Granville Choo Choo...about Curt Tillotson
Curt Tillotson (1937-2007), Granville County's "Trainman" was raised in Oxford, N.C. Raised in a "railroad" family, Tillotson was recruited by the Southern Railway System during his senior year at N.C. State University. However, he decided to teach U.S. history at the local senior high school. His love of trains became his avocation, which he claims "kept me sane during my years of teaching".
In the mid 1950's Tillotson became interested in railroad photography. He wanted to preserve scenes that he felt would eventually vanish. He kept abreast of all types of railroad trains, equipment and developments. His meticulous research and extensive railroad photography collection served him well in publishing five books on railroad related topics.
The Granville County Historical Society Museum has purchased his vast collection of research material, photographs and his personal train collection. An architect and exhibit designer have been employed to design the area where this permanent train exhibit will be located in what has previously been "storage rooms" behind the Harris Exhibit Hall. When completed, there will be a train exhibit room, train research room, new museum workshop and storage facilities. Fundraising activities will begin in 2009. The cost of renovation and exhibit display will be approximately $250,000. The museum will apply for appropriate grants as well as asking the county and towns for assistance.
For further information on what you can do to help the museum in this important endeavor, please contact the museum at 919 693 9706 or by email, pam@granvillemuseumnc.org