victoriavm Activities, Griffith Depot and Historical Park

๐€ ๐’๐ฉ๐ž๐œ๐ข๐š๐ฅ ๐“๐ก๐š๐ง๐ค ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐‚๐

๐€ ๐’๐ฉ๐ž๐œ๐ข๐š๐ฅ ๐“๐ก๐š๐ง๐ค ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐‚๐ for being a part of our ElmerJ Program!

These incredible officers talked to all the kids about railroad safety, their jobs, and different aspects of maintaining a railroad. They made sure that every class knew about the ENS (the Blue and White sign), which is the Emergency Notification Sign found at every crossing. This sign can help in an emergency around the railroad tracks. (*More info below!)

The Historical Society wants to send a very special thank you to Alex Ascolani CN Police, David Barajas CN Police, Heather LiFonti Risk Mitigation Officer, DShawn Dangerous Goods, Matthew Frazier and Schuyler Williamson Signal Maintainers for joining our groups and giving such valuable information and insight to all the students!

*๐™„๐™ฃ ๐˜พ๐™–๐™จ๐™š ๐™ค๐™› ๐™€๐™ข๐™š๐™ง๐™œ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™˜๐™ฎ, ๐™๐™จ๐™š ๐™€๐™‰๐™Ž ๐™Ž๐™ž๐™œ๐™ฃ๐™จ ๐™๐™ค ๐™‚๐™š๐™ฉ ๐™ƒ๐™š๐™ก๐™ฅ
Report emergencies and safety concerns at a highway-rail grade crossing by using the information on the ENS sign at the grade crossing.


โžœLocate the blue-and-white ENS sign at the grade crossing.
โžœ Call for help! Call the railroadโ€™s emergency contact number listed on the ENS sign.
โžœ Communicate your location by providing the identification number and state the nature of the emergency to the dispatcher.

The signs contain the railroadโ€™s emergency contact number and the U.S. Department of Transportation National Crossing Inventory Number, which identifies the exact location of the crossing to the railroads.

victoriavm Activities, Blog Posts, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Support the Depot, Support the Historical Society, Support the Rail-Cam, Volunteer

A final set of Thank Yous

๐€ ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ง๐š๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ž๐ญ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ to EVERYONE who donated to this year’s ElmerJ Program for Griffith’s 3rd graders!

This isn’t nearly all the thank you notes and pictures we received. There were oh-so-many more, and all equally as grateful and excited that they were able to visit our museum and learn about Griffith’s history AND that it was all completely funded by the kind donations of our Members!!

So THANK YOU once again! You can donate to us anytime via the “donate” button on our website. And if you would like to volunteer for events like these, or anything down at the Historical Society, please send us a message or email ([email protected])! We are always looking for volunteers and enthusiastic Griffith-ites to help our programs run!

victoriavm Activities, fundraiser, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Support the Depot, Support the Historical Society, Support the Rail-Cam, Volunteer

Thank you #2!

๐“๐ก๐š๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ #2 to EVERYONE who donated to help completely fund this program for Griffith’s 3rd graders!

Here are some more of the THANK YOUs written by the 3rd graders to our volunteers who ran the successful event, and to YOU, who donated and made this program possible for EVERY 3rd grader to enjoy!

victoriavm Activities, Blog Posts, fundraiser, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Support the Depot, Support the Historical Society

THANK YOU notes from ElmerJ Program!

๐“๐ก๐š๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ again to EVERYONE who donated to help completely fund this program for Griffith’s 3rd graders!

Our presentations and field trip days were a complete success, and this week, we’ll be sharing some of the THANK YOUs written by the 3rd graders to our volunteers who ran the event, and to YOU, who donated and made this program possible for EVERY 3rd grader to enjoy!

victoriavm Activities, Blog Posts, fundraiser, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Support the Depot, Support the Historical Society

Thank You!!

๐“๐ก๐š๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ! ๐“๐ก๐š๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ!

Our goal was accomplished thanks to YOU!

The Griffith Historical Society is proud to announce that participation by Griffith Public Schools third-grade classes in the Societyโ€™s ElmerJ Program this coming September has been totally underwritten by donations from our members, Griffith Public School graduates, and others.

The two books and the cost of the bus for the field trip to our Griffith Historical Park will be free for all students!

The ElmerJ Program, named for town founders Elmer and Jay Dwiggins, was instituted in 2022 by the Griffith Historical Society to help students learn about the history of their town, which is part of their Social Studies curriculum. The program includes an introductory, in-school PowerPoint presentation, after which each class gets a guided tour of the Depot, railcars and Tower at the Griffith Historical Park.

Two books on railroad and Griffith history, created by the Society, are given to the students, as well as primary-source stories of growing up in Griffith, written by the grand-daughter of the townโ€™s first settlers.

This is the first year we asked for donations to underwrite the ElmerJ Program, and we are so grateful to our members, GPS graduates, and others for their donations. From the beginning, Griffith townspeople cared about schools and the children who attended them, and it continues today. ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿ’›

victoriavm Activities, Blog Posts, fundraiser, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Support the Depot, Support the Historical Society, Support the Rail-Cam, Volunteer

Standing Committees (Ways You Can Volunteer!)

We are always up to something at the Historical Society. We are constantly looking for ways to keep up our efforts to preserve Griffith’s historical records and stories, and publicize and fundraise for our efforts!

These are our standing committees, for which we ALWAYS accept new volunteer help!
Please contact us at [email protected] or come to a monthy meeting, if you’d like to volunteer!

STANDING COMMITTEES : Functions and responsibilities (see current By-laws for additional information)
1. Audit: on-going and year-end audit of financial records. Real time auditing of on-going operations vs. strategic planning to offer recommendations to Board of Directors
2. Railroad Depot Curator: plans and develop programs, displays and plans for public access to the Historical Park and Depot to share the stories of Griffiths Heritage. Monitors and keeps records of museum assets.
3. Franklin Museum Curator: plans and develop programs, displays and plans for public access to the Franklin Museum to share the stories of Griffiths Heritage. Monitors and keeps records of museum assets.
4. Newsletter: collects and creates information about the GHS to plan for and publish a membership Newsletter. Goal to publish three times per year โ€“ Mar, Jul and November
5. Programs: Plans for other special programs for both museums, Depot & Franklin in coordination with other Historical Societies
6. By-Laws: provides year-end and on-going review of all Bylaw Articles for required timely updates and republishing if and as required
7. Ways & Means: coordinates development of new fundraising programs to support GHS operations and its projects, programs & event priorities.
8. Special Event Chairpersons
a. Raffle Sales: 50/50 Super 7 yearly raffle
b. Rock & Rail Fest (Aug)
c. Annual Meeting / Dinner (Nov)
d. Santa in The Caboose (Dec)
e. Oral History Project / Golden Senior Interviews
9. Barrel Train Coordinator: (Mar โ€“ Oct) Plans and coordinates operations and continued maintenance of the GHS Barrel train amusement ride.
10. Merchandise / Purchasing Agent: Plans for on-going purchases or expenses required. Tracks completion and reports to Treasury
11. Maintenance: Plans and Coordinates all Park, Museum, RR & other equipment maintenance, repairs & upgrades. Reports schedule and plans to BOD monthly.
12. Publicity / Communications: Plans for and coordinates all local, area and Social Media Communications, Plans, projects and programs to inform and promote the public about the Operation and activities of GHS to โ€œPreserve and Share the Stories of Griffithโ€™s Heritage..
13. Nominating Committee: Committee and Chairman appointed by Sept.1 by President. Solicit and recommend candidates for all Officers and open Director positions of the Society by November 1, 2024
14. Strategic Planning: Provides assistance in the development coordination, facilitation and integration of strategic planning into active and on-going operations of the GHS and its Officers, directors and member

victoriavm Blog Posts, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Griffith Junction Butterfly Stop, Monarch Waystation, Support the Depot, Support the Historical Society, Support the Rail-Cam

Monarch Waystation:๐Ÿš‰Griffith Junction Butterfly Stop! ๐Ÿฆ‹

Introducing our new Monarch Waystation:
๐Ÿš‰Griffith Junction Butterfly Stop! ๐Ÿฆ‹

We are so grateful to the Lake County Master Gardeners for the financial support and to the Griffith Tri Kappa members for creating and maintaining this absolutely lovely and meaningful addition to our Historical Park, which not only beautifies our park for us and our human visitors, but for an amazing array of pollinators and other winged visitors!

Whether you’re biking or driving by, stop by the Griffith Historical Park to have a seat in the shade, play a game of checkers, and watch the trains and butterflies!