Rail City

I find it very difficult to write something here on Mother's Day about mothers or even the history of the day.

Today is also National Train Day. I think of trains and I think of my Grandmother. My Grandmother lived outside a little hole in the ground called Sandy Creek near Lake Ontario in central New York (that is just about half way between Syracuse and Watertown). Behind her house was a little place called Rail City (founded in the 1950's). As a kid, I always thought it was hers, that she owned it. I have been since enlightened that she did not. 

Rail City was a sort of amusement park/museum that featured a mile long track on which a steam locomotive, passenger cars and a caboose ran. You would depart from the station through the woods to a quick "water" stop where you could get off and take a look at the monkey in the well. Once back on the train, you took the half mile trek around past boot hill (with real boots sticking out of the ground) back to the station.

There was a little wooden town were you could explore including a jail, blacksmith shop and other old west-style town buildings. There was also a carousel, a water tower that you could climb to the top of and walk around the outside of the entire thing and see five counties! There was a diner (that is what my grandmother ran) and an actual working Volunteer Fire Department. I know I was able to 'visit' the trucks, but I don't know for sure if that was open for all.

I think of this place fondly and during our yearly family reunion trip to the area, I always want take the hour long trip up to visit grandma and all my fond memories.

Rail City has run down these past 25years or so, but I understand that the son of the original owner of the property has tried to spurn interest in the museum and currently runs a website with an early history of Rail City. I have a few memorabilia at HandMeDownHaven.com (just search for train) and am on the trail of more, as Grandma had plenty. Time for me to...

Have Fun Searching 

Girl Scouts Day

Today is Girl Scout Day. On this day in 1912, Juliet Gordon-Lowe found 18 girls from her neighborhood in Savannah, GA and founded the Girl Scouts. As a graduate of the Girl Scouts I feel a little nostalgic for my old GS Pals. Finding them have been easier with Facebook, Classmates and many other social networking sites, but, for some reason others friends are still hard to find.  If you happen upon this site and think my name sounds familiar, contact me!!!!

In 1976, my Girl Scout troop took a trip. We took a bus from DC to Disneyworld in Orlando, then to Juliet Lowe's birthplace in Savannah and then to Six Flags Over Georgia. At the time 6-flags was a much more fun park because of the unlimited rides, where Disneyworld worked on a ticket to ride system.

I recall something about horseback riding, allegedly passing out on Space Mountain, and crashing on the bus and hearing the girls giggle while taking my picture...I had a lot of fun with my friends, Pam, Vanessa, Carla, Deborah and all the rest that I cannot exactly recall their names right now off the top of my head, give me a pic and I may be able to tell you their names.

I think I will do just that, find some pics of the trip and post them....

Have Fun Searching!