THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505120168
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Should a carousel or a lighthouse prism lens or something altogether different be installed in the second floor atrium of the Children's Museum of Virginia?
The question is on the table again.
The atrium will project over the sidewalk on the High Street side of the museum, making it a very important aspect of the museum - and of the Downtown scene.
Talk of a carousel originally sparked interest in putting the atrium on the second floor of the former department store, opening up the room and adding natural light to an otherwise artificially lighted space.
While some folks didn't like the idea of the carousel, they did see the advantages of opening up the end of the building, an idea that got full support from the architects who designed the museum.
As an alternative to the carousel, somebody proposed using a huge prism, the lens from the Hog Island Lighthouse off the Eastern Shore. It certainly seemed the best alternative at the time.
However, in the interim since the museum has opened, Junie and Millie Lancaster have donated their million-dollar train and old toy collection to the museum. It will be the centerpiece of the second floor of the museum.
The collection happens to include four working carousel models.
In a letter to Mayor Gloria Webb recently, the Lancasters expressed their support for the installation of a full-size carousel in the atrium. In their opinion, a carousel would complement their collection.
``It seems everyone loves a carousel,'' their letter concluded.
The carousel also has tacit support of the Portsmouth Museums and Fine Arts Commission. Chairman Sam Lamb Jr. said the idea ``warrants full and deliberate consideration.''
In addition, the Friends of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum support the carousel idea and president Bill Agricola said his board thought the Hog Island lens could be better displayed in connection with the Lightship Museum or in a new Naval Shipyard museum.
Cameron Pitts, the councilman who originally proposed the atrium and the carousel, said in a recent interview that he believes the prism lens could best be used as a beacon on Crawford Bay, where the Vision 2005 plan calls for public open space.
``The light would be very visible from Nauticus and Waterside,'' Pitts said. ``It really could attract attention to Portsmouth.''
Pitts countered some arguments that the carousel would not be ``educational.''
``It operates the same way an automobile operates,'' he said. ``There are all sorts of ways to tie a carousel to education.''
In addition, there are many ways to tie a carousel to art. Several years ago, a major exhibit at the Portsmouth 1846 Courthouse Gallery was a collection of antique carousel animals. Hundreds of people came from all around to see this show.
In other words, a carousel in the Children's Museum is not adverse to the missions of the city-owned museums.
In addition, the carousel ``flying'' over High Street surely would generate a lot of conversation among visitors and attract others to see it. It's a natural public relations tool.
Best of all, the carousel would be purchased with donations, not taxpayer money.
It's no secret that I have favored the carousel all along. The addition of the Lancaster collection to the museum's holdings and plans to display it on the second floor strengthened my conviction that a merry-go-round was more than appropriate.
Besides, the idea of putting the century-old prism light somewhere on the waterfront as a beacon to the city also is a good idea that fits with Portsmouth history - and one that also would generate a lot of conversation among visitors.
But what I think is not important. What you think is what city hall needs to hear.
Should the city put a carousel in the atrium (if it's paid for by private donations) or should it install the prism?
We have set up an Infoline number to enable you to give your opinion. We'll publish the results next Sunday. Call us. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
Infoline Poll
by CNB