April 2003 Newsletter

Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

PRRH Logo

Phillipsburg Railroad Historians, Inc.
PO Box 5104, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

APRIL 2003 NEWSLETTER VOL. XIII #4

Entertainment this month features: To Be Announced

Last month, I told you all to think spring. You must not have listened to me as the April flowers are getting covered in heavy snow as I look out my window writing. Finding colored Easter eggs in the snow should be easy. The stores put away the shovels and salt last week.

The April PRRH membership meeting will be held on Wednesday night April 23 at 7:30pm at the Alpha United Presbyterian Church. After the business portion of the meeting, entertainment will be given by Rich Frantz with vintage movies of the 70's. Refreshments will be provided courtesy of Budd Sauselein and the Carpenito's. I would like to thank Ed Meyers for his dedication to staffing the coffee counter and to Pete Terp who helps out in Ed's absence. Please don't forget to put your two dollar donation into the can to help defray costs.

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY PRRH WORK HOURS REPORT BY JOHN WARD January on-site hours totaIed just 5. Off-site hours were 31, consisting of administrative and book work, totaling 36 monthly hours. In February, the site rested and off-site administrative and paper work time registered 27 hours for the month. March is expected to end the winter dormancy.

Our Tuesday work group began a preliminary session in late March on one of the days it was warm to discuss the order of work to be performed. The museum building will undergo some safety related changes prior to renovation as it has been determined that a second door must be constructed in order to allow deeper display space and a small theatre section. A long platform will eventually be constructed trackside as will some repairs be made to the roof.

The engine house had its electric cut in recently after a new pole and line was brought in from the Stockton Street side. The next step will be the installation of liberal outlets and ample Iighting with Wyant Electric performing the work. We are also looking into consulting a flooring contractor for concrete work.

Saturday night April 5 was the night we held our annual banquet at Ryan's Restaurant. Thirty four people attended and enjoyed a fine family style meal along with a slide show depicting our progress over the years in reaching our goals. President Paul Carpenito addressed those in attendance with some positive words on our fine organization and its members' efforts.

Don't miss our Sunday May 4 Open House. We are planning some great activities including Earle Brotzman's circus layout, Horn's Inc, who will demonstrate real diesel horns, speeder rides, antique vehicles and C&S train rides all day. Bring the family and some friends for some inexpensive fun. See the Public Service trolley 2651 and the very rare Chestnut Ridge Mack Railbus.

I would Iike to thank Jim Anderson for scrapping cans and returning $80.00 for the club treasury.

PRRH welcomes back Julius Tarsi into membership along with his grandson, Andrew King. Happy to have you both aboard.

Member John Ward has kindly donated the cost of a Bethlehem Steel video to our club from PBS channel 13 (39) Bethlehem. This educational tape will be shown in our theatre.

Included with the newsletter is a flyer for our FATHERS DAY JUNE 15 TRIP TO THE EAST BROAD TOP narrow gauge steam raiIroad. Please respond soon if you are going as demand has been steady and the bus is filling up.

Also this is your last chance for the May 18 Hudson Flyer excursion repeated from last year. Meg is filling the second bus now and needs to hear from you if you want to go. Call her at 610-826-2580.

PRRH regrets to infom you of the untimely death of Henry E. Becker, who passed away at home on April 2. He was 83. Mr. Becker was the founder of the Centerville & Southwestern Railroad and the operator of the Becker Dairy at Roseland NJ until 1972. Henry and Pauline surprised us last September 22 with a surprise visit to our fall Open House and the thirtieth anniversary of the closing of the C&S. Our deepest heartfelt sympathies go out to Pauline at this time.

It has been pointed out to me that some long term members have not renewed their dues for 2003. Please do not overlook the benefits of membership.

PHILLIPSBURG RAILROAD HISTORIANS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 23 membership meeting
May 4 OPEN HOUSE at museum grounds
May 18 HUDSON FLYER field trip
JUNE 15 EAST BROAD TOP FATHERS DAY FIELD TRIP

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

~ Paul Carpenito ~

PC/sdw