Clark continues to receive plenty of help with spring preparations to reopen the farm, which has been closed to the public since Nov 1. Mark Cline, a fiberglass artist who has been involved in the restoration effort from the start, has repaired many pieces and painstakingly re-created others.
The pumpkin shell had deteriorated beyond rescue, so Cline made a new one. He also stepped in to give lonely Jack a new Jill and to make a dish to accompany the grieving spoon.
George W. Miller Jr., a Catonsville contractor, is finishing the cement tree and has choreographed the installation of most of the theme park's pieces. And Marty Levine, of Ex-Cel Tree Experts in Jessup, has supplied his crane free of charge on moving days.
The repaired and new pieces join Cinderella's coach, the Crooked House, Willie the Whale and the rest of the gang, all of which were moved in waves from their former home on U.S. 40 since 2004. That's when Enchanted Forest Shopping Center owner Kimco Realty Corp. decided to divest itself of the deteriorating pieces.
The original dragon-draped castle entrance, which is still in place at the shopping center, has been duplicated at the farm.
Meanwhile, the shopping center plans to unveil its refurbished entrance on May 2. The dragon, which was damaged beyond repair by a fire, has been re-created by Cline and the entire structure restabilized and repainted, said Curt Boteler, shopping center property manager.
Old King Cole, who still stands guard there, had his jolly old soul tested last summer when lightning struck and burned his backside, Boteler said. The king has also been repaired by Cline.
"We didn't want to see it crumble away," Boteler said, adding that merchants will sponsor a family-oriented event at the center in conjunction with the unveiling.
The park was in operation from 1955 to 1988 - when the 31-acre, 28-store shopping center was built - and had one last hurrah in 1994 before closing forever.
The effort to reclaim the pieces of the defunct park have continued for more than four years. Kimco gave the pieces to Clark, though she said she has spent nearly $200,000 moving and refurbishing them.
Linda Harrison Gardner, a member of the Harrison family that owned and operated the amusement park, commended Clark for undertaking the effort.
"Martha never gives herself any credit," Gardner said. "Without her offering her land, none of this would have been possible."
While there are no more pieces to rescue from the Enchanted Forest property, Clark said she will continue to enhance what she has. "I don't like to say, 'That's it,' " she said. "There's always something we can do."
neighbors
Is there a noteworthy person or event in your neighborhood? Contact Neighbors columnist Janene Holzberg at jholzberg76@msn.com or 410-461-4150.
