Millbrook in Dutchess County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
"Gandy Dancers" / I Construttori della Ferrovia
Millwood, New York
— The Museum in the Streets® —
“Gandy Dancers”
Railroad maintenance was a constant necessity. Skilled workers and day laborers were hired to grade the land, build trestles, lay and realign the tracks, and keep things in good repair. Nicknamed "gandy dancers," they were often Irish immigrants like Richard Stanton, who held the important post of road-master and is shown here supervising his crew around 1900. Although the tracks are gone, the railbed and some rail-side buildings remain. The Howard Haight & Co. building (1890) was used to store and sell flour, feed, grain, hay, and straw. Later, coal arrived by rail from east- ern Pennsylvania. Long gone, the tall elevator tower stored goods transferred from the box cars below. The railroad stopped running in the 1930s, and the Haight Building subsequently housed Merritt Books.
La manutenzione della ferrovia era una costante necessità. Manodopera specializzata ed operai erano assunti per livellare il terreno, costruire tralicci, depositare ed allineare i binari, e tenere il tracciato in buone condizioni. Chiamati "gandy dancers," erano immigranti irlandesi come Richard Stanton, che occupava il titolo di road-master, qui mostrato nella foto. Sebbene i binari siano scomparsi, il tracciato ed alcuni fabbricati sono rimasti. L'edificio (1890) di Haight & Co. era usato per immagazzinare e vendere farina, mangime, cereali, fieno e paglia. Dopo arrivò il carbone dalla Pennsylvania. Scomparsa è l'alta torre dove immagazzinare merci trasferite dai vagoni ferroviari. La ferrovia fu chiusa negli anni 1930, e l'edificio di Haight dopo ospitò la libreria di Merritt.
Erected 2014 by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 25.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Millbrook, New York series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location. 41° 47.169′ N, 73° 41.731′ W. Marker is in Millbrook, New York, in Dutchess County. Marker is at the intersection of Front Street and Merrit Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Millbrook NY 12545, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Life's Little Pleasures / I Piccoli Piaceri della Vita (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Joseph’s Church / La Chiesa di San Giuseppe (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Millbrook Bicentennial (about 400 feet away); "Aren’t We Dressed Up Fine?" / "Come Siamo Eleganti!" (about 400 feet away); In Stock and For Sale / In Magazzino ed in Vendita (about 400 feet away); Millbrook, New York (about 400 feet away); "Perfect Service and Perfect Food" / "Servizio e Cibo Perfetti" (about 400 feet away); A Tribute and a Gift / Un tributo ed Un Regalo (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Millbrook.
Also see . . . Village of Milbrook. Village website homepage (Submitted on September 28, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 198 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 28, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.