A crowd of nearly 50 people, including township officials, friends and family of the late Norman R. Rhoads Sr., gathered Sunday, Sept. 20 in Morgan Circle Park near the Village Library in Morgantown to witness the dedication of a special bench and garden in memory of Rhoads who was also known fondly as “The Train Man.”
John Conlow, Chairperson of Caernarvon Township Park and Recreation Board, opened the ceremony held in the park across the street from the Rhoads home.
“It is nice that the township is doing this for this wonderful man who served on Caernarvon Township’s Park and Recreation Board, Board of Supervisors, and the Planning Commission,” he said, which was followed by a word of prayer.
Lenny Smith, a friend of 60 years, welcomed the group.
“I knew Norm for 60 years. My first memory of him was at 10 years old in elementary school when he was up to bat he hit me with a baseball. From that time on we were friends and worked together after high school on many projects to serve the community. One I remember clearly was getting the traffic light installed in the center of town,” said Smith.
“Norm loved trains. We would meet in people’s houses and talk and work on our projects and trains. I last saw him in December when he was sick and he said, ‘You need to have those trains out there at the Christmas party for those kids.’ That was Norm, always wanting what was good for the community. He served because he wanted to serve. I know he would be humbled and want you to continue his legacy. I miss him greatly.”
Shannon Long, co-chairperson of Caernarvon Township Park and Recreation Board, said, “I am also the leader of Girl Scout troop #1724. This project is very important to me and my troop. The Girl Scouts remember him as the ‘train man’. Norm faithfully set up his train display annually for the P & R Board’s Christmas Celebration. The girls did all the plantings here around the bench and will continue to maintain it. They took a lot of care when doing this. They will miss him.”
Norm’s wife, Elaine, greatly thanked the township and the people for coming to the dedication.
“Norm always wanted to do something with this circle that the community would enjoy, a place to fly a kite, a walking track around the circle for rehabilitation, a nice bench to just sit and relax,” said Elaine.
She was accompanied by her little dog, Caroline, and her children and grandchildren. She invited everyone over to the house for cupcakes and drinks.
George Parshall and his wife Christine knew him since 1973. He shared fond memories telling how Norm had a Hobby Shop on Main Street in the center of town and that is how they met.
“I had a private railroad car in Elverson at the Railroad Station then added a Pullman named Baltimore County. We donated that car to Norm since he was on the Railroad Historical Society. We spent many days working on those old trains. Norm was a good friend. We will miss him,” said Parshall.
People were sharing stories.”In 1954 I was in the 1st grade with Norm and we both graduated from Twin Valley. I knew him all those years,” Charlene Sanger from Morgantown said.
The formal dedication reads, “Norm’s sincere concern for the community he lived and raised his children in was evident by his participation in community activities and on township boards. The Park and Recreation Board dedicates this bench today in Norm’s memory, to his beloved family and the community. We hope it will serve as a lasting memorial to someone who did make a difference.”
