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What
Is A Railroad Museum?
by Howard
Raphaelson
First
it is a dream of a few people with vision and a common interest. Then it
is equipment and buildings and track, all needing mechanical and
building and other manual skills, and determination and time and sweat.
We still need the dreams, and there is still a lot of building and
repairing needed, but we are ready to move to the next phase. On June 10th,
we will be dedicating the roundhouse, and presenting all the work that
has been done. We will
become a museum in fact. At
that time, our orientation must be broadened to include the presentation
of our work to others. Some will be railroad enthusiasts who want an opportunity to
observe what we have done. Others
will have little knowledge of the history and techniques of railroading
and are here to learn. Our
museum guides will walk through the site with groups of visitors, naming
the equipment and answering questions.
We have the descriptions of the equipment and buildings and an
outline of its history. Guide activities will take place on Saturday and
Sunday mornings, from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Our plans call for two guides working at a time with each day
being covered by two 3-hour shifts.
A guide may work every week, or twice a month, or once during the
summer season. Beginning in April, we plan to have training sessions for
anyone who would like to learn more about the museum and help present
this information to our guests. Look
for more information in next month’s Ghost
Train Journal.
CERM
Spring Train Show
Things
are set for our spring train show on April 22nd from 10 AM to
3 PM at Windham High School. The
Cider Press String Band will again provide musical entertainment for the
attendees. We also plan to
have even more layouts and numerous vendors.
If you would like to help, distribute some train show flyers to
your friends and local stores.
Did
You Receive Your Feb GTJ?
Several
February Ghost Train Journals
were returned to our P.O. Box
in mangled condition and without addresses. If you did not receive yours, contact Jeff Laverty and we
will get you a new one.
CERM
Promotion by Bob LaMay
Green
Board –RRE Hartford Div – February 2001:
Story
about Maine Central Railbus.
General
description of museum and promotion of paver program.
The
Ambassador-CVR Historical Society – v10 #4:
Listing
of equipment.
Paver
block order form.
Hartford
Courant – February 13, 2001:
Picture
of roundhouse.
Story
about Museum.
Recent
Fund Raising & Donations
Business
Appeal - Dr Bundy
General
Grant - Rogers Corporation
SNET
Community Connections - $ 73.75 (The total to date is $1,393.29)
What’s New at the Museum
Several members got out their sled dogs and
mushed their way down to the museum.
Most of the Operator’s Shanty reconstruction has been completed
and work will shift to other areas as the weather improves.
Grading work has begun on the roundhouse floor
in preparation for timbers, rail, and floor pavers.
The 1205th Transportation Railway
Operating Battalion has returned and is preparing to extend rail from
the West end of the wye to the village area and beyond.
P&W Excursion
Seats are still available on the May 5th
P&W rail excursion. Tickets
are $45.00 per person. Make
check payable to CERM and mail to Veronica Trudeau, 2421 Putnam Pike,
Chepachet, RI 02814 or give her a call at (401)568-6202.
2001 Committee Listing – as of 2/11/2001
Acquisitions
Bill
Nickerson – Co-Chairman (860)749-1853
Bill
Robinson – Co-Chairman (860)456-4903
Bob
Carlson (860)345-8254
Art
Hall (860)742-7454
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
Ted
Swol (860)423-7285
Archives & Library
Jeff
Laverty (860)429-7961
Bob
Hassett (860)742-1640
Auditors
Bob
LaMay – Chairman (860)456-9999
Howard
Raphaelson (860)429-1340
Entertainment
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
Walter
Dumas (860)646-8776
Fund Raising and Grantwriting
Mark
Granville – Chairman (860)456-3012
Ray
Axelrod (860)228-3197
Art
Hall (860)742-7454
Bob
Hassett (860)742-1640
Jeff
Laverty (860)429-7961
Bill
Robinson (860)456-4903
Grand Opening / Roundhouse Dedication
Joseph
Cerreto – Chairman (860)456-0343
Mark
Granville (860)456-3012
Art
Hall (860)742-7454
Bob
Hassett (860)742-1640
Bob
LaMay (860)456-9999
Jeff
Laverty (860)429-7961
Howard
Raphaelson (860)429-1340
Bill
Robinson (860)456-4903
Arthur
Schnabel (860)666-2386
Burt
Turcotte (860)429-7045
Duke
York (860)423-1878
Maintenance of Way Department
Jeff
Laverty – Foreman (860)429-7961
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
Ted
Swol (860)423-7285
Mechanical Department
Mark
Granville – Head (860)456-3012
Bob
Carlson (860)345-8254
Jerry
Griffin (860)228-9703
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
Paul
Shamonis (860)649-6713
Bert
Turcotte (860)429-7045
Bill
Voorvaart (860)742-5247
Membership Services
Jeff
Laverty – Chairman (860)429-7961
Walter
Dumas (860)646-8776
Bert
Turcotte (860)429-7045
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Calendar
of Upcoming Events
Apr
1 - Business
Meeting
15 - Monthly
Meeting
22 - Spring
Train Show
May 5
- P & W Train Excursion
6 - Business
Meeting
Jun 10
- Grand Opening &
Roundhouse
Dedication
Saturday & Sunday Work Days
Since so much needs to be done before the Grand
Opening and Roundhouse Dedication, we will be holding work sessions on
both Saturdays and Sundays as soon as Spring arrives.
Pay Your Dues
Our membership roster as of February 18th
lists 258 members from 9 states as follows: Connecticut-231, Rhode
Island-11, Massachusetts-9, Colorado-2, and Pennsylvania, New York, New
Hampshire, Ohio, and Oklahoma-1 each. Approximately 93 percent of our members have
renewed to date. If you
have not yet sent in your dues, prompt payment would be appreciated.
Roundhouse Pavers
As of March 3, we have sold 94 inscribed paver
blocks for the floor of the roundhouse.
We plan to order the first group in April so that they can be
installed prior to the Grand Opening.
If you want to be included, sign up soon.
Latest Rail News
via Trains Magazine
If you want to keep up on the latest rail news,
go to www.trains.com and click on
newswire link. The latest news is posted every Wednesday.
Treasurer’s Summary - February
by Jeff Laverty
Income for February totaled $8,436.88 and came
primarily from a Rogers Corp grant, P&W ticket sales, calendar
sales, and the sale of roundhouse pavers.
Expenses amounted to $1,170.57 and consisted
primarily of loan interest and newsletter costs.
As of February 28, cash on hand totaled
$29,379.45.
Loan Certificates
Many thanks to the members who have purchased
$17,500 in loan certificates enabling us to reduce the bank loan and
saving us substantial interest. Since
the principal balance is still $34,500, any additional certificate
purchases would be appreciated.
Welcome to the Chapter!
We welcome the following new members who were
voted into the chapter at the February 18th meeting:
Effective January 21,
2001:
Frank Johnson,
Manchester, CT
R.E. Richardson Jr.,
Manchester, CT
Albert and Rose Daley,
Wethersfield, CT
(Albert is transferring
from the Mohawk and Hudson Chapter)
Effective February 18,
2001:
Ernest Ross, Foster, RI
Joseph Sokol, Vernon, CT
Museum Operations and Activities
Howard
Raphaelson – Chairman (860)429-1340
Bob
Carlson (860)345-8254
Art
Hall (860)742-7454
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
Arthur
Schnabel (860)666-2386
Museum Planning
Art
Hall – Chairman (860)742-7454
Bob
Carlson (860)345-8254
Jeff
Laverty (860)429-7961
Al
Lyman (860)848-9988
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
Bob
Pingree (860)666-1154
Bill
Robinson (860)456-4903
Newsletter
Arthur
Schnabel – Editor (860)666-2386
Mark
Granville (860)456-3012
Jeff
Laverty (860)429-7961
Property Management & Security
Jerry
Griffin – Chairman (860)228-9703
Walter
Dumas (860)646-8776
Public Relations
Bob
LaMay (860)456-9999
Rail Operations
Paul
Shamonis – Chairman (860)649-6713
Bob
Carlson (860)345-8254
Mark
Granville (860)456-3012
Bob
Hassett (860)742-1640
Jeff
Laverty (860)429-7961
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
Bert
Turcotte (860)429-7045
Bill
Voorvaart (860)742-5247
Duke
York (860)423-1878
Restoration & Buildings
Duke
York – Chairman (860)423-1878
Bill
Bouchelle (860)763-0152
Walter
Dumas (860)646-8776
Art
Hall (860)742-7454
Bob
Hassett (860)742-1640
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
Bill
Nickerson (860)749-1853
Dick
Sobielo (860)228-3976
Ted
Swol (860)423-7285
Bert
Turcotte (860)429-7045
Sales Department & Calendar
Jeff
Laverty (860)429-7961
Ray
Axelrod (860)228-3197
Train
Show
Bill
Robinson – Chairman (860)456-4903
Art
Hall (860)742-7454
Jeff
Laverty (860)429-7961
Al
Lyman (860)848-9988
Bill
Mihancki (860)429-9821
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