[PRCo] Re: Museums

[Bob Rathke]

The first time I heard the word "docent" was in the early 1960s at
Williamsburg, Virginia.  Then in the1970s in Texas, the volunteer guides
(sometimes in period costumes) at small historical sites identified
themselves as docents.  The term seems to be in more widespread usage now.

Bob 11/10/01

----------------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Holland" <pghpcc at pacbell.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2001 4:50 AM
Subject: [PRCo] Museums


>
> Good Morning!!
>
> > Greg King wrote:
>
> > Hi Jim,
>
> > Just another point from my perspective (by the way, what on earth is a
> > docent, never heard of it before)
>
> Teacher  --  Lecturer  --  according to the dictionary.   At PTM this is
the individual
> who gives a speech, usually (but not always) on the trolleycar one is
riding, to tell
> about the history of the museum and trolleycar(s) and trolleycar--systems.
> According to Ed and Dennis, training of docents at PTM is quite specific
and information
> given to the public is highly consistent and reputable.   But Not So with
many trolleycar
> museums--this information is more of a turn-off.
>
> > on RVJ. They actually have the nucleus for
> > a fine interurban museum (like East Troy), the line is an original
> > Interurban line that,..It would'nt happen overnight
>
> To clarify, I was not putting RVJ down, just certain experiences.   Have
ridden the line
> since extended.   Friend who is native to Bay Area was there when they
took or hauled some
> Key trains way out the old Sac Northern extension they now own.   But
trolley wire out
> there  --  with a recession coming on.......   WHO  is holding his breath
(OR is
> it.......WHO  is on first base??)
>
> Calgary still has its hysterical trolleycars, or at least they did in
1988, with one of
> those fantabulous stepped-open sightseeing cars common to Canada   ---
ultra--Classic
> which I feel fortunate to have seen, ridden, and video--taped!!   They
also had a local
> trolleycar which took one from the main entrance into the park.
>
> But Fort Edmonton is head and shoulders above and beyond Calgary   ---
absolutely  NO
> comparison.
>
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>
> James B. Holland
>
> Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation
>     "O"--Scale  St.-Petersburg Trams Company Trolleycars  &
>         "O"--Scale  Parts  mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
>         Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) http://www.pa-trolley.org/
>     Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
> N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.nmra.org
>
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>