senior-spectrum.com

Trains Are Running on Time at Carmichael Seniors’ Facility

By Daniel Dullum
Spectrum staff

CARMICHAEL — As the large model train made its way around the expertly decorated track in a day room at Gramercy Court, residents could watch and think back to a time when the train was a viable mode of travel.

“We didn’t realize it, but what this has done is create something intergenerational,” said Janet Hamil, Gramercy Court’s marketing director. “When great-grandkids come to visit, after you say ‘Hi’ and so forth, now they have something to talk about. Then the grandparents tell stories about their experiences on the trains.”

Looking for something its residents could relate to and enjoy with their guests, Gramercy Court constructed a large railroad track with scale-size scenery. The display, which cost nearly $3,000, was dedicated Sept. 19.

The train display was constructed by the staff members and the marketing director’s husband, Mike Hamil, using money raised with bake sales, donations, fund raisers, raffles and the sale of commemorative bricks that support the train track, which is nearly 85 feet long.

“This is the only facility I know of that has a train track,” Hamil told those in attendance for the ribbon-cutting, while acknowledging the efforts of contributors such as local toy train enthusiast Earl Martin. “We just started in January. In just six weeks, we raised $2,000 and we plan to do more. We want the track to get as full and as exciting as we can make it.”

George M. Lewis, an assisted living resident at Gramercy, cut the ceremonial ribbon. A retired commercial artist, Lewis also created a railroad painting for the display room.

Dedication bricks can be purchased for $25, with all money going toward the project.