May 5, 2001

A Fitting Tribute
     by Brian Brendel

On Saturday, May 5, members of NVNTRAK were most honored to participate in a very special event, the Celebration of the Life of Lena Wycoff at the Fairfax Station Museum.

Mrs. Wycoff passed away recently. She is quite fondly remembered as the driving force behind the purchase of Fairfax Station from the Southern Railway and the moving and transformation of the station into the railroad museum we all know and love today. Stories of her perseverance in the face of many obstacles were an inspiration to all those who attended the luncheon.

President Horan, along with a delegation of other NVNTRAKers, erected a small layout at the station at the request of the Friends of Fairfax Station BOD for the enjoyment of those attending the event. Many commented on how Mrs. Wycoff had enjoyed our trains being run in the station, and how the layout was a fitting tribute.

Some of the nearly fifty attendees included members of Mrs. Wycoff's immediate family, friends and even schoolmates and students. She was a former schoolteacher, 
U.S. Postmistress at Fairfax Station, and was a past-president of the Clifton Women's club. U.S. Representative Tom Davis also attended and spoke to the gathering at a tree dedication ceremony at the picnic area on the Museum grounds.

I was proud to take part in honoring the woman responsible for founding our adoptive 'home'. While several of us have given of our time in the recent past to do more for the Museum, there is still much more to do. Won't you consider lending a hand at a work party, or simply just joining the museum as a "Friend" for a small donation? 
The Station is our link to the past, our community and to the hobby we so love. 

Here are a few pictures from the celebration - click on them for full-sized pictures!