Becker Farm Property and Railroad
Becker Dairy Farm Property
A portion of the original Becker Dairy Farm
on Livingston Avenue in Roseland has been donated to the Historical Society by Mr. and
Mrs. H. Eugene Becker. An 8 room home built in 1893 with 2 fireplaces, a large
third-floor attic, an attached greenhouse, a large barn with a usable second-floor loft,
and a huge garage formerly used to store milk delivery vehicles are located on the 3.5
acre tract.
The Society intends to use this property for
a historical library, restoration projects, more craft and hobby classes and related
programs, additional meeting space and a variety of appropriate community functions.
Heretofore, the Beckers donated to the
Society a number of farm handtools and pieces of equipment from the family dairy business.
Plans are to restore and exhibit many of these items such as milking stools, bull
nose-rings, corn knives, haytedder, old surrey, potato digger, hand-powered corn
sheller,
milk wagon, an 1881 utility bobsled with curved runners -- in all, some 56 articles which
have only been partially displayed because of lack of space will now be on exhibit.
Becker Farm
Railroad
For some 20 years, a
major tourist attraction at the Becker Farm was the Centerville and
Southwestern Railroad Train. Built from scratch, it was a real miniature
working railroad. Its steam locomotive was built in New York State by the
American Locomotive Company and had an unusual all-welded boiler a feature
shared by only one other - a locomotive built for the Delaware and Hudson.
The trains were equipped with working
air brakes, unusual for a miniature Railway, supplied by a steam air compressor
on the locomotive just like the big ones.
The ride was
reportedly a delight. After leaving the busy station located at the farm
entrance, the trains crossed a brook on what is today a foot bridge. They next
climbed a rather steep grade to the animal pens, then proceeded through the crop
areas on a straight piece of track at speeds up to 12mph -- "pretty fast if
you were sitting in one of the soft seats of the parlor car." Finally, the
trains entered a wooded area where they would turn on a large loop for the
return trip. This area was quiet and peaceful.
As time went on, part
of the line had to be relocated and shortened because of Interstate Highway
Construction. Next the steam locomotive was sold. After the close of
Becker Farm the railroad was also closed sometime in the early seventies.
The Centerville and
Southwestern Railroad Train
will be fondly remembered by many who had the privilege
and pleasure of enjoying this little piece of history.
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