LEHMAN TWP. — Judith Vanderpool was amazed at the detailed model train depiction of the Back Mountain, which was part of the Dallas Days History Presentation on May 10.

“It is very authentic,” she said.

The HO scale model train, created by the Back Mountain Railroad Club, depicted where the trains traveled over Carverton Road in Trucksville and into Dallas’ downtown area.

Trucksville resident Mike Brinola, along with eight other club members, spent over 600 hours building and creating the detailed scenes.

The Back Mountain Railroad Club was able to find exact building replicas such as a trolley station, once located near the center of Dallas, Brinola said.

Other buildings, such as The Raub Hotel, were designed from a photograph and then built, he said.

Brinola said he spent over 80 hours on recreating the historic hotel.

“I had to cut out each of the 76 windows,” he said.

The detailed display was the focal point of the Dallas Days History Presentation.

The exhibit is part of a year-long bicentennial celebration for the municipality.

Every month a special event is planned, Dallas Township Supervisor Elizabeth Martin said.

May is history month.

The history exhibit will be open to the public again, from 2 to 5 p.m., May 14, 21 and 28; 1 to 6 p.m., May 20; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 27; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 29 at the Back Mountain Regional EMS building off Route 118 in Lehman Township.

Wednesday’s kick-off for the History Presentation began at 7 p.m. with a showing of WVIA’s “Our Town Dallas,” attended by nearly 30 people, according to Martin.

The exhibit was then opened to the public.

People examined old township maps, some dating back to the 1950s and 1930s.

Black and white photographs of farmers working in the fields, as well as a milk bottle collection that showcased the variety of dairy farms that once located in Dallas Township, painted a picture of a different lifestyle than what exists today.

Back Mountain resident Karen Cigan found an interesting detail on one display that would be inconceivable in today’s world.

“I liked the economic markers,” Cigan said. “One of the tax bills, (on display) marked where your tax money was going. For example, 13 cents to fix the roads.”

Cigan came to the exhibit with her daughter, Athena, who contributed to the Dallas Middle School’s seventh-grade history project also on display.

“This is brilliant,” she said. “This was a great opportunity for them (the students) to be vested in the community.”

“There are stories to be told.”

Shavertown resident Royal Sutton also enjoyed the exhibit.

“This is fantastic,” Sutton said while noting his favorite part of the display was the train exhibit.

The next Dallas Days Bicentennial Celebration event will be a Dallas Days Kids Movie Night from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Dallas High School Amphitheater June 24 and a Bicentennial Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 25 at the Dallas High School parking lot.

Other planned events include a Firemen’s Bazaar and Fireworks, a mini-Dallas Harvest Festival, Community Movie Nights, an Open Mic Night and an Old-Fashioned Christmas Tree Lighting and much more.

Visit the Dallas Days Bicentennial Celebration Facebook page for a complete listing of events, or www.dallastownship.com for more information or email Liz Martin at lmartin@dallastownship.com for an electronic copy of the Dallas Days Bicentennial events brochure.

Dave Muddiman, of West Wyoming, looks at a sign for a Dallas Fair from 1899, that started as a barn auction.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_tdp051417dallashistory-1.jpg.optimal.jpgDave Muddiman, of West Wyoming, looks at a sign for a Dallas Fair from 1899, that started as a barn auction. Amanda Hrycyna | For Dallas Post

Matt Krispen, of Centermorland, and an admirer of days gone by, looks at an old map of Dallas.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_tdp051417dallashistory-2.jpg.optimal.jpgMatt Krispen, of Centermorland, and an admirer of days gone by, looks at an old map of Dallas. Amanda Hrycyna | For Dallas Post

Joe Hardisky, center, chairman of the historical artifacts displayed, shows Don Kintz and his son Kyle, 13, of Dallas, an old tool used to de-horn bull and deer.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_tdp051417dallashistory-3.jpg.optimal.jpgJoe Hardisky, center, chairman of the historical artifacts displayed, shows Don Kintz and his son Kyle, 13, of Dallas, an old tool used to de-horn bull and deer. Amanda Hrycyna | For Dallas Post

Shirley Zimmerman, of Dallas, shows her daughter, Brenda Pugh, a part of the train display during the 1930s-1950s she remembers from when she was younger.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_tdp051417dallashistory-4.jpg.optimal.jpgShirley Zimmerman, of Dallas, shows her daughter, Brenda Pugh, a part of the train display during the 1930s-1950s she remembers from when she was younger. Amanda Hrycyna | For Dallas Post

Back Mountain Railroad Club President and Director Ray Mancka talks with designer and architect Mike Brinola, of Trucksville, who worked on the current display.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_tdp051417dallashistory-5.jpg.optimal.jpgBack Mountain Railroad Club President and Director Ray Mancka talks with designer and architect Mike Brinola, of Trucksville, who worked on the current display. Amanda Hrycyna | For Dallas Post

George and Carol Hrubowchak, 50-year residents of Dallas, look at old photos of horse-drawn carriages, during a Dallas Days History Presentation at the Back Mountain Regional EMS Building.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_tdp051417dallashistory-6.jpg.optimal.jpgGeorge and Carol Hrubowchak, 50-year residents of Dallas, look at old photos of horse-drawn carriages, during a Dallas Days History Presentation at the Back Mountain Regional EMS Building. Amanda Hrycyna | For Dallas Post

By Eileen Godin

egodin@timesleader.com

If you go …

The history exhibit will be open to the public again, from 2 to 5 p.m., May 14, 21 and 28; 1 to 6 p.m., May 20; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 27; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 29 at the Back Mountain Regional EMS building off Route 118 in Lehman Township.

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews

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