Troops and trains – Strasburg PA 2009

Linda and I made our yearly pilgrimage to Strasbourg, PA for the “Troops and Trains” living history event on November 6, 7 and 8, 2009.

Surprisingly, I took few photographs this year, because my impression was that of a US War Correspondent and my companion, Bill Garner, was my photographer (he took many photographs with his period camera, and those are not yet ready for publication).  So I suppose that I will have to type a thousand words to make up for the lack of photographs.

To begin I must report on the pre-Strasbourg segment of our trip, the stop in Gettysburg, PA for shopping. Linda and I visited our two favorite shopping venues, “Wogans” and the “Antique Mall”. We had not been in Wogans five minutes, when Linda found a WW2 American Red Cross nurse helpers uniform.  The ensemble was complete with white shirt and arm patch, a jeans jumper, and a hat. She also found a white nurses dress.  The items had just been brought into the shop by the vendor and had not yet been tagged for sale. When I asked the price of the two outfits we knew that Linda had to buy them.  Long story short..treatment with oxyclean and they are hanging in Linda’s closet.  Look for her soon at an event near you. I purchased another original M-43 cap insignia set and another breast eagle at the “Antique Mall”.

We then continued our journey to Strasbourg, PA, checked into the hotel, and went to the museum for instructions. Later that Friday we met our friends, Dave and Lois Nowack, who took us to dinner.

Dinner was at the “Historic Revere Tavern” in Paradise, PA, located on Rt. 30 just east of Strasbourg.  The Revere Tavern dates back to 1740..  It is a stone building formerly called the “Sign of the Spread Eagle”, when it was a stage stop. It was one of the better Inns along the 62 mile turnpike stretching from Philadelphia to Lancaster, Pa. They say the inn catered to the more prosperous class of travelers, providing him with accommodations suited to his means. Fine liquors and fine foods were served in generous portions to satisfy the hearty appetites generated by a long day in rocking, jolting stagecoaches.

In 1841 the tavern was the residence of Edward V. Buchanan, pastor of All Saints Episcopal Church in Paradise.  His wife, Eliza Foster Buchanan, was the sister of Stephen Foster, who wrote “My Old Kentucky Home”, “Way Down Upon the Swanee River” and “O Susanna” to mention only three of the two hundred songs that he penned.

In 1854 the inn was purchased by Edwards brother, James Buchanan, the fifteenth President of the United States.

The menu is quite extensive and runs the gamut in price from $11.95 to $48.95  for entrees.  I give this place five stars.

Early on Saturday November 7th we were seated in the museum conference room waiting for the safety orientation speech.  That’s where we obtain our presenters badges, train tickets and schedule of events. See attached photo of the presenters.  See if you recognize anyone you know.

Linda and I were roving presenters.  Most of the presenters set up displays through out the train museum and man their stations.  We prefer to walk around, visit all of our friends, help them man their displays, ride the trains and interact with the crowds. There were 1,050 visitors on Saturday.

This year we rode the train in a different manner.  All three women Linda Donegan, Jan Garner, and Lois Nowack, rode together, with the men manning two displays. Then all three men, Bill Donegan, Bill Garner, and Dave Nowack rode together, while the women remained in the museum.  See the only pictures of me taken on the train.

While waiting to board the train, Mary Yager approached me and asked if we could address her cub scout group.  With the scouts gathered around us in a semicircle, I explained who I was as a war correspondent. I described my duties and that of the photographer.  I borrowed some from  Andy Rooney, Walter Cronkite,  Edward R. Murrow, as well as from the George Clooney character in “The Good German” and explained that I was now traveling to Nuremberg Germany to cover the war crimes trial.

I noticed that Capt. Craig Hall was standing behind me on the platform, so I alluded to his being a combat veteran, and then introduced him to the scouts. Captain Hall presented the Vietnam Era to the scouts,  As a veteran of the Viet Nam War Craig did an excellent job. My friend Dave Nowack arrived during Hall’s presentation so I used that opportunity to ask him if he would present next.

Dave concluded the presentations with stories about the famous Eight Army Air Corps in WW2.  Then we all boarded the train, sans the scouts, for the trip to Paradise and back. The train ride was enjoyable, with our car packed with world war two period attired military, (see attached photos), and we had to roam the train in order to interact with the public.  There was a Civil Defense man, Chris, accompanied by two armed men with rifles (one a US Army MP and the other a Navy SP) looking for a suspected saboteur.  I spoke to a French family, with several boys, who seemed a bit confused and alarmed that a terrorist might try to actually blow up the train.Following the train rides we were all reunited with our wives for lunch at various restaurants on the property.

The next big excitement for us was dinner at the “Iron Horse Restaurant” located across the street from our hotel “The Carriage House Inn”.  We were all decked out in our best uniforms, civilian suits and poshest frocks at the big table in the main dining room.

In the dining room adjacent to ours, was a table full of Russian Air Force personnel in full dress uniforms! I became acquainted with two of the Russians, Roman and Tim, on a trip to the men’s room.  We met them later at the USO dance where we exchanged e-mail addresses.

At the rear of the restaurant, seated a a large table, sat the entire crew of the B-25 which does the flights at Reading Pa and who were also scheduled to fly over the Cumberland MD event on November 14Th. Needless to say we had a pleasant time at this, another five star restaurant (say hello to Denise for us when you visit, and tell her that the Donegan’s told you about the establishment).

Arriving at the dance, which is also held in the museum between the train platforms, we were all too stuffed to dance at first, but after watching a few dances, we were all on the floor jitter-bugging, and fox trotting like “dancing with the stars.”  Speaking of which, I give this event five Stars!!!!!

Submitted by Bill Donegan, War Correspondent