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

NOVEMBER 2003 NEWSLETTER VOLUME XIII NUMBER 11

      The regular monthly membership meeting of PPRH will be held on Wednesday night November 19, 2003 at 7:30pm at the Alpha United Presbyterian Church. Refreshments will be served courtesy of Mr. And Mrs. Bob Bennington and Frank Sattler. Following the business portion of the meeting, quality video entertainment will be given by Pete Blaess and Rick Glosser with PRRH's latest in the Oral History Series on the careers of Norman Cole Sr. and Tony Gallagher.

SEPTEMBER 2003 WORK HOURS REPORT by JOHN WARD
      With the more moderate temperatures of September and the September 21 Open House, PRRH members increased their monthly on-site work hours to 303 3/4 hours, counting work on the Open House, in the museum and ticket office, including painting, C&S track, grounds maintenance, and the Dieruff train show. Off-site administrative and bookwork, and attendance at related activities required 33 more hours, giving a total of 336 3/4 hours for September. Our new yearly work balance, as of 9/30/03, was 1787 3/4 hours.

      PRRH became an attraction again this year to the annual Pumpkin Festival held on Saturday October 25. Our volunteers hosted a crush crowd of train riders with an incredible 179 tickets given out in three hours. The museum and gift shop were open and our volunteers were handling the volume of visitors that filtered over to the museum in anticipation of their annual train ride. PRRH wishes to thank Glenn Terminelli, Jim Mack, Tom Marzuoli, Bob Marinelli, Earle Brotzman, Steve Winter, Ed Beers, and Lou Badolato for their dedication to maintaining a safe and friendly event.

      Tuesday work party volunteers have continued their work on full size switch installation. Ties are being installed, spaced, and leveled prior to rail being placed. We will attempt to continue if winter weather allows some weekend daylight work.

      Through the diligence of members Steve and Matt Winter, our museum has acquired six beautiful glass showcases from the Phillipsburg Sears, Roebuck & Company store, which were being replaced as part of a modernizing program. PRRH sincerely thanks our local Sears store for their generosity and kindness in passing them on to us. The efforts of Matt and Steve, including the backbreaking job of getting them to the museum, are also appreciated in our continuing efforts to improve the building's interior.

      Nominations continue at the November meeting for all elective positions, and the slate will be closed at the end of the business portion of the meeting. If you have a prospective candidate for an office, you must attend the November meeting and be heard.

      You might notice that your newsletter is a week early this month as Thanksgiving changes our meeting night one week earlier than usual. Please make a note of the November 19 date. This will also occur next month and the December meeting will be held on December 17.

      PRRH will operate a Santa Claus train on Sunday December 14 from 1 to 4pm. Candy will be given to the children and hot chocolate for all. Bring the children and grand kids and bundle up for the ride.

      Member Earle Brotzman will again be sponsoring a Toys for Tots campaign with his model layout and circus equipment. Earle will be set up at the Bethlehem Industrial Park off PA State Route 512 at 57 South Commerce Way. Turn off 512 onto Brodhead Ave, then to the stop sign, and a right onto 57 South Commerce Way. The event will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, November 28-29-30; then including Thursdays, December 4 to 7; December 11 to 14; And 18 to 21. The hours are 4 to 10pm.

      Meg reminds you that you can pay your dues now. If you wish, you can pay at the meeting or send to our address.

      I certainly hope all of you are enjoying the last of Fall before the Winter closes in. Now that we will begin another year of hibernating, the new TV shows are on, football assumes priority, and you can go over your pictures of Aunt Betty or the grandchildren you took last summer when the grass was green or you got too sloshed to know which end was up. Stock up on sweaters, quilts, antifreeze, fatty foods and wine, because you won't want to go out to the store at night in just your bare feet and sandals. And besides, if the cat slips out between your feet into the night, it won't be too funny freezing your buns off trying to find the little rascal.

      See you all soon ......

~ Paul M. Carpenito ~

PHILLIPSBURG RAILROAD HISTORIANS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Wednesday November 19 --- Membership meeting at 7:30pm and nominations
Sunday December 14 -------- Santa Claus Train at the museum
Wednesday December 17 --- Membership meeting at 7:30pm.

PC/sdw

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