James B. Halpin, a retired New York Central Railroad conductor and past Grand Knight of Herkimer Council, Knights of Columbus, died today at his home, 511 Park Ave. after a lengthy illness.
Employed by the railroad for 43 years, he retired in July 1946. He was a member of the Railroad Brotherhood.
Mr. Halpin was born 1 Nov 1876 in Rossie, St. Lawrence County, a son of Edward and Catherine Bogan Halpin. In 1904, he married Lillian Van Nais at St. Francis de Sales Church here. The late James H. Halpin performed the ceremony.
A member of St. Francis de Sales Church and its Holy Name Society, he was a member of both Knights of Columbus Council and its Fourth Degree Assembly.
Born in a log cabin, which he once described as "similar to that of Abraham Lincoln" he attended Rossie schools and entered railroad service at Big Moose in April 1897. Two years later, he came to Herkimer and accepted a position at the Standard Furniture Co.
Railroading, however, was too great a lure, and in July 1901, he helped with construction of the West Canada Creek bridge east of Herkimer. In 1903, he returned as a trainman.
For many years, he was conductor on the Utica-Montreal passenger train, and could recall many famous persons who made the trip.
In his early days, before modern methods of track clearance, trains often became snowbound in the Adirondacks, Mr Halpin recalled that in the worst storm he encountered, on 22 Feb 1914, he left the train to find the engine and became lost himself. He finally located the Gravesville Hill Station, where he remained until a train picked him up the following day.
Employed by the railroad for 43 years, he retired in July 1946. He was a member of the Railroad Brotherhood.
Mr. Halpin was born 1 Nov 1876 in Rossie, St. Lawrence County, a son of Edward and Catherine Bogan Halpin. In 1904, he married Lillian Van Nais at St. Francis de Sales Church here. The late James H. Halpin performed the ceremony.
A member of St. Francis de Sales Church and its Holy Name Society, he was a member of both Knights of Columbus Council and its Fourth Degree Assembly.
Born in a log cabin, which he once described as "similar to that of Abraham Lincoln" he attended Rossie schools and entered railroad service at Big Moose in April 1897. Two years later, he came to Herkimer and accepted a position at the Standard Furniture Co.
Railroading, however, was too great a lure, and in July 1901, he helped with construction of the West Canada Creek bridge east of Herkimer. In 1903, he returned as a trainman.
For many years, he was conductor on the Utica-Montreal passenger train, and could recall many famous persons who made the trip.
In his early days, before modern methods of track clearance, trains often became snowbound in the Adirondacks, Mr Halpin recalled that in the worst storm he encountered, on 22 Feb 1914, he left the train to find the engine and became lost himself. He finally located the Gravesville Hill Station, where he remained until a train picked him up the following day.
James B. Halpin, a retired New York Central Railroad conductor and past Grand Knight of Herkimer Council, Knights of Columbus, died today at his home, 511 Park Ave. after a lengthy illness.
Employed by the railroad for 43 years, he retired in July 1946. He was a member of the Railroad Brotherhood.
Mr. Halpin was born 1 Nov 1876 in Rossie, St. Lawrence County, a son of Edward and Catherine Bogan Halpin. In 1904, he married Lillian Van Nais at St. Francis de Sales Church here. The late James H. Halpin performed the ceremony.
A member of St. Francis de Sales Church and its Holy Name Society, he was a member of both Knights of Columbus Council and its Fourth Degree Assembly.
Born in a log cabin, which he once described as "similar to that of Abraham Lincoln" he attended Rossie schools and entered railroad service at Big Moose in April 1897. Two years later, he came to Herkimer and accepted a position at the Standard Furniture Co.
Railroading, however, was too great a lure, and in July 1901, he helped with construction of the West Canada Creek bridge east of Herkimer. In 1903, he returned as a trainman.
For many years, he was conductor on the Utica-Montreal passenger train, and could recall many famous persons who made the trip.
In his early days, before modern methods of track clearance, trains often became snowbound in the Adirondacks, Mr Halpin recalled that in the worst storm he encountered, on 22 Feb 1914, he left the train to find the engine and became lost himself. He finally located the Gravesville Hill Station, where he remained until a train picked him up the following day.
Employed by the railroad for 43 years, he retired in July 1946. He was a member of the Railroad Brotherhood.
Mr. Halpin was born 1 Nov 1876 in Rossie, St. Lawrence County, a son of Edward and Catherine Bogan Halpin. In 1904, he married Lillian Van Nais at St. Francis de Sales Church here. The late James H. Halpin performed the ceremony.
A member of St. Francis de Sales Church and its Holy Name Society, he was a member of both Knights of Columbus Council and its Fourth Degree Assembly.
Born in a log cabin, which he once described as "similar to that of Abraham Lincoln" he attended Rossie schools and entered railroad service at Big Moose in April 1897. Two years later, he came to Herkimer and accepted a position at the Standard Furniture Co.
Railroading, however, was too great a lure, and in July 1901, he helped with construction of the West Canada Creek bridge east of Herkimer. In 1903, he returned as a trainman.
For many years, he was conductor on the Utica-Montreal passenger train, and could recall many famous persons who made the trip.
In his early days, before modern methods of track clearance, trains often became snowbound in the Adirondacks, Mr Halpin recalled that in the worst storm he encountered, on 22 Feb 1914, he left the train to find the engine and became lost himself. He finally located the Gravesville Hill Station, where he remained until a train picked him up the following day.
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