Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of Steam Locomotive Association 253, I would like to invite you to our first annual open house Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at our new location in Fort Pierce, Florida. Our Association is nearing completion on the restoration of the former Florida East Coast Railway steam locomotive #253, and we are also in the process of establishing a working railroad museum facility for the restoration and repair of steam locomotives and other railroad related items in this region; this facility will be the only working railroad museum of this type in Florida and the Southeastern United States. Our goal is the preservation of Florida’s railroad history and other items associated with railroad history of this region as it relates to the steam and diesel era so we would greatly appreciate you attending our first annual open house. The event will consist of tours of #253 and related railcars, the museum currently under construction, a bluegrass band, scale steam engines, and other historic items of this era such as hit-and-miss flywheel engines, antique cars, etc. The event will be free of charge to all participants and patrons excluding items in the SLA 253 gift shop, food and other various items being provided by third party vendors.
Steam Locomotive Association 253 is located at 1401 North Second Street in Fort Pierce, Florida. Directions to the museum: from US 1 in North Fort Pierce travel to avenue H and go east crossing over the railroad tracks and travel one block to North Second Street and turn left (north). The museum is approximately one half mile on the left (west) side of North Second Street. Please feel free to contact me or browse our newly constructed website at http://www.slafec253.org for additional information. I am excited about our first event and look forward to seeing you attend our first annual open house.
Steam Locomotive Association 253 is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization and operates solely on donations provided by our patrons; if you are pleased with the progress of the organization, your guided tour, the event, etc. please consider a donation as your heart leads. Donation boxes are located adjacent to the locomotive and in the gift shop or please see the gift shop staff if you would like to make a donation and receive a receipt for your donation.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey W. Smith
Executive Director
Photographs: Copyright Jeffrey W. Smith 2010