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From: "Paul R DOT Tupaczewski" paultup AT optonline DOT net
Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 23:14:17 -0500
Subject: FW: New RR museum ready to open at former Erie station in Hornell
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From: The Hornell Evening Tribune
_________________________________________________________________________

At last, rail museum ready to open: Minor adjustments needed at Hornell Erie
Depot Museum


By ROB MONTANA - STAFF WRITER


LYNN BRENNAN
The Hornell Erie Depot Railroad Museum is almost ready to open. Items on
display include a conductor's uniform.


HORNELL - A few things here and there is all that's needed before the
Hornell Erie Depot Railroad Museum can open.

That was the word Tuesday from Collette Cornish, city archivist, who said
the museum is almost ready for the public. Cornish said some items still
need to be labeled, and she needs to take care of a few minor details at the
museum.

"I need a little more time to go in and tie up the loose ends," she said.

Mayor Shawn Hogan said the museum will open once the little things are done,
including finishing touches on displays, mopping of floors and washing of
windows.

"I'd like to open it as soon as everything is done," Hogan said. "We've had
some private showings; Heather (Kazsynski, city planner) had a request for
people to get in this past week.

"We'd like to get it open prior to the holiday season, so when people come
home for the holidays they can go through it," he added. "We are ready to
go. We have to get the last few pieces of the puzzle together; hang
pictures, scrub the floors and wash the windows, and we'll have a nice
little local railroad history museum."

Once the museum does open, it will be open several evenings during the week
and on weekends, Hogan said. He said with Alstom using a portion of the
building, the weekend and evening hours will allow for greater ease in
parking and access. He also said there would be no charge to visit the
museum.

"We will have a free will donation box like many museums, but there will be
no charge," Hogan said.

Initially the museum will be staffed by volunteers, but Hogan said he hopes
to eventually hire a part-time curator for the museum.

The displays that are done include some great pieces, Cornish said. She said
there are many framed pictures on the wall, beautiful pieces in the
cabinets, uniforms that have been dry cleaned and hung on mannequins, and a
train in the center of the museum that Cornish said "looks beautiful."

"There is some wonderful memorabilia, and in great condition," she said.

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Cornish said some of the photos are not identified, and hopes that will
change once the museum opens. She said visitors may have an idea who or what
are in the unidentified pictures.

"I'm sure there are a lot of people we should get in to look over the
photos," she said.

The delay is just the latest in a series of starts and stops for the
railroad museum at the old Erie Depot. It first was expected to open July 1,
2004, then this July. However, both dates have come and gone without an
opening.

"I know it's been frustrating for those who have been waiting to see the
museum; it's been equally frustrating for us trying to get the museum up and
running," Hogan said, adding a summer 2005 opening was delayed because of
problems at the museum last winter. "The furnace went out, and we had a pipe
burst in the museum area last winter.

"We had to do some major cleanup and renovation in there, which was done
with city forces," he added. "All things take time, and you don't want to do
anything half-heartedly. You want to do it appropriately and display items
in a proper respectful fashion, and I think that's what we've accomplished."

Also slated to open soon at the depot is David Shults' toy soldier museum.
Hogan said the delay for that has been the construction of secure display
cases. He said the special cases were necessary because of the value of the
toy soldiers.

"They are clear Plexiglas cases that will allow people to see the toy
soldiers, but not touch them," Hogan said. "Once they're in place and the
toy soldiers are on display, we'll have two attractions there."

Hogan added the city would not delay opening the railroad museum if it is
still waiting for the toy soldier museum to be ready for visitors.


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