(rshsdepot) Oyster Bay, NY

[Jim Dent <jdent1_@_optonline.net>]

OB Railroad Museum Moves Ahead

Being on the National Register of Historic Places Leads to Grants
By Dagmar Fors Karppi

James Foote, TR impersonator arrived at the present Oyster Bay Railroad 
Station on Oct. 29 on his way to commemorate the Oyster Bay Rail Road 
Museum's designation to the National Register of Historic Places. NYS 
Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Places Bernadette Castro 
was there to greet him with two granddaughters, Gracie and Georgia 
Keogh. The ladies stole the show. Gracie, who attends the Portledge 
School has been given an assignment to do a report on TR. She was out 
gathering research that day.

Together the four rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the former station 
to be present as a plaque was unveiled that announced the building is on 
the National Register of Historic Places. The Oyster Bay Railroad 
station, home station to TR when he used Sagamore Hill as his summer 
White House, is in the process of being restored. Ms. Castro said with 
its historic designation it is now in line for matching grants from the 
Environmental Protection Agency.

The "Colonel," as TR liked to be called, was met by members of the 
Nassau-Suffolk Horsemen's Association, including Bill Uhlinger and 
Patrick Falci, representing General Joe Wheeler. Greeting him were 
representatives of Sagamore Hill National State Park rangers Jean Quinn 
and Howard Ehrlich and Chief of Interpretation Charles Markis.

David Morrison, chair of the Oyster Bay Railroad Restoration Committee 
welcomed guests inside the station for speeches and the presentation of 
the designation to Oyster Bay Historical Director Tom Kuehhas by 
Commissioner Castro. The museum and the Friends of Locomotive #35 are 
under the auspices of the Oyster Bay Historical Society.

LIRR President James Dermody presented the key to the station to John 
Venditto on Feb. 18, 2005. On Oct. 29 Mr. Dermody said, "This is the 
beginning, not the end of the story," the LIRR will continue to help in 
the restoration work. Later, Commissioner Castro thanked Mr. Dermody for 
handing over the key to the station, saying, "Just think how much money 
it would have cost us."

Ben Jankowski, chairman of the Friends of Locomotive #35 said that the 
station would be an educational tool to convey the message of those who 
came before us.

Dr. John Staudt was introduced as the TRA associate director, the 
international organization that promotes the image of TR, an American 
icon. Dr. Staudt said the station was the point of entry to TR's home 
and summer White House. He called TR a great citizen, reformer and one 
who changed the country and reshaped the world. He said he had the 
willingness to wear out rather than rust out. TR wrote to his son Kermit 
that the really important thing in this life was his wife and children 
"from the standpoint of happiness."

Town Councilman Angelo Delligatti, former town supervisor said, 
"Theodore Roosevelt is an inspiration for anyone who has ever served in 
government. There is no finer example than President Theodore Roosevelt. 
It reminds all of us that we have a role model to strive for."

Senator Carl Marcellino said, "This is a great day. We are honoring one 
of my personal heros, Jim Foote, who does so much to keep TR's memory 
alive."

Commissioner Castro said the day was important historically, not just 
for Oyster Bay but for New York State. She gave a synopsis of TR's 
career, starting as the youngest assemblyman, at age 22, who went on to 
serve as governor. He didn't fit the political mold and so to get him 
out of New York politics they "kicked him upstairs" to run for vice 
president, Ms. Castro said. "The Lord had other plans for him. When 
McKinley was shot and TR was notified he was to be president, he ended 
up being a great President of the United States. He created parkland, 
the Forest Service, preserved open space and was a hunter while being a 
conservationist. He was a complicated man who survived the death of his 
wife and mother on Valentines Day. And, he loved Oyster Bay, one of the 
greatest hometowns in the United States."

James Foote, dressed as TR, and speaking without a microphone recalled 
the words of the president saying, "May we run the risk of wearing out 
not rusting out." He said of the soon to be restored railroad station, 
"Make it a 'bully' museum for the entire community."

When it was time to go outside for the unveiling of the plaque, local 
Cub Scouts joined the dignitaries at the picture-taking. The Scouts 
included James Sepulveda, Stephen Valvianos, Joey Sheehan, Peter 
Palczewski, Alex Martin, Matthew Palczewski, Christopher Roerden and 
Steven Sweet.

The dignitaries climbed back into the horse-drawn carriages for the ride 
to the corner of Berry Hill Road and Pine Hollow Road for the unveiling 
of the statue of Theodore Roosevelt. They were joined at the Derby-Hall 
Bandstand with the marchers, who included members of the Quentin 
Roosevelt American Legion Post #4, the Oyster Bay Fire Company and the 
Nassau Suffolk Horsemen's Association.

Members of the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay were in the second carriage, 
including President Judith Wasilchuk, Fritz Coudert III, and last year's 
president, Donna Goyena.

Assemblyman Chuck Lavine helped Oyster Bay Civic Association President 
Marie Knight into the carriage. Mr. Morrison had acknowledged her part 
in helping the station restoration committee of which she is a member.

Copyright ©2005 Anton Community Newspapers, Inc.
http://www.antonnews.com/oysterbayenterprisepilot/2005/11/04/news/rrdedication.html 


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

------------------------------