[The-wheels-museum] Quarterly Newsletter

Tue Apr 16 19:20:21 MDT 2024

   WHEELS Museum
                                    Spring Newsletter – April 2024

Rotary Club of Albuquerque Makes a $15,000 donation to WHEELS.

On April 8, the Rotary Club of Albuquerque made a generous donation to the WHEELS Museum for an enhanced “Railroad Worker and Families” exhibit and for computer based educational programs for visitors.  Museum-quality display cases will be constructed to house the stories, equipment and pictorial description of the blue-collar workers and their families who worked at the Railyards and did the heavy lifting to build Twentieth Century Albuquerque.  We anticipate that this will be a significant historical and educational exhibit in our community. Wheels President Leba Freed, thanked the Rotary Club of Albuquerque for its generosity and community mindedness. “As the workers and families 100 years ago improved their community, the kindness on the part of the Rotary Club of Albuquerque will allow us to save our history and inspire people to continue progress for future generations.”

Pictured: Robert Milne, Rotary Foundation; Leba; Tom, and Suzy Clay, Rotary President

Events:

Ronn Perea, author and historian
“82nd Anniversary of the Bataan Death March: What It Meant for New Mexico”

Ronn Perea, historian, author and popular speaker at WHEELS presented a riveting picture of the Bataan death march om April 13 with specific emphasis on what it meant to the families and people of New Mexico. 
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war from the Philippines’ Bataan Peninsula to Camp O'Donnell via San Fernando.

Special Co-Member Event, hosted by the Wheels Museum
Talks by Balloon Pilot, Peter Cuneo and Wheels Museum President, Leba Freed
Saturday, April 27, Noon to 2 PM
1100 2nd St. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
RSVP: For WHEELS Guests: 505-243-6269 or email to Leba4 at aol.com <mailto:Leba4 at aol.com>
RSVP for Balloon Museum Members: contact Membership Manager, Misty Carty.

Admission $10.  

The Wheels Museum is a 501(c)3 organization in the Albuquerque Rail Yards dedicated to collecting, preserving, and creating educational exhibits about the history of transportation in Albuquerque and New Mexico with emphasis on the impact on the development of the area. Their collections embrace the history of the railroads, the impact of the rail yards on Albuquerque, as well as automobiles, horse and wagon, and other modes of transportation.

"Through this collaboration, we can amplify their impact, create memorable experiences, and contribute to the overall well-being and cohesion of the community we serve," says Misty Carty, Membership Manager. 

For more information on this special Members Event, or to make a reservation, contact Membership Manager, Misty Carty.

Kids and Family Event
May 11: 11 AM to 1 PM:
Admission is $10 per person

May 18

May 25 – Two events:
Commemorating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month
The Chinese American Railroad Workers in New Mexico
Saturday, May 25, 2024
10:00 AM to Noon
1100 2nd St. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
RSVP: 505-243-6269 or email to Leba4 at aol.com <mailto:Leba4 at aol.com>
Admission Fee: Admission is $10 per person and limited to 50 people.

10:00am: Presentation: Fred Friedman’s upcoming presentation focuses on the numerous, although little known, contributions of Chinese men and women to railroad development in New Mexico, from its late 1870s construction period, into the world war years, and beyond. While railroad work was perilous for all that did it, the Chinese overcame multiple added obstacles, including language difficulties, being assigned the more dangerous track assignments, and facing discriminating & demeaning treatment both on and off the job. How such difficulties were transformed into assets, that are slowly being recognized today, make up part of Mr. Friedman's illustrated presentation on New Mexico Railroads & the Asset of Chinese Laborers.

Speaker: Fred Friedman has an extensive background in New Mexico railroading history, having worked for many years in state government as a railroad administrator. He has also contracted with a variety of law firms as a railroad accident investigator and expert witness in railroad accident cases throughout the country. Fred is also a longtime board member of the Historical Society, having spoken on dozens of railroad topics associated with New Mexico that include 'Native American Railroad Workers', 'Whatever Happened to Cabooses?', and 'Railroads, as Implementers of Federal Policy in the United States'.

Also: May 25 11:00AM  SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY THE
ALBUQUERQUE  CHINESE  FOLK  DANCE  ENSEMBLE

Registration required: Call the Wheels Museum 505-243-6269
Admission is limited to 50 persons
Refreshments

Sponsorship: 
Fay Yao/Asiatic Research International

More Coming events: Save the Dates and More Information Will Follow.

May 11:     National Train Day

May 18       Speaker event: The Atomic Bomb in Albuquerque- Roland Pentilla 2pm

June 1         Western Music- Doug Figgs 11am

June 15      Speaker event: Historic Route 66 - Ronn Perea, Historian 11am

July 20        Music Event: Steve Cormier (Breaking Bad, Wyatt Earp)    
                      performing country music 12pm

Aug 10        Speaker event: NM Historic Markers- Phil & Roseanne Archuleta

Aug 18       Music Event: Joel Alden White- Country/Western
                       performance 

Are you interested in providing a speaking or music event at WHEELS?  Please let us know by calling Leba at Phone: (505) 243-6269     

What’s New at WHEELS?

WHEELS Museum has been recognized as one of the best nonprofit organizations in Albuquerque by the ABQ Business Journal. See our Trophy below.

FP-303 Hand Built Large Model Airplane
          Suspended from the ceiling is an FP-303 model airplane that can be finished to actually fly a single pilot.  Built by volunteers Don Briggs and Alan Trosclair, the plane is an impressive addition to the “WHEELS Air Force”.  The plane displays an impressive wooden infrastructure so that visitors can examine the intricate detail involved in its wings and fuselage construction.

S Scale Model Train Addition
The Rio Grande Chapter of the Train Collectors Association partnered with WHEELS to add a double track S Scale addition to our O Gauge model train layout. You may know S Scale trains better as the American Flyer trains (and similar types) that you knew as a child. Volunteer John Westfall is pictured below.

WHEELS adds a G-Scale Model Train Layout.
          When you enter the Museum, look up and see a Garden Scale (G Scale) locomotive and freight train.  G-Scale is the same size as the garden railroad in the Albuquerque Botanical Garden. Built by volunteer Norm Wolstein and his team.

Stage Coach Model

As part of our Wooden WHEELS historic collection is a beautifully detailed Well Fargo Stagecoach on display in the front room. Donated by volunteer Joe Vanderburg.

Youth Programs: Scouting
Members of Scout Troop 410 are attending Railroading Merit Badge Classes at WHEELS. The scouts learn aspects of railroading including railroad history; safety; how freight trains deliver commodities and the role they play in our everyday lives; Amtrak history and equipment, and careers in railroading.

Additionally, Life Scout William Aldridge of Troop 714 is completing his Eagle Scout community service requirement by re-building our Santa Fe Railroad Reading Room exhibit.

WHEELS Museum is a non-profit, volunteer run organization. 
Address: 1100 Second Street SW, Albuquerque N.M.    
 Phone: (505) 243-6269     
          e-mail:  wheelsmuseum at aol.com <mailto:wheelsmuseum at aol.com>
          website: http://wheelsmuseum.org/
          Mailing address:  Wheels Museum, PO BOX 95438, Albuquerque, NM 
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9-12 P.M. Summer months: Sundays 10  AM to 2 PM.
We very much would like to be open for more hours but we need more volunteers to be able to do so. If you are interested call Leba or Paulette  at (505) 243-6269.  

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 24223 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0007.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 62405 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0003.jpeg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 68336 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0008.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 97541 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0004.jpeg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image008.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 29672 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0009.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image011.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 106752 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0005.jpeg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image010.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 68226 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0010.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image006.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 67633 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0011.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image007.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 71238 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0012.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image009.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 10780 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/the-wheels-museum/attachments/20240416/855e91ae/attachment-0013.jpg>