David Pierce, president of the Chester Foundation, brought a G-scale model train to Chester Elementary as he talked about the history of the railroad in the community.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
CHESTER — On Nov. 22, David Pierce, president of the Chester Foundation, brought the Chester Railway Station and its history, in the form of a G Scale train set, to Chester Elementary School.
“We set it up and are leaving it there until after Christmas. We demonstrated the operation of the train to students in first through fourth grade. Then, we encouraged building structures to have the kids populate the layout,” said Chester Elementary Principal Vanna Maffuccio.
Students built arches, the Chester station, the Westfield River, Gobble Mountain, Carm’s Restaurant, trees, homes, businesses, parks and more.
“We used a makerspace model to facilitate this work and keep students engaged in innovative thinking and building,” Maffuccio said, explaining that a makerspace is a collaborative learning space that provides students with a variety of materials and tools for students to use to think “outside of the box” and direct their own learning.
“Students eagerly and excitedly use the materials and tools in the makerspace to problem solve, create, improve, discover and innovate, as they all go through the process of experiencing a successful outcome in their own unique and creative way,” Maffuccio said.
Pierce shared a wealth of knowledge on the rich history of trains in Chester with the students. He discussed why trains are a pillar of Chester’s past and present as the world’s first mountain railroad, deemed an impossible project and build, runs through Chester. Pierce said it is estimated that up to 3,000 immigrants worked to complete the railroad.
“Chester has a fascinating and vibrant history as a railroad town that is preserved by our local institutions the Chester Foundation and Chester Historical Society,” Maffuccio said.
She said some students built their own keystone arches for the school’s railway after Pierce told them about the history of the arches — the first cluster of stone arch railroad bridges built in America, located on the West Branch of the Westfield River.
“These arches are two minutes away from our school and have been designated a national historic landmark. The Chester Train Station was also designated a national historic landmark; this designation signifies its significant historical value, renowned for being the nation’s first mountain railroad and for its role in the development of early railroads,” Maffuccio said.
Pierce was equally impressed with the students at the school, and their interest in the history of the railway.
“I was very encouraged by the response to the trains,” Pierce said. He said all of the children were enthusiastic about building structures and scenery and running the trains. “I know from personal experience this can turn into a fulfilling lifelong hobby. Here in Chester, it also can introduce students to nationally significant history that happened right outside the school door,” he added.
Pierce said the first railroad to be built over a mountain can be seen out one window, and the Westfield River, Massachusetts’ first national Wild & Scenic River, is on the other side of the building. He said the Wild & Scenic designation is also based on its historic resources that include the first cluster of stone arch railroad bridges built in America, crossing the Westfield River, that are just down the road. The Westfield River also provided the early railroad surveyors with a low-altitude pathway to the summit of the Berkshires.
“So, hopefully, it will be a multi-faceted, consequential experience for the students,” Pierce said about the visit to the school.
