





Major Expansion of
Casey Jones Museum
on Track For June 19th Opening
Casey Jones' famous last ride may have taken place almost 110 years ago but his memory is alive and well here in Jackson, Tennessee. The major expansion of the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum is set to open Friday June 19th! The Train Station addition is a joint project of the City of Jackson and Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store who has privately managed the Museum for over thirty years. Call it the little engine that could, but this little Museum is about a venture into a whole new era expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually from across the world.
In a move that preserved the railroad museum for generations to come, the City of Jackson was awarded a federal enhancement grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation signed by Governor Phil Bredesen. The project was funded by an 80/20 match by the grant and Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store. Construction of the 7,500 square foot "Train Station" began in the fall of 2008. Bruce Green Contractors in Martin, Tennessee was the construction company led by Mike Youngblood.
The public is invited to a Ribbon Cutting & Dedication Ceremony scheduled for 11:00 am on Friday, June 19th, 2009 followed by a tour of the new building and reception including live musical entertainment provided by the Casey Jones Barbershop Chorus at 10:30 am and Wildwood Express during the reception.
We are honored that a number of descendants of Casey Jones are scheduled to attend including four grandchildren Nancy Howse and Tom, Bob and Dan McKenzie. We will have also have several guests artists on hand for the weekend including renowned railroad artist Jim Jordan. Local railroader Ben Beard will be on hand to share his memories of the Judge Milton Brown Pullman Railcar now locaed here in the Village. Casey Jones mini-train rides will be available for kids of all ages Friday and Saturday along with various activities throughout the weekend. Museum hours will be 9:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.
Clark Shaw, CEO of the Old Country Store, is the project coordinator who also designed the building. Lawrence Taylor is the Executive Director of the Museum and his wife, Norma Taylor, is the Museum Historian. The Train Station project committee consisted of Clark Shaw , the Taylors and Shaw's sister, Deborah Shaw Laman, Casey Jones Village marketing director.
The Museum has also partnered with West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation to form a non-profit arm of the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum allowing individual and corporate sponsors to take 100% tax deductions for contributions. All donations to the Casey Jones Historical Fund will be used for either new exhibits or educational programs as well as for the upkeep of the Casey Jones Home. Visit the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation website at www.wthfoundation.org for more information.
The new "Train Station" was designed to recreate the look and feel of an 1890's train depot. Guests will enter through a lobby to buy their ticket as if boarding a train. They will begin the tour in the theatre and view an updated short film on Casey Jones' life and legend produced by Doug Viar. The tour will continue through a permanent Exhibit Hall and the Jackson Railroad Room dedicated to Jackson , Tennessee 's rich railroad history. Guests will then walk onto a platform as they exit the Train Station as if to board a train in 1900 and be able to climb into the cab of the 130 ton locomotive engine replica of Casey's #382 and ring the bell. Guests will love the new Museum train store filled with railroad gifts of all kinds complete with an adorable Thomas the Tank Engine corner including a reading nook and Thomas video screening area.
Spaces in the building will be ideal for children's birthday parties and for local community meetings and functions of all kinds. Catering services for the Museum will also be available through Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store.
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Casey Jones Barbershop Chorus
Celebrates 30 Year Reunion
(Jackson, TN) The Casey Jones Barbershop Chorus was formed in 1979 and began a working relationship with Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store shortly thereafter. It may be one of the longest running gigs in show business. For 30 years now, the Barbershoppers have come to the Old Country Store to sing old-fashioned favorites to the delight of the regulars and folks from around the world.
It all started when some of the men from the group would get together to sing at the Old Country Store in Casey Jones Village. It became so popular and was so fitting for the 1890's atmosphere at the legendary Jackson eatery that they began to call themselves the Casey Jones Barbershop Chorus. Years later, they still gather every third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm to 7 pm to entertain and do what they love best...sing.
The Chorus will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year and would like to invite the former members to attend a reunion that will be held at the Old Country Store on June 16th, 2009. The Chorus is scheduled to sing in the Ice Cream Parlor at the Old Country Store at 6:30 pm and would like to invite all former members to attend and sing with them and enjoy a time of fellowship.
Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store is located in Casey Jones Village at 56 Casey Jones Lane in Jackson. www.caseyjones.com
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