Caboose

After Baycrafters moved into the Station House, they hoped to continue the railroad theme by adopting a caboose. Ken Chilcot, the CEO of the Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad Company, was able to acquire Car 581368 from the Norfolk & Western Line while he was in Roanoke, VA. So... how did a Virginia caboose end up in Bay Village?

After the caboose was delivered to Dover Center Road, the next task was to move it to Baycrafters. In July 1969, the 25 ton caboose was lifted using a crane and placed onto a flatbed truck. (Sound familiar? This is how the Station House was transported a few years earlier!) This step alone took an entire day.

The caboose then made a trip down the streets of Bay Village. This isn't a long trip in terms of distance, but it took another full day to complete. Once it arrived, it was installed next to the Station House. This was difficult task at first, since just one length of railroad track would cost Baycrafters $1500. Luckily, a local construction company offered to sell them one for $250. Click through the slideshow above to watch its journey.!

That September, a special ceremony was held to officially welcome the caboose to Baycrafters during the Arts & Science Festival. Ken Chilcot came to speak at the event. Click through the below slideshow to "watch" the ceremony.

The caboose was later relocated again, but this time its journey wasn't nearly as long!. It was simply moved a bit closer to and behind the Station House, where it still is today.