To the Editor:

I would like to thank all my staff, volunteers, friends, and visitors who came to our Canal Street Station Railroad Village ninth annual fall festival event.  It was a perfect weekend weatherwise with a great crowd in attendance each day.

I, personally, could not be there because of health issues, but all my shop staff and volunteers made our show come alive.  A special thanks goes out to the Red Cross with the bloodmobile and all the folks who took time to give blood on Saturday.

The Hudson Mohawk Pioneer Gas Engine Association arrived with gas engines, belt power displays, tractors, a horse-drawn road grader, a vintage outboard motor display, a miniature live steam tractor and engine display along with an antique boat.

The Capital District Blacksmiths gave early American steel forging demonstrations.  The local Model T Ford club along with the Capital District Model A Club brought vintage Fords, restored and barn fresh vehicles.  There were hot rods, rat rods, street rods, muscle cars, many pickups, and original preserved vehicles on display.  The bloodmobile was accompanied by an original 1950 Volkswagen ambulance.

Folks enjoyed barbecued chicken and ribs by BBQ Delights catering, which attends our show each year.  Heritage Farms had produce from watermelons and pumpkins to strawberries and tomatoes and mums, all nicely displayed in our early wagons and pushcarts.  Dab Farms brought the fabulous wagon with the wood toys for the kids to sit on. Our neighbors provided pony rides and our official clown, Lady Sally, did face painting for all the kids to enjoy.

Inside our Wallace Armer general store, museum tinsmith Walt Fleming demonstrated 19th-Century tin ware that he hand crafts.  Wood carver Walt LeClair demonstrated woodcarving and displayed some of his lifelike bird carvings.  Alorann Jewelry brought a lovely selection of estate jewelry.  The Duanesburg Historical Society had books on local history available, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the town.

Inside, the store was also packed full of goodies: chili by Ginny Stewart and homemade pies by Betty’s Pie Shop were a big hit.  Hot dogs, soda, and all condiments were graciously provided by the Hannaford in Esperance.  There was ice cream provided by Stewart’s Shops in Duanesburg with cones provided by Rosa Villa and Twisted Pickle, and great pizza provided by Jonathan’s Restaurant in Duanesburg.  Freshly baked cider doughnuts and apples were for everyone to enjoy provided by Indian Ladder Farms.

There was entertainment by The Loosely Wound String Band, playing tunes from the early 1900s.  Matt George, Civil War re-enactor, displayed and talked about the life of a soldier during the Civil War.

Mike Engle, author of several books on diners and “Diners of New York,” displayed photos in our 1940 Silk City Diner, originally from routes 9 and 20 in Schodack.  Ed Frank’s balloon man drew much attention to bring in spectators.

Worldling’s Pleasure offered its wonderful handcrafted cheese spreads and baked goods.  Bob’s Bugs, all hand made from recycled metals, were a great hit.  Tina’s Bears and Crafts, Betty’s cookware, and Stephanie’s Craft, all offered a variety of handmade arts and crafts.  Again, I thank all our vendors for attending our event, making a wonderful show for all to enjoy

Our past history needs to always be preserved. Future generations need to know what life was like in the 19th and early 20th centuries.  The great American Dream was alive until lately when government took control of lands and the people’s way of living.

The mom-and-pop business is becoming a thing of the past with restrictions on most every move you make.  Today’s generation is dominated by Wal-Mart and a computerized lifestyle and most of our last two generations of parents and their children may never be aware of the lifestyle of our heritage.  Maybe on TV if they’re not too busy texting someone!

Keeping Canal Street Station alive along with historic sites; national museums; places like Sturbridge Village, Williamsburg, and Gettysburg; and the small local museums found in most towns is the only way our future generations can experience how we got to where we are today.

The general store provided the home needs; nails and tools; textiles for making clothes; the foods, boots, and jackets were all provided under one roof, all owned by one storekeeper and not by a mega corporation that spans ten or more acres of retail space importing from all over the world.

In closing, I would again like to thank my staff and volunteers for making this event all possible.  It would have never happened without your support.

I thank all the artisans; vendors; demonstrators; and car, historic machinery, and food folks for a wonderful weekend preserving our American history making this an awesome event.

I would also like to thank Long Lumber and Valley View Farms for the installation of our beautiful new split-rail fence; all labor and materials were donated by these great supporters.

I also want to thank The Altamont Enterprise for all its news coverage for us and we wish the new ownership many years ahead in preserving such a historic paper, printing the news since 1884.

My thanks to all who attended our show with great hopes to continue our historic tradition for many years to come.  Last of all, I would like to personally thank all the folks who gave blood in my honor, and all the church organizations and friends who have kept me in their prayers: I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Joseph Merli

Canal Street Station RR Museum Village

Duanesburg