Highlandtown Train Garden Moving Day

On November 22, 2014 the Highlandtown Train Garden was moved from its storage area at Our Lady of Pompei Catholic Church to the Fire House at 520 S. Conkling St. There it will be open for visitors on the days indicated on this blog. Several members of the Train Garden Committee worked for several hours to make the move. Thanks to all who helped.

It Is Almost Ready

Bernie Deasel, Terry Maillar, George Lambillotte, and Ted Baccala have all worked diligently in getting the Train Garden ready for its move to the Fire House on Saturday, November 22, 2014. As can be seen by the photos the final touches are being made and the related materials are being boxed.

 

The Request For Train Garden Sponsors

On Monday, October 20 several members of the Train Garden committee met to prepare Train Garden sponsorship letters. The members worked for over three hours addressing, stuffing, and preparing for mailing over 250 letters. It is hoped that the number of sponsors will be similar to last year's number and possibly exceed the number this year. Thanks to all who helped and especially to Nancy Supik for her hospitality and her hard work for getting the materials ready for this meeting.

A Frozen River In The Making

The Train Garden engineers - George Lambillotte, Terry Maillar, and Bernie Deasel - are working to create a frozen river with ice skaters in the Train Garden. 

The Work Has Begun

On September 18, 2014 some of the Train Garden engineers began to think about how to set up this year's Train Garden. They are Bernie Deasel, Terry Maillar, and George Lambillotte.

The Train Garden Meets To Discuss The 2014-2015 Highlandtown Train Garden

On August 26, 2014 the Highlandtown Train Garden Committee met to discuss plans for the 2014-2015 Highlandtown Train Garden. Many ideas were discussed and all the members expressed a desire to make this year's Train Garden an experience that visitors will remember for a long time.

Another Successful Year Of The Highlandtown Train Garden

The 2013-2014 Highlandtown Train Garden was another success. A total of 3,671 visitors toured the Train Garden. This includes 803 students from the nearby schools who were very excited viewing it. The Train Garden committee wishes to thank all the sponsors this year and the volunteers who worked hard to make the 5th year of the Train Garden a successful event. Sixteen volunteers volunteered 1303 hours of their time doing various activities. A special thank you to the "engineers" and their assistants - Bernie Deasel, Terry Maillar, Ted Baccala, David Eaton and George Lambillotte who worked hard to make the Train Garden an outstanding event. The committee also wishes to thank the Southeast Development Corporation especially Chris Ryer and Amanda Smit-Peters, Nancy Supik, and the Baltimore City Fire Department. In a few more months planning will begin for the 6th year of the Highlandtown Train Garden.

The Highlandtown Train Garden Is Resting At Its Storage Area

The Highlandtown Train Garden is resting at its storage area located in a building at Our Lady of Pompei Church. It will come back to life in about 9 months for the 6th year of the Train Garden. Hope you will visit us in November.

The Highlandtown Train Garden Is Moving To Its Storage Area

Today, January 12, 2014 the Highlandtown Train Garden was being moved to its storage area. Each platform of the Train Garden is loaded onto a truck for its short trip.

And The Winners Are.........

Today, January 5, 2014 the winners of the raffles at the Highlandtown Train Garden picked up their prizes. Stacey Dixon and her son Joshua won the Train Set and Shannon Keiser and her daughter Olivia won the Train-themed Basket that was donated by Hoehn's Bakery. All were excited to take home their prizes. Stacey is from the East Side and Shannon is from Highlandtown.

Jim Russ From WBAL Radio 1090 AM Visits the Highlandtown Train Garden and Interviews Terry Maillar

WBAL Radio 1090 AM reporter Jim Russ stopped by the Highlandtown Train Garden to take pictures and interview an engineer. Follow the link below to see his pictures and video of the Train Garden and hear Terry Maillar, one of the engineers, who is pictured below, tell his story about his interest in trains and insight into the Highlandtown Train Garden. Mr. Russ also provides some information about the Union Station Train Garden.

 For information about the Highlandtown Train Garden visit www.highlandtowntraingarden.com.

Terry Maillar

Click on the link below to see Mr. Russ' pictures and hear Terry Maillar's interview.

http://www.wbal.com/article/104514/3/all-aboard-the-christmas-train

You Can Win This Train Set at the Highlandtown Train Garden Raffle

FREIGHTLINE USA


Complete and ready to run HO scale electric train set

Action accessories/cars

- Coal tipple

- Crossing Gates

- Gravel Unloader Car

- Snap-In Bridges and Pier Set

- 2 Switch Tracks

- 3 Shanty Huts

- Cars and Trucks

- Transformers

76” X 49” Oval Track

Great Prize for the Raffle at the Highlandtown Train Garden - A Basket Donated by Rob Hoehn

The Highlandtown Train Garden is having its raffle again this year. One prize is the Basket generously donated by Rob Hoehn from Hoehn’s Bakery. In the basket Rob has placed the following items:

1) 2 adult and 2 child combo tickets to

- B&O Railroad Museum

- Ellicott City Station

- Mount Clare Museum House

2) B&O Logo Hat

3) Book - A Story of Mayor Schaefer

and his Train Garden

4) Ravens Train Christmas Ornament

5) Train Garden Pieces – a train

station, a small bakery, and a baker

figurine



Many thanks to Rob and to Hoehn’s Bakery for their support and donations.

School Visit Days Were A Success

Even though one school visit day (Dec. 10)  was cancelled because schools were closed still 803 pre K to 4^th Graders came from the neighboring schools to visit the Highlandtown Train Garden this year. The students came from Hampstead Hill Academy # 47, Highlandtown Elementary and Middle School # 215, Highlandtown Elementary and Middle School # 237, Patterson Park Public Charter School # 327, John Ruhrah Elementary and Middle School # 228, and St. Casimir Catholic School. Words like “cool” and “awesome” were heard repeatedly during their visits.

The Grand Opening of the Highlandtown Train Garden and Spending Your Holidays in Highlandtown

On December 6, 2013 visitors came to the intersection of Conkling St. and Eastern Avenue to witness  the Kick-Off Celebration of  "Spend Your Holidays in Highlandtown". The cold rain did not damper the enthusiasm of the crowd and particpants. The band Sac Au Lait performed their motivating tunes and the hula "hoopers" and stilt walkers fascinated the crowd and Santa Claus cheerfully announced the beginning of the holiday season.  At 6 pm the Tree Lighting at the corner excited everyone by its beauty, and then everyone walked over to Fire House # 41 across the street to officially open the Highlandtown Train Garden. Santa, A.K.A. Maryland State Delegate Luke Clippinger and Father Lou from Our Lady of Pompei Church pressed the remote button that quickly energized the lights and trains of the Train Garden and it now was officially open to the public. The other events were the Merry Mixer along the Avenue and the Family Movie at the Library beginning at 7 pm. Thanks to Matt Saindon for the pictures.

The Engineers of the Highlandtown Train Garden Are Recognized by Maryland State Senator, Barbara Mikulski

Ms. Amy Seeberger, theOutreach, Grants, and Projects Assistant at the Office of U.S. Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski presented a certificate to the engineers of the Highlandtown Train Garden at its Grand Opening on Friday, December 6, 2013. It read as follows: "This certificate is presented to the Engineers of the Highlandtown Train Garden in recognition of your hard work and dedication to spreading holiday cheer in Southeast Baltimore on the occasion of the 5^th Annual Highlandtown Train Garden. Congratulations on reaching this milestone! Your work has created countless opportunities to spread joy to the children, families, and communities of Southeast Baltimore throughout the holiday season. Here’s to many more years of this great tradition! Barbara A. Mikulski, United States Senator on this day the sixth of December, two thousand and thirteen."

The Train Garden Closes at 3 pm Due to Poor Weather Conditions

Due to the snowy and icy weather the engineers have decided to close two hours early. The Train Garden closes at 3 pm today and will reopen on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 11 am at our regularly scheduled time. See you then.

Sponsor Night - Friday, December 6, 2013

About twenty sponsors and their many guests visited the Highlandtown Train Garden for Sponsor Night between 5 pm and 5:45 pm on Friday, December 6, 2013. Despite the chilly and rainy weather, the sponsors enjoyed seeing the Train Garden while drinking hot coffee, donated by HighGounds, and eating homemade, delicious cookies baked by Carol Hartke, one of the volunteers. The Train Garden committee wishes to express its thanks to all the sponsors who came and to High Gounds Coffee Roasters, a sponsor, for their coffee and to Carol Hartke, for her baked goods, and also to all the volunteers who helped to make Sponsor Night a great success.

 

One of our Highlandtown Train Garden Volunteers, Carol Hartke, Post This Video

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The First Visitors Have Arrived To Tour This Year's Train Garden

The first visitors to the 2013 Highlandtown Train Garden are smiling for not only being first but also for enjoying the Train Garden with the whole family.