Beacon club earns role as rail steward

Scenic Hudson, society team up

By Maeleeke J. Lavan
Poughkeepsie Journal

BEACON -- The Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society now has a formal role in its bid to make the mountain more accessible to the public.

In a recent agreement reached with Scenic Hudson, which owns the land on Mount Beacon, the group has been granted status as the ''eyes and ears'' of the mountain.

The agreement ''makes the incline society a partner with Scenic Hudson for the day-to-day management of the property,'' Seth McKee, associate land preservation director with Scenic Hudson, said.

It also signals Scenic Hudson's support for the group's ultimate goal of restoring the incline railway.

The railway, which opened in 1902, was a way for people to reach the top of the mountain, where there was a restaurant and dancing hall known as the casino. In 1908, the three-story, 60-room Beaconrest Hotel was built, giving overnighters more time to enjoy the breathtaking view.

The railway has been out of service since 1972.

Scenic Hudson -- a Poughkeepsie-based environmental firm -- and the society signed the management agreement last week at Angelo's Seafood & Steakhouse in Beacon.

''The management agreement really solidifies our relationship with Scenic Hudson ... (and) sets the stage to get the whole idea of the incline railway out into the public forum,'' Andrew Chiusano, the society's president and co-founder, said.

Hikes, events planned

The society will continue to have seasonal cleanups and hikes at the mountain and in addition will hold events on the property for public awareness and fund-raising purposes, Chiusano said.

Membership for the society holds strong at about 500 people, all of whom showed interest in maintaining the mountain as a symbolic asset to the city. It was formed in 1996.

''It's a good partnership,'' McKee said of the society. ''They're a highly motivated group of people. I have yet to work in a community where people felt so strongly about one of their assets.''

Scenic Hudson ultimately purchased the property and is working with the city planning board in effort to develop the 15-acre site at the base of the mountain.

Park status wanted

The hope is to turn the property into a park and eventually build a stairway up the north side of the incline tracks, leading to observation decks.

Both groups are hoping development efforts will greatly improve public access and awareness.

The management agreement, Chiusano said, is one of several long-awaited steps toward beginning railway restoration. It also coincides with developing business plans the society is working on to obtain cost estimates for the railway.

''Support for it is pretty tremendous,'' Chiusano said of community interest in the mountain. ''It's the apple of Beacon's eye.''

Relevant Web link
For information about the Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society, go to www.InclineRailway.org