New Buffalo Railroad Museum welcomes refurbished C & O Caboose with ribbon- cutting

Katha Kissman, Todd Van Buskirk (board vice president), Vanessa Holecek Thun, Nadra Kissman and Rob Gow, prepare to cut the ribbon in front of the Caboose

Katha Kissman, board treasurer and volunteer administrator, speaks to the crowd

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Asmall crowd gathered at the New success, including all of those people who made Buffalo Railroad Museum Monday, those contributions,” he said. May 31, for the long-awaited ribbon- Katha Kissman, one of the museum’s co-founders cutting of a new and improved special who’s also serves as board treasurer and volunteer addition to the museum: an authentic administrator, said that The Fund is a “longtime Chesapeake & Ohio Caboose 904126. supporter” of the museum.

The Caboose arrived at the museum from Holland, “I can’t tell you how many grants we’ve gotten Michigan, on the sweltering afternoon of July 1, from them and they’ve all been key pivotal grants 2019. It was donated by CSX Transportation, a just when we needed them,” she said. longtime supporter of the The museum also received museum. a $7,000 grant from The

“Adding a Caboose to Fund (which required a our museum has been a $3,500 match that was long-held dream since received from an anonymous our beginnings in 1989,” donor) for this year’s Vanessa Holecek Thun, operational costs. Katha said president of the museum’s they were able to restore board of directors, said. the museum’s deck and

The Pokagon Fund paint the building, as well as Board of Directors purchase personal protective granted a conditional Vanessa Holecek Thun, board president, equipment, like plexiglass. $5,000 grant to support the costs of relocation speaks to the crowd while Katha Kissman and Rob Gow look on Katha thanked Todd VanBuskirk, board vice and refurbishment of the president, who helped Caboose as a permanent display at the Museum’s her shovel junk and dead animals - “You wouldn’t site. Over 50 individuals and businesses matched believe what was in there -” from the Caboose. The Pokagon Fund’s Caboose Project Challenge for a Co-founders of the Museum are Nadra and Al total of $11,000. Kissman and Ron and Rol Oselka. Katha said that

“We are grateful to CSX Transportation for her sister, Karla Madison, also serves on the board. donating C & O Caboose 904126 and thanks to The Pokagon Fund, the Wilens family, and Nora Duffy who, along with many individuals and businesses, for your support for the relocation, installation, painting, and cleaning of the Caboose,” Thun said. Using the funds raised through the matching grant The day also marked the opening of Phase One of the new exhibit located inside of the C & O Chessie Boxcar: “Hundreds of Histories, One Shared Community: New Buffalo Area Military Veterans (1861 – from The Pokagon Fund and over 100 generous Present).” donors, the Caboose was painted, cleaned, and Katha said that Shirley Paloucek, Janet Hayes, connected to the Museum’s other railroad cars, the George Slechta and Nadra and Al Kissman were Chessie Box Car and Pullman World War II Troop responsible for first display that was in the boxcar. Car, a museum newsletter from last fall stated. Marg Zientarski Putzke (a New Buffalo alumnus)

In addition, the Chessie Box Car and Pullman updated the listing of local service men and women, World War II Troop Car also received a paint job. while Jim Smitchger (also an alumnus), along with

It was hoped that the ceremony for the Caboose his son, Minas, created the new permanent display, would be held in 2019; however, due to the Covid-19 which pays tribute to the men and women who pandemic, it was postponed. have served in the uniformed services and have a

Rob Gow, chair of The Pokagon Fund Board of connection to New Buffalo – living, working, or Directors, said that he was most impressed by all attending New Buffalo Area Schools. of those who stepped up to the plate to match the The New Buffalo Railroad Museum is located Fund’s challenge. at 530 S. Whittaker Street in New Buffalo. More

“The Pokagon Fund is really proud to have been a information can be found at www.new-buffaloleader on this project and we really wish everybody railroad-museum.org.

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