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DCAS Train Project
- 1. The Pleasant Valley Rail Road Station Dutchess County Agricultural Society Relocation Project: 2014-2015
- 2. Architect rendering ofthe Historic Pleasant Valley Rail Road Station (right) situated to the south of the existing Historic Bentley Memorial One Room School from Pine Plains. The project will be landscaped with period-style lighting, benches, and walkways, and will be connected via a walking path to the Century Museum Village Exhibit Building located behind the school at the base of the hill.
- 3. Dutchess County AgriculturalSociety The Dutchess County Agricultural Society, Inc. (DCAS), which secured its 501(c)(3) status in 2013, is an 80- member organization of individuals that focus on agriculture, horticulture, education, historic preservation and maintenance of a safe and friendly event facility for families and children. Vision Statement: a society actively engaged in the pursuit and promotion of our rural and agricultural heritage, from neighborhood back yards to family farms and commercial enterprises. Mission Statement: showcase, promote and sustain agriculture through education, display, competition and community involvement.
- 4. History of Railroadsin Dutchess County Nearly 300 miles of iron or steel rails snaked a path through the rolling farmland of Dutchess County by 1892. Few other counties in New York State had as many miles of track. So extensive was railroad trackage that it touched each of the county's 20 townships at least once. When the final spike of new railroad construction was hammered in place, Dutchess County had nine individual lines within its borders, ranging in length from 4 miles to 59 miles.
- 5. History of Railroadsin Dutchess County Midway between New York City and Albany and adjoining the New England states, Dutchess County was an important north-south and east-west traffic corridor. Railroads east of the Hudson River which originated beyond Dutchess County borders passed through the county on their way to their destinations. Even railroads which originated within Dutchess County positioned their lines to be part of that corridor through the county. Connecting with inter-county rail lines was a primary goal. However, additional revenue from within county traffic was anticipated from the export of agricultural and industrial products.
- 6. Historic Railroad Linesin Dutchess County
- 7. 1870 saw aflurry of activity as tracks were laid and the first locomotive, the cab of which was made of polished black walnut and trimmed in gold, was delivered. Even the tender had a fine appearance dressed with gilt stripes and neatly lettered in gold, "P.& E.R.R. No. I." In October a successful test run from Smith St. in Poughkeepsie to the first crossing of the Fallkill Creek buoyed the spirits of the builders, as did the arrival of a second locomotive at the end of the month. Passenger service to Salt Point was running by December. All else went as planned and on January 24, 1871 a celebration party with a band playing “Hail Columbia” preceded the P.& E.'s first official trip. At 9:55 AM on that cold, stormy morning Engineer N. B. Cash and Fireman Robert Lester piloted three box cars fitted with seats and flooring covered with straw, one platform car and two new and elegant cars, all decked out with flags and banners left on a non-stop trip to Stissing. Locomotive No. l with Engineer George Carswell at the throttle had left shortly before to pick up passengers from stations along the line.
- 8. Impact on Agriculture Dutchess County's internal rail network provided a valuable service to industrial businesses and farmers. Prior to the arrival of railroads, products had been exported beyond county borders on the Hudson River. But river traffic was relatively slow. Furthermore, river shipping was not year round - winter ice closed the Hudson to shipping. Railroad shipments were year round and more frequent. Some products such as milk, not marketable because of spoilage during a trip on the Hudson, became an exportable commodity. As a result farmers produced more milk. In 1865, before the arrival of the internal rail network, towns along its lines(D&C & P&E) sold a total of401,000 gallons of milk. Ten years later, after these rail lines were constructed, these towns sold 1,400,000 gallons of milk, most of it shipped by rail. Farmers, who had prior to the arrival of these rail lines made the labor intensive dairy products, butter and cheese, switched to shipping raw milk. The development in the 1870s of the insulated ice cooled refrigerator rail car made this possible. As a result farmers, able to dispose of their milk quickly, increased the size of their herds to increase income.
- 9. Impact on Education Educational opportunity increased as a result of Dutchess County’s internal rail system. Small towns provided only elementary education in one room school houses. Children had to travel to larger centers such as Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Millbrook, etc. to attend high school. Before the railroads children either stayed with family or friends in these larger centers during the school year or did not go to high school at all. But when the railroads arrived children could commute on a daily schedule, thereby continuing their education.
- 10. Economic Impact Railroads changed the economy of the county. New businesses could emerge as a result of the availability of transportation to export their products. Employment opportunities shifted as the primarily agriculturally based economy shifted to accommodate factory jobs. One measure of economic impact is the taxable real estate of the railroads. Real estate taxes paid by railroad corporations were a source of income to every town in the county. By 1894, the year after all new railroad building had been completed, railroad real estate accounted for 14% of all taxable real estate in the county.
- 11. The Pleasant ValleyRail Road Station
- 12. History of theStation The Pleasant Valley Rail Road Station was originally the Poughkeepsie & Eastern, a CNE predecessor. For the last 25 years, it sat at the Joseph D'Aquanni West Road Intermediate School, not far from where it originally stood. As one of the only remaining structures associated with the P&E Railroad, it is a unique educational and cultural resource. At its peak, the Pleasant Valley Railroad Station had more than 10 trains stopping every day with hundreds of passengers boarding and disembarking. The station also served as an important facility for freight shipments. Service at the station was discontinued in 1939.
- 13. History of theStation For the next two decades, the building was used only for storage, ultimately falling into disrepair. Thanks to the efforts of the town historian and a team of volunteers, the building was relocated, restored, and made available as an educational resource for school children. Due to its isolated location, however, the building remained largely unused. The station was given to the town and moved to the school property 25 years ago when the car dealership that owned the original property needed the space for expansion. Moving it once saved it from demolition; moving it a second time allows for a second restoration, particularly important since it has been sitting untouched for the last 25 years. Relocation to a permanent location with over 500,000 people annually provides direct access for residents of and visitors to Dutchess County.
- 14. 14 Decades Later What has become of the miles and miles of railroads in Dutchess County? Little remains. Only trackless beds, ghosts of busy rail lines, are visible from late fall to early spring. Stone culverts, bridge abutments, cinder paths, rock cuts and rail bridges far from any existing rail lines remain. A few stations, now converted to homes or businesses or in some instances simply decaying, remain. These and the ghost tracks remain as silent reminders of a once active rail network in Dutchess County. The Hopewell Depot Train Station is one of the few that has been saved and is now open to the public; the Pleasant Valley Rail Road Station will now become accessible, too.
- 15. The restored PleasantValley Rail Road Station
- 16. The Museum Village The DCAS hopes to fulfill a vision for Hudson Valley historic landmarks by bringing buildings that would be lost and displays of artifacts to the Fairgrounds where they are preserved, maintained and fully accessible to over 500,000 visitors annually. The relocation of the Historic Pleasant Valley Rail Road Station will bring a second important Dutchess County historic building to the Museum Village.
- 17. Project Committee Dick Whalen, Chair Bob Beckman Bucky Coon Mark Germond Andy Imperati Ingrid Kulick
- 18. Project Timeline The Fairgrounds has secured the Building Permit from the Village of Rhinebeck, and deconstruction at the old site was completed in August 2014. This work included: Disassembly at current location Numbering/labeling all parts Loading and transportation
- 19. Project Timeline Site preparation at the Fairgrounds commenced in September 2014, with completion of the entire project planned for August 1, 2015. This work includes: Site preparation, including foundation construction Reconstruction and finish work Utilities hookup Site access and safety, including lighting, signage, and a connecting pathway to the Antique Museum Village Interpretive displays and exhibits Landscaping
- 20. Site Preparation andFoundation Work
- 21. The Pleasant ValleyRail Road Station, ready for assembly at the Fairgrounds!
- 22. Funding TheProject Committee is working to raise all of the funds necessary to fund the project budget of $263,055; all contributions are tax deductible. Funding to date: Dyson Foundation Challenge Grant $115,000 Thomas Thompson Trust $ 5,000 Frost Foundation $ 5,000 DCAS Board of Directors $ 25,000 Individual Donors $ 6,000 Raised to date $156,000 Fund raising continues to raise the balance of $107,055 – please join the effort with your contribution now!
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- 24. DCAS Commitment Every dollar of every donation will count toward the challenge and will guarantee the grand opening of the Pleasant Valley Rail Road Station at the Fairgrounds Antique Museum Village for the 170th Dutchess County Fair in August of 2015! All Aboard!