By Mark Reynolds
Peter Bellizzi, President of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail Association, recently told the Lloyd Town Board that his group has erected a quartet of new signs that tell the history of different aspects of the town’s rail trail’s history.
Bellizzi said his Association began discussing new signage three years ago and credits Matt Kierstead, of Milestone Heritage Consulting, for researching and compiling the text and pictures that went onto the signs. Fossil Industries, of Deer Park, NY, was hired to construct the sturdy signs.
Bellizzi said the cost was $20,000, which was paid for with a $10,000 grant from New York State Office of Parks and Recreation and $10,000 from the Rail Trail Association.
Bellizzi said the Association has been talking about adding additional signage along the rail trail in the future.
“This is just the beginning because there are so many different spots along the trail that we want to identify,” he said. “These are the first four signs that we had made and there is plenty more information from Matt for other signs.”
Bellizzi said near Commercial Avenue there is an old railroad turntable that was once used to actually turn engines around and also a 30 foot tower and pump station in the area. He said they are going to fix the Ford’s farm bridge, just west of the pavilion, that was used to cross over the rail trail when the trains were in active use.
Bellizzi hopes the signs impart information to the public of what all was here in Highland, especially the length and breadth of the rail lines that not only crisscrossed Ulster and nearby counties but eventually ran up into New England, carrying goods and in wartime, transported troops and supplies.
“We’re trying to tell some of the history of the Town of Lloyd and of what the railroad meant on this side of the Hudson,” he said.