Volunteers are heart of train museum

September 01, 2008 08:00 am

— MILTON — A love of trains and community provides the motivation for a group of volunteers who have worked since the spring of 2007 to bring the Milton Model Train Museum to completion and its planned grand opening Dec. 6-7.
A preview of the museum, which is on the third floor of the Moose Building, 139 S. Front St., Milton, will be held during Milton’s annual Harvest Festival celebration, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 20. The museum also will welcome visitors on Dec. 7, 13 and 20, also from 9 to 1.
Many of the volunteers shared their stories at a recent meeting. Linwood Hill, a retired train engineer, loves the “living history” represented by the 1,200-square-foot layout, which depicts Milton in the 1950s and 1960s. Hill is a painter at Bucknell University and brings that skill to the landscape and architecture painting needed for the miniature Milton. He’s also been involved with restoration of the White Deer railroad station.
The museum got its start with a donation of trains and scenery from the late Rev. A. Robert Walker.
George Venios, president of The Improved Milton Experience, said: “The Rev. Walker first approached the Milton Historical Society, but they didn’t have the room. The trains were turned over to the property committee of TIME, and when the Moose donated its third floor, the project took off.”
Mel Crist, comptroller at SUNCOM Industries, Northumberland, echoed Hill’s love of trains, noting he has his own 16-by-20 platform. He considers the work at the museum “never done” and his “donation to Milton.” He expressed admiration for the Rev. Walker’s vision and is dedicated to “keeping that vision alive.”
Ken Gaugler, who has been a 44-year volunteer in fire services, said he too was inspired by the Rev. Walker’s donation and idea to celebrate the history of Milton. Like most of the other volunteers, he got involved by way of a personal request, either from Venios, Ray Rugh, like Gaugler a former fire chief, or Ray Leeser, who took on the task of fundraising chairman.
Gaugler was recruited by Rugh, part of the group working to restore the Miltonian fire house across the street from the Moose. “We just got started,” Gaugler said. “We began to tear down Rev. Walker’s platform, and then we rebuilt it here at the Moose.”
Gaugler has brought his brother, Jeff, on board.
“I was railroaded,” Jeff quipped. The rare non-Miltonian of the group, Jeff lives and works in Watsontown. He’s spent a lot of time working on the landscape aspects of the project.
Tony Venios had trains as a child, too, and didn’t say no when his brother, George, called to ask for help with the museum. He is known as the “master designer” of the group.
Others who have contributed significantly to the project include Pamela Snyder-Etters, the artist who recently completed the historical transportation mural on the south side of the Moose building. She and her two interns helped paint the Susquehanna River, making it look more realistic. In addition, the group credited Miles Wilson, an electrical engineer, for bringing a lot of automation to the train operation.
Also providing buildings or other assistance are Gary Baylor, John Bower, Merrill Coup, Nick Diggan, Steve Doresky, Ron Johnson, Gary Leech, Barry Mabus, Ed Price, George Sampsell, Frank Satteson, Ron Shirk and Mike Warns.
Leeser, whose fundraising efforts have netted more than $30,000, said: “We welcome more donations because there will be a need for further improvements and maintenance. We always welcome volunteers who can help us with landscaping the display and buildings or assembling structures.”
The grand opening of the museum will be one of numerous activities celebrating “Downtown in December — A Milltown Christmas.” TIME’s holiday tree lighting ceremony, Santa’s arrival and an open house and art show at the Milton Historical Society are on the calendar for the weekend of Dec. 5-7.