College Community Again Adds Its Touch to Popular Holiday Event

Hard-working volunteers with Penn College ties will spark smiles among kids of all ages at the 23rd annual Will Huffman Toy Train Expo, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday at Park Place (800 W. Fourth St.). Two college employees are among the 20 "engineers" of working layouts: Max E. Ameigh, a part-time faculty member in advertising art, and Patrick M. Breen, a first-shift custodian. Breen also joined his General Services co-workers in toting about 70 tables into Park Place as platforms for the exhibitors' various train displays. The holiday tradition is named in memory of its founder, whose sons continue the Penn College connection: Bruce E. is a former instructor of media arts/video production and Eric W. is a shipping and receiving services worker. Among other volunteers affiliated with the college are Eric's wife, Linda D., a General Services custodian who helps with admission; and Patricia M. Russell, a part-time instructor of building construction management, who, as an employee of Anthony H. Visco Jr. Architects in the historic building, facilitates the use of Park Place. A portion of this year's admission donations will be shared with Preservation Williamsport and the Lycoming Unit of the American Cancer Society. A son's poignant recollection of the expo's birth and growth (and a father's passion) was published in the Nov. 17 Williamsport Sun-Gazette.
Photos, from multiple sources, provided by Bruce E. Huffman