Hamilton in Madison County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Thus The Legend of the Great Chocolate Wreck…

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, March 18, 2025

1. Thus The Legend of the Great Chocolate Wreck… Marker

Inscription. Around 9 p.m., September 27, 1955 O & W freight train ON-2 traveled through Hamilton towards Norwich. Someone had set a switch to divert the train from the main track, and though the engineer quickly braked, ON-2 hurtled up a siding, flying through Leland Coal Company’s elevated shed and 150 feet beyond. Luckily, there were no serious injuries, but two carloads of Nestle products spilled over the area. The next day, throngs of school children combed the grass, scooping up all the Nestle Crunch, Quik, and Chocolate Chips they could carry!

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is September 27, 1955.

Location. 42° 49.349′ N, 75° 33.028′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, New York, in Madison County. It is on Lebanon Street (County Route 75), on the right when traveling north. Marker is next to the Hamilton Fire Department before Kendrick Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 121 Lebanon Street, Hamilton NY 13346, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically

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in Central New York,

and in the Syracuse Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: NY O & W Railway (here, next to this marker); Chenango Canal (approx. 0.4 miles away); This Marks The Spot Where (approx. 0.8 miles away); “Far From Thy Valley…” (approx. 0.8 miles away); Madison Street Cemetery (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Bark Hut (approx. 2 miles away); Smiths Valley (approx. 2.2 miles away); Toll Gate No. 1 (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, March 18, 2025

2. Thus The Legend of the Great Chocolate Wreck… Marker

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, March 18, 2025

3. Thus The Legend of the Great Chocolate Wreck… Marker

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, March 18, 2025

4. Thus The Legend of the Great Chocolate Wreck… Marker

Trail leading to site of the Great Chocolate Train Wreck. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, March 18, 2025

5. Trail leading to site of the Great Chocolate Train Wreck.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. This page has been viewed 512 times since then and 132 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 19, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.