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Boxcar Museum reborn
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — It seemed like in a year of work — at the outside — that the Gertrude Chandler Warner Boxcar Children Museum would be refurbished. That was almost four years ago.
Bill Pearsall, town historian and president of the Aspinock Historical Society, said it best at the April 30 rededication of the top-to-bottom refurbished museum: “you know how it goes with restorations: You take one board off and find five need replacing.”
Greg Morissette of Trackside Restorations of Palmer, Mass. seconds that. Morissette put more than 5,000 hours of work into the boxcar. He had it down to the frame. The floor and all the walls are brand new. He also replaced some of the steelwork, the belt around the car. Morissette, received a plaque in special thanks to him and his team for donating three years to restoring the boxcar, according to Pat Hedenberg.
“Without Greg we would not be here,” she said.
Hedenberg and Mayor Barney Seney both noted that without donations and volunteer help, the boxcar would still be languishing. She acknowledged the Putnam Lions Club, the Putnam Rotary Club and community members for their help.
She also thanked for their generous help and donations: Willie Bousquet from Parks and Recreation, along with Travis Sirrine and the highway crew; Bill Chaput from Chaput Electric; Marcy Dawley and Chase Graphics; Delpha Very, director of the Putnam Economic and Community Development; State Rep. Rick Hayes, Rob Baumuller, National Seating & Mobility – ramp (which had to be taken down and then put back in place); Priscilla Colwell of the Putnam Library for furniture; Jeff Rawson personally and Rawson Materials for the pea stone; the mayor; the late Don Steinbrick for his donations, Sean Sullivan and John Gee for the new window and door; Tsanjoures Builders; the late Owen Tarr for donations and Ruth Warner, whose family donations still continue supporting the boxcar.
Morissette and Fred Hedenberg cut the ribbon. Fred Hedenberg spearheaded the idea of a museum decades ago.
Morissette said the original boxcar was built in 1904 and it was all wood. It was part of the New York New Haven Hartford Railroad. In 1937 the wood frame was replaced with a steel frame (from Carnegie). In 1954 it was condemned but it was converted into a work car. It was used to store salt, he said, “That’s why it survived.”
The museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 15 (closed on Labor Day weekend).
caption, page 1:
Photo Opportunity
Katie Parlow, 10, of Putnam jumped right in for a photo opportunity at the reopened Boxcar museum. The photo op graphic was donated by Chase Graphics. More photos on page 6. Linda Lemmon photo.
captions, page 6:
clockwise from top left:
Fred Hedenberg cuts the ribbon while Greg Morissette, left, and Pat Hedenberg and Bill Pearsall, right, look on.
Accenting the refurbished Gertrude Chandler Warner Boxcar Children Museum is a trash can with artwork by local artist Elaine Turner. Her three nephews, Russel, Eric and Henry Larson helped her by roughing in the graveyard, the schoolhouse and the mystery house. They also helped by picking their favorite Boxcar Children books as models for the artwork. The single photo is Russel, the double photo is Eric on the left and Henry on the right.
Warner's desk.
Pat Hedenberg signs the ribbon that was cut. The ribbon will be placed in the time capsule the Aspinock Historical Society is working on for this year.
Greg Morissette's plaque of appreciation
.