Oneontans Celebrate Historical Marker for ‘Little Red Caboose’
By BILL BELLEN
ONEONTA
Tuesday, July 1, marked the second of five New York State Historical Markers being unveiled throughout the city of Oneonta this summer. These yellow and blue markers signify important people, places, and organizations that played a major role in the history of New York.
This marker in particular was placed to commemorate the historic red caboose located in Neahwa Park. In 1883, the train car was the meeting place of eight railroad workers who joined together to form the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen, later renamed to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen in 1890. This was one of the earliest—and became one of the largest—labor organizations in the country, lasting until its dissolution in the 1960s to merge with various other unions. Seeing the importance of the red caboose, the union and its partners petitioned for the car to be restored, and it was moved to its current location in Neahwa Park in 1924.
