(rshsdepot) Beacon, NY

["jdent1_@_optonline.net" <jdent1@optonline.net>]

Beacon club earns role as rail steward
Scenic Hudson, society team up
By Maeleeke J=2E Lavan
Poughkeepsie Journal

BEACON -- The Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society now has a
formal role in its bid to make the mountain more accessible to the public=2E=
=20
In a recent agreement reached with Scenic Hudson, which owns the land on
Mount Beacon, the group has been granted status as the ''eyes and ears'' o=
f
the mountain=2E=20
The agreement ''makes the incline society a partner with Scenic Hudson for=

the day-to-day management of the property,'' Seth McKee, associate land
preservation director with Scenic Hudson, said=2E=20
It also signals Scenic Hudson's support for the group's ultimate goal of
restoring the incline railway=2E=20
The railway, which opened in 1902, was a way for people to reach the top o=
f
the mountain, where there was a restaurant and dancing hall known as the
casino=2E In 1908, the three-story, 60-room Beaconrest Hotel was built,
giving overnighters more time to enjoy the breathtaking view=2E=20
The railway has been out of service since 1972=2E=20
Scenic Hudson -- a Poughkeepsie-based environmental firm -- and the societ=
y
signed the management agreement last week at Angelo's Seafood & Steakhouse=

in Beacon=2E=20
''The management agreement really solidifies our relationship with Scenic
Hudson =2E=2E=2E (and) sets the stage to get the whole idea of the incline=

railway out into the public forum,'' Andrew Chiusano, the society's
president and co-founder, said=2E=20
Hikes, events planned=20
The society will continue to have seasonal cleanups and hikes at the
mountain and in addition will hold events on the property for public
awareness and fund-raising purposes, Chiusano said=2E=20
Membership for the society holds strong at about 500 people, all of whom
showed interest in maintaining the mountain as a symbolic asset to the
city=2E It was formed in 1996=2E=20
''It's a good partnership,'' McKee said of the society=2E ''They're a high=
ly
motivated group of people=2E I have yet to work in a community where peopl=
e
felt so strongly about one of their assets=2E''=20
Scenic Hudson ultimately purchased the property and is working with the
city planning board in effort to develop the 15-acre site at the base of
the mountain=2E=20
Park status wanted=20
The hope is to turn the property into a park and eventually build a
stairway up the north side of the incline tracks, leading to observation
decks=2E=20
Both groups are hoping development efforts will greatly improve public
access and awareness=2E=20
The management agreement, Chiusano said, is one of several long-awaited
steps toward beginning railway restoration=2E It also coincides with
developing business plans the society is working on to obtain cost
estimates for the railway=2E=20
''Support for it is pretty tremendous,'' Chiusano said of community
interest in the mountain=2E ''It's the apple of Beacon's eye=2E''=20
Relevant Web link
For information about the Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society=
,
go to www=2EInclineRailway=2Eorg=20



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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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