CAPE MAY – All aboard! Historic Cold Spring Village’s Annual Railroad Days will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27 from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Crest Savings Bank, Railroad Days is the perfect outing for folks interested in railroad history, model and toy trains, or just enjoying a unique collection in a unique historical setting.
In the Village Welcome Center, under the Friends’ Pavilion and along the Village’s shady lanes, visitors will find presentations and displays from a variety of groups. On display in the Welcome Center will be the Strasburg Model Railroad Club’s display of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines HO scale layout. Near the Ice Cream Parlor, guests can see the South Jersey Garden Railroad Society’s G-scale railroad, as well as a display honoring every child’s favorite tank engine. Additional groups, including the Atlantic County 4-H Club and Just for Fun, will exhibit a variety of models and landscapes. At 1:30 p.m. in the Welcome Center on both Saturday and Sunday, Jim Stephens, HCSV Deputy Director of Education and Interpretation, will present a talk on Richard Trevithick, the little known inventor of the modern steam locomotive. Children can enjoy free toy train rides around the Village, Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., departing behind the Welcome Center. The Family Activity Area will feature special event-themed children’s take-home crafts. “This is a wonderful event for the whole family- the model railroads are always fascinating to see in action,” said Anne Salvatore, HCSV Executive Director. “Railroad lore is an integral part of the American experience and we are always excited to share that interest with the public.”
Two of the Village’s historic structures are linked to Cape May County’s own railroading heritage. The Rio Grande Station, donated to HCSV in 1974 and recently added to the National and State Registers of Historic Places, was built in 1894 by the Atlantic City Railroad to serve the Middle Township rural farming community of Rio Grande. The Woodbine Junction Tower is a two-story signal tower built in 1894 that originally stood in Dennis Township. It controlled the Woodbine Junction of the Atlantic City Railroad, which was the western end of a branch line that ran east to Ocean City. The tower was acquired by HCSV in 1974.
Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit, open-air living history museum that portrays the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American period. It features 26 restored historic structures on a 30-acre site. From late June to early September, interpreters and artisans in period clothing preserve the trades, crafts and heritage of “the age of homespun.” Fun and educational activities for children are featured Tuesday through Sunday, with special events every weekend through mid-September.
Historic Cold Spring Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and four miles south of Rio Grande (Exit 4 of the Garden State Parkway). Admission during the season is $10 for adults and $8 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with Village membership. As a member of the national Blue Star Museums program, Historic Cold Spring Village is proud to offer free admission to active duty military personnel and up to 5 family members. The Village Nature Trail at Bradner’s Run is open to the public for free self-guided tours. Visit the Country Store, Needle Arts Coop, Bakery, Ice Cream Parlor and Cold Spring Grange Restaurant. For more information on events, membership, volunteering, or booking private affairs, please call (609) 898-2300, ext. 10, or visit the Village website at www.hcsv.org.
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