Season

1995-1996     

The mission of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and the newly created Somerset, Inc., represented by Stephanie Williams, was to promote and revitalize the business community in uptown Somerset and to bring shoppers back during the Christmas season.

In response to this mission call, Richard (Butch) Hambley, Jr. marshaled six other local model railroaders to set up their personal model train displays on the first floor of the vacant Newberrys Department Store building on Main Street.  The trains were unveiled to the public in connection with "lite-up night" ceremonies on November 19, 1995. The train display was open to the public Friday evenings and Saturday mornings until mid January.

Lack of heat in the building made it colder inside than outside, but the spirit was not discouraged.  

A questionnaire was put out to visitors to see if an interest in a train club existed in Somerset and surrounding area.

1996-1997      

            From the interest generated during the first display season, on Friday, February 26, 1996, the Laurel Highlands Model Railroad Club was formed at a meeting of 23 enthusiasts. Officers elected were:

President - Richard (Butch) Hambley, Jr.

Vice President - Joe Pribelsky

Secretary/Treasurer - Sue Freeman

Historian - Kris Miller

Monthly meetings were held on the last Monday of the month at Kings Family Restaurant. 17 dues paying members contributed to discussions concerning finding a permanent club location, club goals and objectives and making modular tables from donated materials on the second floor of The Vaneer Shoppes adjacent to the Newberry’s building.

On November 22, 1996, the club was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a non-profit corporation.

A site for this years Christmas display was obtained in the former Fox's Pizza Den building located on West Main Street. Building owners, Ray and Sara Trimpey, donated use of the space. In addition to member model train displays, children's readings by the Somerset Literacy Council, Santa visits and borough police child safety identification activities was offered to the public from this site from November 22, 1996 to January 19, 1997. Approximately 1,500 visitors viewed the displays. Heat was sporadic.

1997-1998  

            Efforts continued to find a permanent location for club activities. 31 dues paying members elected officers for the forthcoming year:

President - Richard (Butch) Hambley, Jr.

Vice President - Joe Pribe1sky

Secretary - Kathi Hambley

Treasurer - Georgia Lensbouer

Historian - Kris Miller

Members continued to work on themes for the HO scale modules built.

"The Salvation Army comes to the rescue." The third annual club Christmas season train display was held in the vacant half of the building occupied by the Salvation Army at 128 North Center Avenue. Lit-up night was November 21, 1997, and the display was open Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday afternoons until "Fire and Ice Festival" on January 18, 1998. Approximately 1,800 visitors viewed the train displays.  We had heat.  

1998-1999

            The club continues to grow. John Prebelsky is appointed club vice president to fill the position vacated by the death of his father on April 7, 1998.

As a summer fundraiser, the club tried its hand at renting an electric kid's riding train and participated in two county festivals with limited success.

The Newberry’s building is being renovated by its new owners, Bob and Barb Vanyo, and the first floor will be available for the clubs Christmas season train display, with heat.

Approximately 2,000 square feet of floor space was filled with the club HO and members train displays, along with 13 Christmas trees decorated by local daycare centers.

Approximately 2,500 visitors viewed this seasons trains.

The club was introduced to Mr. Allen Rohrbaugh who owned a kids riding train in need of serious reconstruction. The gasoline engine driven locomotive, three passenger cars, and 200 feet of rusty 12" track became the clubs reconstruction project.

1999-2000 

            Officers elected for the forthcoming year:

President - Richard (Butch) Hambley,  Jr.

Vice President - Martin L.  Palguta

Secretary - Kathi Hambley

Treasurer - Georgia Lensbouer

Historian - Roger Marsh I

The Newberry’s building basement, with approximately 6,000 square feet of usable floor space out of 10,000 total, was the next move for the Christmas train display. After many hours of cleaning and painting, the entire usable floor space was covered with train displays. Allowing, of course, ample walkway space for visitors. "Lite-up night" saw standing room only as crowds of visitors occupied every square foot of walkway space available. This was the biggest Christmas season in club history with over 3,000 visitors.

The summer months saw significant progress in the restoration of the kids riding train with several weekend shows not being canceled by rain.

2000-2001      

            A space utilization arrangement is agreed to with the Newberry’s building owners for the occupancy of the basement space for a second year. 1,000 additional square feet of floor space is made available by the removal of several walls and is quickly filled with new train displays. 300 feet of overhead ceiling suspended G scale track is constructed and the "Company Train" program is launched. Five company sponsors "signed-up" for this five year program in which their company logo is decaled on a car running on the suspended track each year. 50% of their donation is then contributed to the clubs designated charity, Somerset Kids and Kountians in Need, Inc. This season also saw approximately 3,000 visitors.

Twelve weekends during the summer months were committed to providing the kids riding train to various community organizations for their picnics and festivals.

2001-2002      

            A national air of caution and uncertainty, and lack of seasonal snow have contributed to a decline in the number of Christmas show visitors.  

2003-2004

            A new security camera system was installed in the clubroom.  $2,100 was donated to Somerset Kids & Koutians in Need, Inc. from our "Company Car" Program with additional donations made to Relay for Life and Camp Cadet.

            Lite Up Night November 21, 2003 was a big success.  Glades Pike Properties held and open house November 14, 15, & 16 and the club was open.  "World's Greatest Hobbies" sponsored a speaker for our meeting (Greg Calhoun).  New club brochures were ______.  New signs for outside the building were purchased.  Approximately 3,000 visitors passed thru during Fire & Ice in January.

2004-2005      

            A Tourism Grant was awarded to the club for us to research on the PW&S Railroad.  A float was entered in the Bicentennial Parade in uptown Somerset in July.  A children's interactive train display was donated to the club by Eric & Diane Mitchell.

2005-2006  

            An entrance fee was charged for the first time in the history of Laurel Highlands Model Railroad Club.  Negotiations for a long-term lease was successful. There was more work on the PW&S Railroad project.

            The club started to sell merchandise other than shirts.

            The first 5 year recipient of the "Company Car" train project was Keystone Drilling.  

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