At 100 years old we believe we should be able to do whatever we want to celebrate our birthdays and that’s apparently what Edward “Ed” Burney Baker of Pine Lake Plateau, Washington has done for quite some time now.
What does he want to do? Every year since he turned 92 Baker has been spending his birthday at Legoland.
To honor his 100th birthday, a LEGOLAND Master Model Builder created a miniature model of Baker and placed it in the farmland of Miniland New England, where guests from all over the world will be able to visit him for years to come. Model Builders also created a LEGO cupcake decorated with a bright red 100 for Baker as a souvenir to mark this momentous occasion. . . Miniland U.S.A. is the heart of LEGOLAND California and the New England cluster is a particular favorite of Baker’s as he grew up on a farm outside of Seattle. He loves the animation in this area where LEGO farm animals come to life.
Baker’s secret to long life? “A daily mug of root beer, being kind to others and fun hobbies like building with LEGO.” And yes, he says he coming back next year. For the rest of the story, follow the jump.
CARLSBAD, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2010) – Edward “Ed” Burney Baker of Pine Lake Plateau, Wash. turns 100 on Wednesday, Feb. 17, but he celebrated today at LEGOLANDÒ California with a tour of the LEGO Factory and a special surprise in Miniland U.S.A.
Baker, a huge LEGOÒ fan, has been visiting LEGOLAND California every year on his birthday for eight years. To honor his 100th birthday, a LEGOLAND Master Model Builder created a miniature model of Baker and placed it in the farmland of Miniland New England, where guests from all over the world will be able to visit him for years to come. Model Builders also created a LEGO cupcake decorated with a bright red 100 for Baker as a souvenir to mark this momentous occasion.
Miniland U.S.A. is the heart of LEGOLAND California and the New England cluster is a particular favorite of Baker’s as he grew up on a farm outside of Seattle. He loves the animation in this area where LEGO farm animals come to life.
Baker was born in Seattle in 1910. As a baby, he had a high fever that left him with developmental delays. His family moved their dairy business to a farm in Pine Lake Plateau so that he could attend a small school and get the attention he needed. Before discovering LEGO, Baker loved building with Lincoln Logs and actually won a grand prize trip to Reno, Nevada for his replica of The Smith Tower built out of Lincoln Logs. His life-long love of building turned him on to LEGO in the 1980’s and he has been an avid LEGO builder since.
The soon-to-be centenarian attributes his longevity to a daily mug of root beer, being kind to others and fun hobbies like building with LEGO. Of course good genes help too. Baker visited LEGOLAND today with his surrogate family, the Austin’s, who took him in more than 30 years ago after his mother passed away.
Baker currently attends Elder and Adult Day Services (EADS), a day care for adults in Bellvue, Wash. where he is very interested in their activities, and spends a lot of time building with LEGO. For many years, Baker volunteered in the Issaquah School District, bringing LEGO bricks in to work with first graders. Now he enjoys when children visit the daycare and engage in Lego play with him.
Baker is already making plans to visit LEGOLAND again in 2011 to celebrate his 101st birthday.
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