RE: (erielack) Western NY trip

["Philip Martin" <martinpl3_@_earthlink.net>]

I think this post isn't boring.  It's quite interesting.

Philip Martin
martinpl3_@_earthlink.net



> [Original Message]
> From: Douglas Crosby <dhc_@_open.org>
> To: <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>
> Date: 6/4/2004 11:17:56 PM
> Subject: (erielack) Western NY trip
>
> List,
>     While I'm busy boring everyone with my most recent trip to NY/PA I
might
> as well provide some detail - especially since one alert lister already
> noted my unintended implication that Jamestown is in Cattaraugus Co.
rather
> than Chautauqua Co.
>     My trip was for a wedding (1/2 sister, at Rochester), but I took a few
> extra days for Family History and RR research in my "home" (1949-1978)
area.
>     I have no RR background, but am a model railroader working on a
> Salamanca area layout I've described before. This trip I spent some time
> (again) at the Salamanca RR Museum. Spoke with a couple of former Erie
> Dispatchers, and a current railroader/artist. He has prints for sale, I
> purchased  the BR&P 164 at Ellicottville (my mothers hometown) since his
> Erie scene wasn't available yet.
>     My gggrandfather Pearly Harris and his brother Delpha were pioneer
> settlers of the Bradford area. (ca 1845). A major focus of the trip was to
> find out more about them. It took an unexpected turn - to connections to
the
> Erie RR!!
>     Delpha's Granddaughter wrote a history of the Bradford area
development,
> as well as an autobiography, and The Bradford Landmark Society has
preserved
> these along with various other items from the family. In these documents
she
> recounts the impact of "Uncle Dan" Kingsbury, among whose projects was
> "running a railroad from Bradford to Carrolton to connect with the
Erie..."
> and the takeover by A. W. Newell who ran the daily train -- powered by
> handcar.
>     She also devotes a paragraph to Pat Crowley, 16 year old station agent
> at Limestone who was discharged from the Erie when found responsible for a
> wreck on Big Shanty Hill. --but went on to become President of the New
York
> Central.
>
> One other item of possible interest to the list- note the address in this
> announcement for Delpha's Golden Wedding Celebration:
>                     Mr & Mrs Delpha Harris
>                 will receive their friends on
>         the 50th anniversary of their marriage,
>                 at their residence, State Line,
>                     N. Y.,   L. E.,  &  W. Ry.,
>               On Thursday, October 6th, 1881
>                             at 2 p. m.
>
> Doug Crosby
> ELHS 2830

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