The Friends of Lyon Mountain Mining and Railroad Museum opens for the season Saturday, June 6, with tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular hours are expected to be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Admission is free but donations encouraged.
For information about joining the Friends of Lyon Mountain or to make a donation, write to: Friends of Lyon Mountain, P.O. Box 230, Lyon Mountain, NY 12952.
See a brief video of the museum and get a look at some of the exhibits online at www.pressrepublican.com.
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For many years, communities here were supported by the mining companies that operated in the region.
Now that they've gone, it's those same communities that are supporting the history they've created with the Friends of Lyon Mountain Mining and Railroad Museum.
"There's a lot of history here," said Margo Kourofsky, member of the Friends of Lyon Mountain that created the museum.
That history will be on display again for the 2009 season, starting June 6, with new exhibits and more volunteer efforts to add to the many, many hours spent creating the museum.
A BIG JOB
The first owner of the mines in Lyon Mountain was Chateaugay Ore and Iron.
"The company that owned the mines when it closed in 1967 was Republic Steel," Kourofsky said in an e-mail interview.
In 1998, the Chateaugay Lake Arts Association created Heritage Days, a first effort to preserve the region's history.
"These days were meant to celebrate the history and traditions of the towns of Lyon Mountain, Standish and surrounding areas and lakes," Kourofsky said.
In 1999, the Friends of Lyon Mountain formed to archive that history.
"The first thing to do was to buy this building," Kourofsky said, standing outside the former D&H; Railroad station in Lyon Mountain.
Erected in 1903, the structure had been a post office and even a restaurant and bar in the past.
When it was purchased in 2000, the building itself was sound, but there was work to be done.
"All the walls, windows and doors needed painting with the original paint colors, drop ceilings had to be removed, (and) part of the floor where the post office used to be had to be replaced," Kourofsky said.
"We needed new (antique) lights and had to work on the storm windows. The furnace, foundation (and) chimney needed work. We needed a new roof. "¦
"It was a major job."
The renovation cost more than $200,000; donations funded the project.
"Argus Architecture and Preservation from Cohoes helped plan the renovation," Kourofsky said.
"There was no general contractor. All the workers were local, and many hours of volunteer work (were) included."
Many of those involved in the project had family who had been connected to the mines or the mining profession, including Kourofsky.
A COMPANY TOWN
By 2006, the restoration was complete, and work began on developing displays in four separate areas: the Mining Room, the Community Room, the Stationmaster's Telegraph Room and the Railroad Room.
Each space had a previous use in the past.
What is now the Mining Room — with mannequins dressed in mining garb and period dress, photos of the mining operation and equipment — had been the men's waiting room for the railway station.
The Community Room — which includes a look at bobsledders from Lyon Mountain and the baseball team there — had once been the women's waiting room.
And the Railroad Room was once the freight room.
Along with personal mementoes and artifacts belonging to mining families, other items were brought in especially for the exhibits.
The life-size mannequins for example.
The heads were provided by students from Salmon River Central School and reportedly modeled after the faces of educators there.
Other artifacts, such as a framed letter hung on the wall, show the harsh realities of living in a company town, such as the case of Thomas Kowalowski Jr.
A miner, he was killed on the job.
"His mother received $200 (from the company) to bury him — and this is the amazing part — the New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance received $1,300," Kourofsky said.
She didn't know why that entity was entitled to more than the man's own family.
"Oh, the life in a company town."
NEW SEASON
To kick off the new season, the Lyon Mountain Mining and Railroad Museum is hosting a special day of entertainment June 6.
There will be tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, though all donations are put toward the maintenance of the buildings, expansion of the displays and creation of new exhibits.
Pete Barber's Back Porch Band will perform, followed by Too Big for Back Porch Band with Earl Couture.
In the meantime, new members and artifacts are welcome, Kourofsky wrote in her e-mail.
"Anything that they would like displayed in the museum, even pieces of conveyor belts, pictures of miners — they don't need to be in their work clothes or anything as long as we have a little note as to what their job was, anything — please, call Margo Kourofsky at 492-7460."
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