HICKSVILLE’S JOHN BULL LOCOMOTIVE

Dedication Ceremony

Another Special Day in Hicksville's History

Saturday, May 17, 2008
Kennedy Memorial Park · 10:00am

A public ceremony will take place on May 17, 2008 at 10:00 am in Hicksville's Kennedy Memorial Park. We will be celebrating two special events on this day. Hicksville was founded 360 years ago. We are also making plans for Hicksville to have its own icon dedicated on this day. This site will hold the dedication of the John Bull locomotive replica that was built by Chamber of Commerce President James Pavone, entitled, VALENTINE'S DREAM. The full-sized, non-operating replica, which has taken Mr. Pavone slightly over two years to build, is based on the 1831 “John Bull”; locomotive, which was originally imported from Britain, and ran on the Camden and Amboy Railroad. It served for the inspiration for Matthias W. Baldwin to build locomotives in this country. Baldwin built the Long Island Rail Road’s first locomotive “the Ariel”, the image of which can be seen on Hicksville's welcome signs and banners.

There will be music played in the park pertaining to the occasion. Food will be served. You can get the image of the John Bull in your camera lens in the foreground and see today’s train sitting on the train trestle in the background. Bringing the 19th and 21st centuries together in 1 snapshot.

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They won't know what hit 'em!

Museum Exhibit, Luncheon & Symposium

In conjunction with the ceremony, there will be a special exhibit on Early American Steam Locomotives at the Hicksville Gregory Museum. An afternoon luncheon and symposium for ticket holders at the Hicksville Middle School located on Jerusalem Avenue. These tickets are priced at $25.00 for the day.

For those interested in the combination museum, luncheon and symposium at the middle school, the tickets are $25.00 per person. There are only 300 tickets available and almost 30 percent of these are sold.

Checks must be made out to The Hicksville Chamber of Commerce. Memo notation should read John Bull Dedication.

Mail check to Mr. John Morrison, 28 Azelea Court, Plainview, NY 11803.

Mr. Morrison has been able to have two model trains to be raffled off at this event.

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They won't know what hit 'em!