Festival of Trains

Dec. 21, 2008

This year’s Festival of Trains will take on a personal meaning. The three-week exhibition of model trains in Traverse City that runs from Dec. 13 through Jan. 1 will be dedicated to Dave Walker. The popular TV 7&4 news anchor, who passed away last month, was one of the founders of the Festival and the Northern Michigan RailRoad Club (NMRRC), the organization that sponsors the event.
“Dave Walker was definitely a rail guy,” said Bill Parrish, club secretary. “Dave loved trains, he took train trips and was very instrumental in getting our organization started and played a major role in the early years of the Festival of the Trains. He will be missed greatly by our community.”
The Festival of Trains is taking place at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center on Sixth Street in Traverse City. The Center serves as the benefactor of the Festival and more than 10,000 are expected to view the trains and the elaborate track set ups.
“We are a major tourist attraction this time of the year,” said Parrish, who also volunteers at the Center. “This event also serves as the major fundraiser for Grand Traverse Heritage Center.”

RAIL POWER
Parrish points out that while trains have not been prevalent in Northern Michigan in years. the fascination over them remains strong among old and young alike.
“Our country was built by rail power. I think the fascination with trains and what attracts us to them their power and the noise they make. We are fascinated with machines, and there is something exciting and romantic about watching or riding on a train,” said Parrish. “Trains still remain as the most economical way to transport people and items for shipping and commerce.”
Parrish and the other members of the NMRRC are passionate about not only model trains, but all aspects of the railroad industry.
“We are seeing a lot of growth in the rail service in this country in recent years,” said Parrish. “I have heard that a group from Chicago is looking at a passenger rail system for Northern Michigan, and with tourism our number one industry, this makes sense.”
The NMRCC meets monthly at their clubhouse located at the Mapleton Market (halfway up the Old Mission Peninsula). In addition to designing and putting together the detailed exhibition, the members also volunteer at the event, answering questions and overseeing the display.
“Last week we hosted over 700 students from around the region,” said Parrish. “We also pride on ourselves on making the exhibit accessible for those with special needs.”
Parrish, who also drives a bus for Traverse City Schools, is one of several volunteers who picks up students with special needs and brings them to the Center so they may enjoy the Exhibition.

ALL ABOARD
The NMRCC was formed in 1992 as a loose-knit group of rail enthusiasts. Originally, their Festival of the Trains was presented at the Traverse City Opera House. When the Opera House began its restoration project, the festival found itself without a home.
“All of the items were being stored in a City garage and that was not the best, so we decided to explore the idea of creating our own non-profit and finding a new home,” said Parrish. “We did that in 2003 and have been at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center ever since. It is a good fit for all of us.”
The popularity of their festival has led others to ask them to set up model train exhibitions elsewhere.
“We also are very involved in supporting the Alden Train Depot and put on a three-weekend exhibit there in August,” said Parrish. “For the past two years we have been at the Roscommon Fair the first week in August. This past year we did an event in Grayling October. These groups just called us and asked.”
According to Bill Kirschke, one of the 40-plus who help coordinate the event and the festival’s “conductor,” the event is popular with people of all ages.
“A lot of people want to share the nostalgia of trains with their children and grandchildren,” said Kirschke. “This event is something that gets the older people just as excited as the kids.”
While the Festival of Trains is the major attraction this time of the year, organizers encourage visitors to look over the rest of the museum during their visit.
The Heritage Center evolved out of an idea that Traverse City Parks commissioner Con Foster had in 1934. Foster traveled all over the country buying and acquiring Native American and pioneer artifacts. The collection has now grown to over 10,000 artifacts. Here is a sampling of other exhibits at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center:

East Gallery – Temporary Exhibits
The gallery is dedicated to quarterly temporary exhibitions dealing with specific historical themes of local interest. Past exhibits include the history of the National Cherry Festival, handcrafted textiles, radio and television history, and paddling water crafts.

Native American Displays
There are exhibitions on the early Native Americans and the Anishnabek (Ottawa and Ojibwa) peoples. This display features a wigwam, Neolithic tools and adornments, basketry, beadwork and the herbal remedies.
Northern Michigan Asylum/Traverse City State Hospital
On display are items taken from the Traverse City State Hospital, which served the State of Michigan as an asylum from 1884 to 1989. Items include patient art, a bedroom set, hospital remnants and artifacts.

Victorian Parlor
The display heralds Traverse City’s hey-day during the logging boom (1850
to 1890) at the height of the Victorian Era. It features fine examples of Victorian style furniture, toys, devices, and decorative items.

Weapons of Survival/Weapons of
Defense
The exhibit shows how people have used firearms for protection, hunting and ultimately, to defend our nation. There is a large selection of pistols and other guns dating back over 200 years.

Railroad History
This exhibit is in two parts; a large diorama train set showing how the railroads served Traverse City and a display of railroad equipment and memorabilia from around the region. Most of these artifacts are on loan from the Railroad Historical Society of NW Michigan.

Logging
Photographs of Traverse City’s logging days, logging tools and a painted scene looking at Traverse City from the same spot as the Museum, c. 1880. It was painted by local mural artist, Joan Bonney.

Other Displays
One Room School House, Blacksmith Shop, Maritime Heritage Alliance & Women’s History Project of NW Michigan. You’ll also find a wide assortment of tools, toys, furniture and historic photographs at the museum.

The 2008 Festival of Trains will be held Dec. 13 through Jan. 1. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. (It’s closed on Christmas Day.) The Heritage Center is located at 322 Sixth Street in Traverse City’s historic Central Neighborhood. For info call (231) 995-0313 or see
www.gtheritagecenter.org.