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New this season are several models built by former Mahwah resident Hollis Bachmann, including of New York Central No. 999 and several other trolleys. His niece, Kay Doody, donated this part of Bachmann's collection.
Bachmann had built the model of the North Jersey Rapid Transit interurban car (trolley) that ran from Suffern to Paterson. That model has been displayed in the museum's main museum building. It was two feet long, included a detailed interior and took him six months to build.
The newly-displayed, detailed models are the offspring of that trolley.
The Old Station Museum, established in 1967, is located in a building that was the original station on the Erie Railroad in Mahwah. It was rescued from destruction by the Mahwah Historical Society and contains many interesting artifacts given to the museum by collectors of railroad arcana. It also features a 1929 Erie cupola caboose, which has been recently restored.
There is a scale model of the Erie system and photos of the early days of railroading in Mahwah and along the rest of the mainline. In 1871, Mahwah leaders petitioned the Erie to allow a stop at a new station in Mahwah. That station remained in service until 1904. A second station remained until 1914, when it was destroyed by fire. The current station was built in 1914 and still serves commuters today.
Admission to the Old Station Museum is $3, for 17-year-olds and up. It's located at 1871 Old Station Lane.
The Mahwah Museum is open weekends and Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m. The Donald Cooper Model Railroad is open on weekends only from 1-4 p.m. The Mahwah Museum will close for the 2016 season on Sunday June 19 and reopen in September. Admission is $5 for non-members, and free for children and members.
For information on these and other events, visit the website or call 201-512-0099.
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