Tiny Trolley Auction benefits Historical Society

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 11/20/19

Last Friday evening the Town of Lloyd Historical Preservation Society hosted their 2nd annual Tiny Trolley Auction at the former bank on the corner of Vineyard Avenue and Main Street.

Vivian …

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Tiny Trolley Auction benefits Historical Society

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Last Friday evening the Town of Lloyd Historical Preservation Society hosted their 2nd annual Tiny Trolley Auction at the former bank on the corner of Vineyard Avenue and Main Street.

Vivian Wadlin, Vice President of the Society, said last year they had 13 tiny Trolleys and this year the number jumped to 23 submissions. She said the money they raise will go to rehabilitate the 18th century Deyo House at 161 Vineyard Avenue that will be the future home of the society.

“It’s a long way of having that; that’s why we’re doing this,” she said of the auction.

Wadlin said they have already completed a study on the structural integrity of the building.

“It was $10,000 right off the bat. We’ve gutted it and we’ve cleaned up all around it. Before we took it you couldn’t even see that building,” she said.

Historical Society President Charles Glasner said the interest in these tiny trolleys, “is really about civic pride.” He said real trolleys once went from ‘hell town’ where the old College Diner was in New Paltz, and ran all the way down to the Hudson River in the Town of Lloyd where they would meet travelers coming from the east. All of this coincides with the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Lloyd this year.
Elizabeth Decker, of Hello Dolly Real Estate, is a member of the Highland Business Association and has assisted the historical society at their auctions.

“It’s a very good event and we need more events such as this in Highland,” she said. “It brings in a lot of people from out of the area and they see what we have to offer here.”

She pointed out that she recently rented a store next to Asian Garden on Main Street that sells second hand children and maternity clothes. She also said a company is relocating to Highland from Brooklyn that does coffee roasting.

“They’ve been in business 12 years and they said by coming to Highland and renting space here, they are saving $30,000 a year in rent,” she said.

Decker said small events like the trolley auction gives Highland a chance to show off a little bit.

Duane J. Olsen Jr did the artwork on three of the trolleys: the Little Flower Shop trolley; the St. Augustine Trolley and the Highland Firehouse trolley.

“I conceptualized and created both the Firehouse and St. Augustine trolleys and the Flower Shop was not my design but I ended up taking over that trolley after the original artist found themselves in the position where they could not complete it on time, so I stepped in,” he said.

Olsen used professional grade acrylic and Rust-Oleum paints and the clear coating was applied by Premier Auto Body.
Olsen is involved in acting, directing and voice-over work and is also a theatrical artist doing scenic design in New York City and locally in Poughkeepsie.

“Scenic design can range from anything from backdrops to set pieces themselves and prop design; basically anything to look at on stage with the exception of the costumes,” he said.
The Society raffled off baked goods, chocolates, note cards, ‘fling monkey’ toys and gift certificates from area businesses. Two gift baskets contained a trolley Christmas ornament, several vintage books and postcards and a Scottish tartan scarf.

Vivian Wadlin thanked “our generous donors” - Sal’s Place, Knaus Gallery and Wine Bard, Russell & Anna Mae Robbins, Jacobs Music, About Town Area Guide, Hannafords, On a Roll Deli, the Little Flower Shop, Highland 9W Self Storage as well as volunteers Jim Fawcett, Phil Whitebay, Tremont Hall and Premier Auto Body Shop.