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Date: 10/19/2022
CHESTER — Hobo reenactors set up camp in the yard at the Chester Railway Station, a National Historic Landmark, while the “Berkshire Balladeer” sang railroad songs on the steps and members of the Chester Foundation, led by Barbara Pease Huntoon, cooked beef stew and corn pudding from an old railroad recipe in the Blue Caboose dining car for the third annual Hobo-to-Go fundraising dinner on Oct. 15.
A CSX train stopped near the station, waiting for Amtrak passenger service to go by a little late. David Pierce, Chester Foundation president, explained that the railroad drops from two tracks down to one going east toward Huntington, so the trains have to accommodate each other.
Pierce said going west, the railroad climbs 83 feet a mile, from 600 feet in Chester to 1,459 in Hinsdale, with a 52 percent curvature in the line following the Westfield River. The track is the oldest mainline mountain railroad in the world, he said.
Hobo reenactors Rick Martin of Hatfield, Dennis Picard of Westfield and Jay Blain of Chicopee told tales of the hobo camps that formed around railroad crossings in the early 20th century, as they brewed coffee on a small fire, remaining in character.
Hobos had to be careful, they said, as riding the trains for free was considered stealing from the railroad. They developed their own methods of using the rail network. Picard described a nearby hobo rock from which they could step directly into a car as the train passed. He said Frog Hollow in Westfield, near the Little River Bridge, was a well-known hobo camp in the area.
Though their means of travel was illegal, the hobo camps had their own rules and codes of justice. They would not tolerate bullies, or taking advantage of kids.
Martin said the three reenactors also do blacksmithing and ice cutting demonstrations during the year. He said from the 1800s to the 1930s, natural ice was one of the largest industries in the area. This year they will be ice cutting at Nashawannuck Pond in Easthampton during the Winter Festival, and at the Noble & Cooley Drum Factory in Granville.
“Berkshire Balladeer” Phil Pothier, from Granville, sang with his autoharp from a collection of train songs in his repertoire. Pothier, who also sings with the Berkshire Mountain Boys, is a retired cook from Noble Hospital. He also writes hymns and poems, and has published a book of his writings.
Chester Town Administrator Donald Humason Jr. was at the railway station with his son Quinn, a railroad enthusiast. Quinn had the chance to meet the CSX engineer when the train stopped, who him and a friend some CSX souvenirs.
The money raised at the Hobo to Go dinner will go towards the upkeep of the Chester Railway Station. For more information on the history of the Chester Railway Station, visit www.chesterrailwaystation.net.
Corn pudding
Some attendees at the Hobo-to-Go dinner asked for the corn pudding recipe, from the New Haven Railroad Cookbook. This recipe yields 24 portions.
Cut enough corn from the cobs to fill 8 cups, or use equivalent amount of canned corn (drained well). Chop the corn kernels fine (a food processor will do).
Combine the corn with 6 slightly beaten eggs, 1/3 cup of melted butter, 1/3 cup of flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 4 cups of milk (whole is best).
Pour into buttered (or use cooking spray) baking pan, 9 by 13 inches, and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit until firm (about 30 minutes or until top is golden brown).
Let cool a bit before cutting into squares.