Erie Station with reopening banner (
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The Chester Historical Society’s
Chester Historical Society will celebrate the reopening of its Erie Station Museum on Saturday, May 7, after a hiatus of two years, by serving ice cream and treats on opening day. The museum will be open on Saturdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and, new this year, Sundays from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
The Erie Station Museum will be open from May 7 through October 20, 2022.
The history display this year is about the Maple Avenue School, which served as an elementary and high school from 1936 until 1974. In 1974, the elementary school moved to Herbert Drive and the Maple Avenue School served as high school until the final graduation in 2003, when the Chester Academy was opened.
See what life was like for local schoolchildren in Chester, and maybe spot a photo of a friend or neighbor who attended the school. Check out those hairstyles, and hear about the mysterious survival and recovery of the school bell from the original Chester Academy—located where CVS is now--which burned in 1906.
At the museum, learn how two enterprising locals started shipping fresh milk to New York City on the Erie Railroad and put Orange County on the map. See the original ticket office and the restored separate waiting rooms for men and women. Learn about Chester’s history, from tales of the Underground Railroad to the local places Babe Ruth stayed after his retirement from baseball.
Other dates of interest:
Saturday, April 2 through April 30: The Historical Society will accept clean, good condition items, on Saturdays only, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Erie Station Museum on Winkler Place, for the annual yard sale in June. They cannot accept baby seats, textbooks, personal care items, computer monitors or TVs.
Wednesday, May 18: Hudson Valley Gives Day; a chance to donate to your favorite non-profit, including the Chester Historical Society.
Saturday, June 11: Chester Historical Society Yard Sale is back. Hours: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Whether you’re looking for something in particular, or just browsing for something that catches your eye, you’re sure to find something. Come out and meet your neighbors and have a fun time.