Web posted
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Volunteers needed for planned Railroad Heritage Days festival
Railroad crossing signs will soon be spotted at the intersections in downtown Arkansas City. They will announce the first-ever-Cowley County Railroad Heritage Days.
The main public event in the celebration will occur April 19 and 20 in Wilson Park.
The Family Fun Days celebration in the park will include a Thomas the Train moon bounce available for the kids, a mini-model train show, crafts, history displays, reenactors, games, and all the sights and sounds of railroading of the past and present, as well as food vendors, said Connie Kimsey, director of the Ark City Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A Railroaders' Reunion is also planned for April 19 at the Best Western Atrium Garden in Ark City. A meal will be prepared by the Landing Strip Restaurant, Kimsey said.
Local author Robert Collins will tell some railroad tales and Evan Stair, leader of the Northern Flyer Alliance initiative, will present more details on the plan to bring passenger rail service back to Cowley County.
"If you are a railroad employee or are retired from the railroad, please plan to attend for an evening of festivities and an opportunity for fellowship with fellow railroaders," Kimsey said.
The cost for the evening is $12 and reservations can be made at (620) 442-0236 or by e-mail: ac-cvb@arkcitychamber.org.
Other communities in the county joining the railroading celebration are Atlanta, Burden and Dexter.
An authentic Harvey House luncheon can be enjoyed on April 19, at the Gathering Place in Dexter and the Senior Center in Atlanta.
The Atlanta "Caboose" Museum will be open, and the Burden Museum will be open for visitors to enjoy historical photographs. T-shirts will be available commemorating the first annual Railroad Heritage Days. Carol Black and Emory Lewis will host a tent in Wilson Park.
There are sponsorships available for the event, and a need for volunteers, Kimsey said.
"If you would like to don an engineer's hat or sport an event T-shirt, please call the Arkansas City CVB office," she said. The CVB phone number is at (620) 442-0236. E-mail address: ac-cvb@arkcitychamber.org.
Another contact is Heather Ferguson at the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum: 620 442-6750, e-mail: csm@arkansascityks.gov.
"Come and join the fun," Kimsey said.
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