Historian's Corner



Charlene Cole
Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian
Historian's Corner
January 1, 2016

Oswego County Bicentennial celebrations commemorating Oswego County’s 1816 founding are planned and various historians are planning history events and programs.

Sandy Creek will host a program called CHASING TRAINS - THE HISTORY OF RAIL CITY – presented by Bob Groman, the date to be announced, most likely late May or early June. I will confirm a date and time which will appear in this column, my web site at www.sandycreeknyhistory.com and the Oswego County Tourism website.  

Rail City Museum was considered to be the first steam operating railroad museum in the United States. It was located in the Oswego County Town of Sandy Creek on the shores of Sandy Pond.  The railroad park then opened on the same day as the first Disneyland in California - July 4, 1955.  In its first year it hosted over 30,000 visitors. Visitors to Rail City could take a 1.5 mile train ride behind a live steam locomotive on the shores of Sandy Pond, ride on vintage firefighting equipment, climb a 70 foot high 50,000 gallon railroad water tower, ride in a horse-drawn street car, attempt to ride wild Mexican Burros, or pump the railroad workmen's "Hand Cars" on a side track.   

Bob utilized his photo collection and subsequent research and for many years operated the Rail City Historical Museum on the former site of Rail City and will share all of his research, photographs, and 16 mm digitized film in a fascinating one hour presentation.

Charlene Cole
Sandy Creek/Lacona Historian
1992 Harwood Drive
Sandy Creek, NY 13145
315-387-5456 x7
office hours: Friday 9am to 2pm
www.sandycreeknyhistory.com