Hopewell Depot Restoration

Would you like to help build a parade float for Community Day ? We are looking for volunmteer help on the next three Wednesdays to build our parade float. Contact person is Laura Wegand.

Laura Wiegand 914-980-2053

Do any of you remember what the pump in the attached photo was for ? It had a very important role in the life of Hopewell Junction railroaders. We will talk more about it next week.

Depot will be open Saturdays and Su8ndays from 10 to 4.

Cooler and sunny weather brought out a lot of traffic on the Rail Trail. We even had visitors from California today.

Last weeks m ystery photo is actually an air pump used to pressurize the draft beer service in the bar of Turners Hotel which later became the Stockyard and is now Daddios Restaurant. That pump served many cold drinks to weary railroad workers over the years. The attached cartoon is one of a series drawn by Ed Ross, a Hopewell Junction resident.

We are looking for vendors for our fall Arts and Crafts event on October 15th. If you are interested in renting a space for $15 get in touch with Celeste at 845-221-9330 or [email protected]. This will be an opportunity to sell your crafts to folks who are looking for some holiday gifts.

The Depot will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 4.

Does anybody know what the railroad track gangs used these for ?
We will talk more about them next week.

The Depot will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 4.

This was our entry in the East Fishkill Community Day Parade on Saturday. The panels on the back represent the Depot and the switch tower.

Last weeks mystery photo is a set of branding irons to brand dates into new railroad ties before date nails were invented. They bare the numbers 0 to 8. You don't need a 9. Just turn the 6 upside down. Very practical.
The Depot will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 4 .

It was a bright sunny but cool day which brought out lots of visitors on the Rail Trail. Some were from New Jersey and there was a family from Indiana plus one man from Austria.

The attached photo is one of our volunteers putting the finishing touches on the Tower chimney.

Arts and Crafts sale at the Depot on Saturday, Oct. 15th from 10-3. Vendors still welcome. Call 845-221-9330 or email [email protected].

The Depot will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 4.

Save the date for the Hopewell Depot concert on October 1.

Here is a phto of the band tuning up for the concert Saturday evening. The cool damp weather kept the crowd to a small number but those who stayed clapped and cheered throgh two hours of musical entertainment.

The Depot will be open Sunday 10 to 4,

On Monday Columbus Day 10/10 I will be doing a railroad talk/slide show at Dutchs Spirits in Pine Plains New York. The show starts at 1:00 PM. Dutchs Spirits is located at 98 Ryan Rd on the north side of Pine Pains. The driveway is actually built on the old R&C Railroad road bed. While you are there you might check out the network of tunnels under the property that were the original Dutch Schultz distillery during prohibition.

Stop around and sample Dutchs Spirits products and brush up on you railroad history. The main subject will be an overview of the four railroads in the Pine Plains arrea. There were actually three train stations in Pine Plain and as many as sixteen train a day in one small farmers town.

Also, Don't forget.
In the next few weeks employers will be asking their employees to make pledges for charities via payroll deductions. Don’t forget Hopewell Depot Restoration Corporation when you are choosing a charity for 2017.

Our volunteer project for today was putting a decorative coat of stain on the Tower stairs.

With nice weather we had quite a few interesting visitors from the Rail Trail today.

Don't forget the railroad talk/slide show at Dutch's Spirits in Pine Plains on Monday.

Show starts at 1:00 PM.

Hopewell Depot is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 4.

Be sure to save the date Saturday 10/15 for the Hopewell Depot Arts and Crafts Festival.

The weather forecast says crisp fall temperatures and sunshine.

Stop around and do some early Holiday shopping.

See you there

Today was a beautiful and successful day at Hopewell Depot. We had twelve vendors and a lot of customers. This was our best Arts and Crafts event so far. We are looking forward to next year!

Also, Don't forget.

In the next few weeks employers will be asking their employees to make pledges for charities via payroll deductions. Don’t forget Hopewell Depot Restoration Corporation when you are choosing a charity for 2017.

Hopewell Depot Restoration held their annual dinner on Saturday evening at the Blue Fountain Restaurant in Fishkill Plains, New York. The featured speaker was Ernie Hunt, President of the Catskill Mountain Railroad. He presented a short history and current status of their operation.

"Mr Conductor " gave a short history of the Hopewell Depot Restoration project.

Excellent food, a little wine and good company was enjoyed by all.

Cold sunny day with two visitors from Paraguay.

Do you know what the glass jar was used for ?
It was a vital part of almost every railroad station in the early days of railroading.
We will talk more about it next week.

The Depot is changing to a winter schedule.
The Depot will be open Saturdays from 10 to 4 unless we get snowed in.

In the early days of railroading, before commercial electrical power was available, the telegraph system was powered by batteries. The glass jar in last week's photo was a telegraph system battery jar. It would be filled with an acid solution with metal probes inserted in the holes in the lid. The entire system ran on very low voltage. Actually a pair of today's flashlight batteries would work. Stop around to the Hopewell Depot and check out our telegraph display. It clicks like the ones in old western movies. You can practice your Morse Code.

The Depot is now on winter hours and will be open Saturdays from 10 to 4.

A brisk fall day brought out lots of visitors from the Rai Trail today.

Check out the attachment about our Depot Christmas celebration.
We will have a small train layout for the kids to play with.
Bring your kids. We might even get to meet Santa.
Completely free. No charges of any kind.

Also, don't forget the annual train show at the Poughkeepsie Civic Center tomorrow, Sunday 11/13.
Doors open at 10 and we will be there with our usual table.