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Volume 19, Number 42
Thursday, November 26, 2020
Train depot completes restoration of signal
SEASON OF GIVING
By Devin Leith-Yessian Record-Journal staff
For the first time in over 50 years, a red light shines out from the train order signal above the Milldale Train Depot, now encouraging runners along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail to stop and take a look rather than directing trains to halt. “It makes it look like the railroad is operational again,” said Assistant Stationmaster Robert Belletzki. A Nov. 11 Plainville Police Department Facebook page post states: “A big thank you to The First Responder Fan Club (at the Middle School of Plainville), SRO Shane Dufresne and teacher Christina Corvello. With their help Operation: No One Gets Cold, collected 25 scarves, 75 pairs of gloves, 4 pairs of winter socks, 65 hats, 11 hat/gloves sets and 11 jackets to be distributed to those in our community. Such an awesome job guys.”
Forever Honored – Forever Mourned Holcomb, 28, was killed on Hollyberry Lane while responding to a burglary. He was shot once in the arm and four times in the chest. He died at New
Britain General Hospital. Gerald Castonguay, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for Holcomb’s murder. He was granted parole in 2015 which was quickly revoked after the community expressed disappointment in the decision. See Holcomb, A16 Holcomb
The lamp is on a timer to be lit between 4 and 8 p.m. during the winter months and Belletzki hopes its positioning alongside the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail will allow
Photo by Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
it to act as a beacon to inspire further interest in the trail’s history as a railroad and shipping canal. While work was ongoing on a recent Monday, scores of people enjoying a walk on the trail stopped to ask about the signal, which was often mistaken for a flag pole before the restoration began taking shape. “We already had people stopping ... saying, ‘It’s lit up!’” Belletzki said. The setup is the same that controlled the flow of trains from 1917 — when the signal See Signal, A12
Plainville’s oldest funeral home with over 130 years of serving the community. Blaire L. Bouchard – Funeral Director 48 Broad Street Plainville, CT 06062 • 860-747-2295 • Bailey-FuneralHome.com
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Nov. 21 marked the anniversary of the death of Plainville Police Officer Robert Holcomb, who died in the line of duty in 1977.
Aside from some fine-tuning, this month volunteers completed the restoration of the station’s train order signal, a mast topped by a light and system of blades which instruct trains on if they can pass by the station or if they must stop. The mechanical parts, including the blade system, were completed in July, leaving just the installation of the electric lamp, which sits behind green and red filters that allow it to act like a traffic light.
The train order signal on the Milldale Train Depot along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in Southington is pictured.