Jane Smith
03/26/06
March 26, 2006 12:06 am
—
CONNEAUT LAKE PARK – Conneaut Lake Park has taken the first step to getting its miniature train back on the track this year.
Park officials ordered replacement rails and spikes for the project last week and now are waiting to raise enough money to buy railroad ties, according to George Deshner, general manager. A local shop is donating materials and labor to repair the train’s wheels and bearings to get the popular attraction back in operation.
To date, $7,100 has been raised toward a goal of $56,000 needed for remaining work to get the train running for the 2006 season. When the first $4,666 raised was in the bank last week, the spikes and rail were ordered. Speaking at a recent meeting, Deshner said he discovered that rails are only made once a year. He learned when he ordered the new rail that he had called just in time. A few days longer and it would have been too late for 2006.
The ties will cost about $9,000, Deshner said, noting as soon as that amount is in the bank, he will place the order. He said some people questioned whether all the ties needed to be replaced. “I walked the entire train track and yes, they do,” he said.
Funds are being raised through a special “buy a brick” campaign where people, businesses and others can purchase a brick and have a name or other message engraved on it. Bricks then will be placed in the train area.
Bricks cost $100 each and allow for three lines of type with 20 letters on each line (including spaces between letters). Conneaut Lake Institute is heading up the campaign, accepting donations and keeping the order records.
Initial plans were to have railroaders’ names on the first line, name of the railroad where they were employed on the second line, and their dates of employment on the third line, making it a railroad tribute.
However, recognizing that other people also wanted to contribute to the cause, the campaign was expanded to allow anyone to purchase a brick.
Carol West, Conneaut Lake Institute treasurer, is excited about the campaign. She told of one order with grandchildren’s names signed by the grandparents. Other orders have included the addresses of cottages of summer residents, she added. “It will be fun to watch the kids come and find their names,” she said.
The Conneaut Lake Area Historical Society has joined the Institute in raising funds by putting collection cans in various outlets for those who want to participate but don’t have an extra $100 to contribute.
Society members will collect the funds and turn them over to the institute.
“If we can raise $85,000 in 1985 to bring the Liberty the Second out of the bottom of Conneaut Lake, surely we can raise $56,000 to return this popular attraction to Conneaut Lake Park,” said one historical society official, referring to the raising of a speedboat which sank in 1920 and was recovered in 1985. The society now houses that speedboat.
Society officials are asking other clubs and organizations, as well as businesses, to “get on board” by having bricks engraved with their names.
In addition, the society said that for each $100 raised in the cans at local businesses, the society will have the name of the business engraved on a brick. For example, if $100 is raised in donations at Mama Bear’s Restaurant, the brick purchased with that money could read “Customers of Mama Bear’s Restaurant, 2006” or a similar message.
Businesses where less than $100 is raised will have their totals added to others and a brick would simply read something like “Fans of Conneaut Lake Park” or a similar message.
A banner will be erected in front of National City Bank in Conneaut Lake Borough to allow local residents to watch the progress of the campaign. The society’s theme, “I Think I Can, I Think I Can,” based on the popular children’s book, is designed to move the train up the track as the money is raised and provide incentive to the community.
breakout box
Brochures with brick order information are available in local businesses or may be secured on-line at conneautlakepark.com.
Those who don’t want to buy a brick but want to contribute may send any size donation to Conneaut Lake Institute, P.O. Box 111, Conneaut Lake, Pa., l6316. “We will take any amount,” said Carol West, Institute treasurer.
All donations are tax deductible.
Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com
By Jane Smith
meadville tribune
While money is being raised for personalized bricks — an effort geared to bring the miniature train back to Conneaut Lake Park — other special events and group picnics have already been scheduled for nearly every weekend of the 2006 operating season.
“The group sales (picnics) are going very well,” said George Deshner, general manager.
Before the park opens, however, two special cleanup weekends are set to prepare the park for the 2006 season.
The first is next weekend, April 1 and 2; the second is May 6 and 7. Volunteers can report to the park and be assigned such tasks as painting or other routine cleanup work. For the work weekend of May 6 and 7, the annual “spring cleanup,” volunteers will work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, and everyone is welcome to take part.
Special events open to the public will kick off April 19 to 21, when motorcyclists invade the local amusement park for a “Reunion Ride” weekend.
The special events continue the following week, on April 26, with a “Carousel Ball” sponsored by Conneaut Lake Institute at Hotel Conneaut. Musician Mark DeWalt and his band Catro will play from 8 to 11 p.m.
And all of this takes place before the park officially opens for the traditional summer season. That will take place on Memorial Day weekend. Do Wopp Weekend will kick off the official opening, May 26 to 28, with a wide variety of events scheduled.
Three weeks later, a new Ms. Conneaut Lake Park will be crowned at the park and a new Crawford County Dairy Princess crowned in a pageant on the same day, June 17.
Art on the Boardwalk and an Antique Boat Show will highlight festivities the next weekend, June 24 and 25. The annual Blue Streak Challenge will be featured June 26 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Jane Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at jsmith@meadvilletribune.com
Key dates lined up
so far at Conneaut
Lake Park
April 19 to 21
Motorcyclists’ “Reunion Ride” weekend.
April 26
“Carousel Ball”
May 26 to 29
Official opening and
Do Wopp Weekend
June 17
Ms. Conneaut Lake Park pageant
June 17
Crawford County Dairy Princess pageant
June 24 and 25
Art on the Boardwalk and
Antique Boat Show
June 26
Blue Streak Challenge
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
FILE PHOTO/Meadville Tribune -