Thursday, May 5, 2011

Ghosts of Travelers Past

Hello, Dear Ones. I have a different sort of post for you today. Many of you know almost three years ago our little island was hit by Hurricane Ike. Our historic downtown was sitting in almost eight feet of salt water which did it's damage and it's at this corner my little story begins...


Here you see The Shearn Moody Plaza in which holds the historic Galveston Railroad Museum and Terminal which was once the Union Passenger Train Depot. A part of this old art deco building is dear to my heart because Mr. Precious is the chairman of the board for the Railroad Museum. He and so many others have worked so very hard these past almost three years to raise the money required for FEMA to match the monies so restoration could begin. Well, to make a long story short ~ they raised the money, FEMA gave their money and the museum is almost back to it's glory again!


Now if you'll notice my title you'll see the word "ghost"!
So don't be afraid
because I think you're going to like these ghosts.


In 1981 two brothers from New York, Ivan and Elliot Schwartze,
created 39 unique white plaster figures just for the People's Gallery
of the Railroad Museum.

The ghost figures were to resemble folks who
may have been traveling on the train in the 1930s.
You really have to be careful with this one -
if you sit down beside her, she'll talk your ear off! :)


They are just amazing!
They're life size and very life like and were made from live models,
wrapped in wet plaster to form a mold.

The live models had to sit in place for five hours
with straws for breathing and wires to hold up their arms.
I don't think I could have done this, could you?

Well, the hurricane did a number on these wonderful ghost figures.
Heads, arms, fingers, noses and legs were broken off.

The Mt. Carmel Academy in Houston came to the rescue
and worked on twelve of these statues to restore them
to their former glory.
They were stored here before their return to
The People's Gallery.


They did a wonderful job. God bless them!
I think she's saying, "It's okay, I'm a big girl and can go by myself!"


Oh, I believe gentleman has forgotten his luggage!

This young man was just out too late last night
and is catching a little shut eye before his train comes.

Have you bought your ticket yet?
Where would you like to go?

Well, he seems just a bit busy or is he taking a nap? :)
We'll have to be patient for a minute or two!

Hope you've enjoyed my post today and I'll show you more of the
Railroad Museum another time.

I'm joining Our Dear Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday and I'm stretching it this week. I really didn't do much here but I did take the snaps! I hope that counts, Kimmie! :)
Our Dear Michelle at Someday Crafts for Whatever Goes Wednesday,
Our Dear Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

Be a bunch of sweeties,
Shelia ;)

I'll leave you with a little Note Song~

If You Could Read My Mind

If you could read my mind love,
what a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie
about a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
with chains upon my feet.
You know that ghost is me
and I will never be set free
as long as I'm a ghost that you can see.


If I could read your mind love,
what a tale your thoughts could tell.
Just like a paperback novel,
the kind the drugstore sells.
When you reach the part where the heartaches
come the hero would be me.
Heroes often fail.
And you won't read that book again
because the endings just to hard to take.


I walk away like a movie star
who gets burned in a three way script.
Enter number two, a movie queen
to play the scene of bringing all the good things out in me,
but for now love lets be real.


I never thought I could act this way
and I've got to say that I just don't get it.
I don't know where we went wrong
but the feelings gone and I just can't get it back.

If you could read my mind love,
what a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
with chains upon my feet the story always ends.
And if you read between the lines
you'll know that I'm just trying to understand
the feeling that you left.

I never thought I could feel this way
and I got to say that I just don't get it.
I don't know where we went wrong
but the feelings gone
and I just can't get it back.
~ sung by Gordon Lightfoot


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