THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610190235
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANIE BRYANT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 79 lines
Most Portsmouth residents know that if it's October, Coleman Nursery is busy putting the magic back into its Christmas Wonderland.
On Thanksgiving Day, thousands of lights will sparkle and hundreds of animated figures will come back to life for the nursery's 30th holiday show.
But when the first pieces of a 36-foot carousel started coming together outside the nursery, people knew something new was going on this year.
``The first day it was out there, we got several calls from people. . . . They couldn't tell what it was,'' said Floyd Twiford, co-owner of the nursery. ``But as the thing began to take shape, the phone hasn't stopped ringing.''
Joel Cadwell, president of National Events Corp., originally had the carousel at 15th Street in Virginia Beach.
``I was looking for a winter home for it,'' he said. ``Being from Portsmouth, I thought Coleman Nursery would be a great place to have it during the holidays.''
About 400,000 people flock to Christmas Wonderland, including busloads from all over the state.
``I thought, let's give that a shot,'' Cadwell said. ``It's got about 2,000 lights on it, so it's going to blend very nicely with the Coleman Christmas lights.''
Twiford liked the idea and already has dreamed up the lighted reindeer scene he's going to have next to the carousel.
Already, the carousel lights are drawing a crowd. Last Saturday, about 800 people rode the carousel, Twiford said.
``I think it brings out the child in everybody. And it's nostalgia and a little part of American history.''
The carousel could become another holiday tradition for the nursery, Twiford said.
``I've heard wonderful comments wherever I go. I was even at the doctor's office this week and two ladies walked up to me.
``One of them had taken her grandchild down there, and he had ridden it four times.''
Cadwell, who supplies rides for everything from the Seawall Festival to the State Fair in Richmond, said the carousel is a 1996 park model - designed to stay in one place as opposed to the portable types that people see at carnivals.
The horses are made from the Bradley & Kaye molds of the old, classic carousel horses made by the Allan Herschell Co.
``On the outside row there are five Bradley & Kaye horses, all registered thoroughbreds,'' Cadwell said. ``One has a flaming mane, one is done in an American flag theme, and another is done in an Indian-type theme.''
Even though carousels don't change much, he said, their infrastructure and mechanics change a lot. For example, this carousel has a ramp and special wheelchair locks.
That's good news to Twiford because Christmas Wonderland always brings in a large number of disabled children from schools.
The carousel always gets a special reaction from people of all ages, Cadwell said. ``The first ride that most people take in their life is on a carousel.''
He trying to work out arrangements to have the carousel in a mall after the New Year, Cadwell said.
``But I may very well approach Mr. Twiford about having it there in the early spring. It certainly dresses up that corner right there.'' ILLUSTRATION: Joel Cadwell, who had been looking for a winter home
for his attraction, brought the carousel from a Virginia Beach
location. ``Being from Portsmouth, I thought Coleman Nursery would
be a great place to have it during the holidays,'' Cadwell said.
MARK MITCHELL
The Virginian-Pilot
WANT TO GO?
Coleman Nursery is at High Street and Cedar Lane in the
Churchland area of Portsmouth.
The carousel is running from 3 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays
and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
The cost is $2 per ride for all ages. Schools or other groups of
10 or more can get a 50 percent discount by calling 548-0584.
The carousel hours will change to coincide with those of
Christmas Wonderland beginning Thanksgiving Day. by CNB