By TIFFANY RAZZANO
On Sept. 14, the Brooklyn Museum of Art gave the Phillips House a gift of a three-piece, antique parlor set. Then, a little over a week later on Sept. 23, the museum debuted its latest exhibit of model trains, "Trains, Trains, More Trains."
The parlor suite, circa 1850 and referred to as the "Mary Had a Little Lamb" suite because of its handmade needle point upholstery, had actually been on display at Phillips House for several years already. Dr. Barry R. Harwood, curator of the Decorative Arts Department of the Brooklyn Museum Of Art, formally gave Phillips House the set, which was owned by the Whitney family, on Sept. 14
The set was first given to the Brooklyn Museum Of Art by Isabel L. Whitney in memory of her aunt, Martha Haseltine Whitney, who was a cousin of Dame Margaret Rutherford. Upon Isabel's death, Gordon Langley Hall, who was the adoptive son of Rutherford, wished to purchase the suite but the asking price was more than he wanted to pay.
"Trains, Trains, More Trains" opened to a crowd of more than 125 people, all interested in the model trains on display from the extensive collections of Rockville Centre residents Casimer Skrzypczak John Challice and Dave Krasula. As well as some complete sets, included are many single samples of trains, station houses, bridges and a plethora of train-related items, including a picture of the Rockville Centre Train Station of 60 years ago, before the tracks were elevated. All trains are Lionel O gauge and standard gauge trains from the 1930s through the 1990s.
The exhibit will remain open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 - 4 p.m. through Nov. 4. There is no charge for admission.
