Local 15-year old to lecture on the forgotten Harriman Incline Railroad

MIDDLETOWN — On Oct. 2, the Ontario and Western Railroad Historical Society will hosting it’s youngest member, Monroe-Woodbury High School student Alex Prizgintas, who will be making a presentation about the long forgotten Harriman Incline Road.

This will be his fourth time presenting this lecture as he has already done it in April for the Orange County Historical Society and in July for both the Chester Historical Society and the Middletown Railroad Day festival.

In his lecture, Alex, discusses the little known incline railroad built in 1904 by Orange County resident Edward H. Harriman.

The railroad was used primarily to help construct the famed mansion Arden House which sits 1,300 feet on top of the Ramapo Mountains in Harriman.

Once the house was completed in 1909, the incline was not used frequently and was eventually shut down in the 1920’s.

All traces of the track were gone by the end of World War II, but a slight shadow still appears in the trees outlining the long-gone tracks and is visible when traveling on the Quickway toward Harriman.

Alex, 15, has retraced the history of the railroad through researching newspaper articles, pictures, books and some very interesting post cards.

Through his endeavors, he has created an incisive presentation about the railroad.

The Ontario & Western Railroad Historical Society meeting on Friday, Oct. 2, begins 7:30 p.m. at the Mulberry Senior Center, 62-70 W. Main St., Middletown. For more information, call 845-343-2467.