The train and toy collections, currently on display at Mike's Trainland next door to the Lancaster home, will be exhibited in the Children's Museum when the second floor is finished. Meanwhile, the Children's Museum Foundation owns and operates the Lancaster collection at Toyland.
Janet McCaskill, the first graders' teacher, said the children really have enjoyed the museum around the corner from their school and were excited to get a chance to thank the Lancasters.
After the children left his room, Lancaster, who has difficulty speaking, asked his wife, Millie, to invite the first graders to take a free ride on the miniature train at Toyland.
Millie Lancaster also had prepared a Valentine's Day lunch for the children. They sat at tables in the Lancasters' Florida room overlooking a pond.
As she rang a dinner bell to attract the ducks and geese that live on the property, the hostess explained to the children, ``We'll let them eat while you eat.''
Lancaster, 73, was the originator of Christmas Wonderland, the annual display of animated toys that draws thousands of people to Coleman's in Churchland every Christmas. His train and toy collection, now valued at an estimated $1 million, began when he started buying items for the display. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MARK MITCHELL/Staff
First-graders from Court Street Academy went to the home of Mr. and
Mrs. A.J. ``Junie'' Lancaster Jr. at Bennetts Creek Tuesday to
deliver Valentines to Lancaster, who recently gave his train and toy
collection to the Children's Museum of Virginia.
by CNB