Business After Hours, the very popular Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce networking event, was held at the historic Oyster Bay Train Station on May 15. A large-scale model of the Oyster Bay train station grounds was on display. The layout was assembled by board member Gary Farkash, with the assistance of Dave Morrison, historian. It was based on original plans and blueprints of the rail yard, which were obtained by Farkash. The view currently on display is a composite of all the elements that were in the yard between its original construction in 1889 until its closure in 2000. It is the goal of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum to restore the train station to the way it would have appeared in 1902.
A lot can be learned by looking at the model. For instance, there are train tracks that used to connect Long Island Rail Road travelers to a ferry they could take from Oyster Bay to Connecticut. The museum owns one of only three known photos of the terminal.
The museum is looking forward to having the turntable fully operational by the end of the summer. Thanks are due to the volunteers who have devoted many hours of work to this project. It never could have been completed without their hard work and dedication.
Rob Brusca, vice president of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum Board said that news was received that the moving of the park entrance to be in line with the end of the Audrey Avenue extension has been approved. This will give a much more attractive sightline from the gazebo in downtown Oyster Bay, and will help to connect the waterfront to downtown Oyster Bay. Work on this should be completed by the end of the year.
Rob also mentioned that the popular “Spend A Day In Oyster Bay” program started again Memorial Day weekend. A historic trolley provides a continuous loop to Sagamore Hill National Historic site, Planting Fields Arboretum, Theodore Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary, Young’s Memorial Cemetery, the Western Waterfront, downtown and the LIRR Station.
The package includes round trip rail fare to and from Oyster Bay, Historic Trolley and a LIRR Deals Coupon, which can be exchanged at the Museum Visitor Center for a complimentary Railroad Museum tote bag with souvenir, a walking tour packet, and a list of restaurants and retail shops offering Spend A Day discounts. The Spend A Day in Oyster Bay program runs from May 26 through September 2, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A great way to show your support for the museum is to attend the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum Summer Solstice Luau, which will be held this year on Thursday, June 20, at the Sagamore Yacht Club. There will be live Hawaiian music and dancers, and prizes will be given to the best Hawaiian attire! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the museum website at obrm.org.
