Sprucing up Falls Village’s caboose

Sprucing up Falls Village’s caboose

Bill Beebe and Denny Jacobs work atop the caboose.

Patrick L. Sullivan

FALLS VILLAGE — Bill Beebe and Denny Jacobs spent part of Sunday, May 19, atop the old caboose in downtown Falls Village, painting.

Both men plus Judy Jacobs did the lion’s share of the work of obtaining, installing and restoring the 1944 caboose 30 years ago.

“We laid the tracks,” said Beebe. “We pounded the spikes. By hand.”

“We were young guys then. Be a little tougher to do it now.

“We have one more ingredient now,” added Jacobs. “Advil.”

The job took a couple of years.

“At one point we had it stripped down to almost the wheels” Jacobs said. “I thought we’d better put it back together before we forget how.”

Jacobs and Beebe were assisted by students from the Housatonic FFA chapter, who did prep work on the caboose last year.

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