By MIKE RUSSO
Little people like the students and staff at Milburn Elementary School, who raised
thousands of dollars toward reviving one of the most prized pieces of Baldwin history.
Deborah Martin, who retired as principal at Milburn in 2006, said she knew nothing of Nunley's Amusement Park for the longest time, even though she grew up in Westbury, just a few miles away. It wasn't until she started working for the Baldwin School
District in 1973 that she started hearing all the wonderful things about the park, specifically Nunley's Carousel. She said she quickly learned how important the attraction was to the children and the rest of the community, and felt that Milburn should take part in the restoration process.
Martin got the school involved with Pennies for Ponies, a fundraising organization for the carousel founded by Wantagh resident Rachel Obergh, then only 9 years old.
Numerous events inspired by Nunley's Carousel, including a Milburn spring concert titled, "Ticket to Ride," featuring songs such as "A Nunley's Celebration;" "It's Ponytime;" "Round in a Circle We Go;" "Going Faster than a Roller Coaster;" "Ride the Ferris Wheel;" "Ticket to Ride;" and "Merry-Go-Round and Round and Round" were held as part of the Pennies for Ponies campaign.
Milburn's Parents as Reading Partners (PARP) program was themed, "Gallop into Reading...Ride the Milburn Carousel!" which was inspired by the restoration of Nunley's Carousel. To keep track of their reading time, students filled out "Tally Tickets," which were created with the design of the original carousel tickets, which were then displayed at the Baldwin Public Library.
Milburn parents, staff and students helped raise the necessary $2,000 through collection buckets for loose change to restore one of the carousel's horses, which in the end, was named "Martin's Milburn Pride," after their principal.
Martin, who said she was honored having her name on a horse, was invited to the carousel's grand reopening on May 2 by the current Milburn principal, Mark Gray, to represent the school as one of the first riders. Though she said her 6-year-old godson will be coming in from Rochester to take her place on "Martin's Milburn Pride," she hopes to stand next to him. "I think [the carousel] is going to be a wonderful addition to Museum Row and a source of pride for our Baldwin students when they see another part of our history featured there," Martin said.
Nancy Heiberg, an active member of the Milburn PTA, moved from Rockville Centre to Baldwin in 1994 and said she felt lucky to have ridden the carousel prior to its closing a year later. She recalled being relieved that the county purchased the carousel, so the pieces would not be sold off, but still hoped it would find a new home locally.
Heiberg remembers reading the newspaper on the train during her commute to work one day, and seeing an article about how Obergh was looking to raise money for the carousel. Heiberg said she called Obergh's mother, Beth, the moment she got to work, to promise that she would work to get Milburn involved in the fundraising process.
Milburn School raised the $2,000 in just three weeks by putting out collection buckets for change at a number of businesses around Baldwin, Heiberg recalled. With the goal reached, Heiberg was further inspired to adopt a horse of her own, which she did along with her family. Once the money was raised, she adopted "Sir Gabriel, Full of Grace," named after her two children. The horse was to Heiberg's exact specifications: one that lifted up and down, had its head in the air and of course, on the outside to have a chance to grab the golden ring.
Though she hoped the carousel would find a home on the corner of Grand Avenue and Merrick Road, as it was once proposed as part of the Baldwin downtown revitalization, Heiberg said she is impressed with how it looks on Museum Row. Heiberg will get a closer look come May 2, as she was selected to be among the first riders that day.
"Personally, my involvement with this fundraiser has given me nothing but pleasure," Heiberg said. "I am proud to have been a part of such a great cause and I can't wait until May 2 to take a ride on the newly restored carousel. Life is so short, and with the challenges we face everyday from the economy, health issues, and juggling work and family, it's wonderful to have something great in the news - the reopening of Nunley's Carousel."
Comments about this story? MRusso@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
