Friday, 09 August 2013 08:22

Caboose Cruz-In and Cook-Out in Greenfield

By Staff Report | News

GREENFIELD ­­— Remember the days when the train was the primary mode of transportation in town?  No?  Well it was not that long ago that trains ran between Ballston Spa, Greenfield and Saratoga and carried passengers between towns. A little piece of that history is being celebrated this Saturday.

The Town of Greenfield Caboose Committee and the Greenfield Historical Society will be hosting Caboose Day to show off the restored Caboose that sits at the corner of Porter Corner Road and Route 9N in Greenfield on Saturday, August 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers from the town of have worked tirelessly for years to restore this historic gem in Greenfield. Volunteers devoted countless hours to the painstaking restoration work to make it seem as if you are walking back in time when you enter the Caboose.

The Town of Greenfield Historical Society will be providing tours of the Caboose, talking about its history and allowing pictures of people on the Caboose for keepsakes. The Historical Society will also be serving grilled food items and baked goods as well as hosting a Cruz-In Car Show for the folks that attend the event.

“If you’ve traveled north on Route 9N out of Greenfield, you’ve probably seen the red caboose on the corner of Porter Corners Road,” said Tony Bucca, one of the volunteers who helped restore the Caboose. “It was a couple of decades ago, a short time history-wise, that the town was able to purchase the circa 1920s wooden caboose from the Delaware & Hudson Railway for the princely price of one dollar. At that time, the Town Historian put out a call for volunteers to refurbish the old depot on the corner of Porter Corner Road. Since then community volunteers have done an incredible job of restoring this incredible piece of Greenfield’s history. The restoration is nearly complete and we welcome everyone from the area to join us this Saturday to see this incredible gem for themselves.” 

The Town Board has supported the Caboose Park as a place to relive the history of rail in the town’s development. Long ago there were small rail lines that ran from Middle Grove to Ballston Spa and other points to the south.  

“This park allows us to remember those days and shows the benefit of rail to rural communities,” said town supervisor, Dick Rowland. “The caboose project brought people together with a sense of community that showcases the life values of the citizens that make Greenfield great. I encourage people to use all of our parks for their enjoyment and relaxation.”

“With the determination of Greenfield residents, Stan Weeks, Ed Woodard, Tony Bucca, Steve VanDyk  and other volunteers who helped when they could, five years of dedication have restored a landmark for the Town” noted Louise Okoniewski, president of Greenfield Hisptrical Society. “The estimates to restore the Caboose were in the range of $40,000 or more. These citizens saved the Town a lot of money by doing the work themselves and they have much to be proud of.”

Open House will be this Saturday, August 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a bake sale, a well as hot dogs, hamburgers and refreshments available.  There will also be a car show. For more information call Louise at (518) 587-6060 or Tony (518) 232-6252; or the Town Hall at (518) 893-7432, ext 300; or the Town of Greenfield Historical Society at www.greenfieldhistoricalsociety.com. 

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