From the Daily News:A Long Island City man hopes to lift Queens tourism with the nation's first elevator museum.
Retired elevator executive Patrick Carrajat, 67, has packed 4,000 artifacts he salvaged and bought online into his fledgling 44th Ave. institution. Displays range from White House elevator inspection certificates to an animation cel of the Pink Panther by an elevator.
"I saw the history disappearing and said to myself, 'Somebody has to preserve it,'" Carrajat said.
Carrajat transformed a former classroom for prospective cabbies into the museum at 21-03 44th Ave., where shelves are filled with buttons, cigarette lighters and golf balls with names of elevator manufacturers.
Carrajat said he chose to open in Long Island City because it's close to the subway and about 20 elevator companies operate in a 10-block radius.
Is any taxpayer money going toward funding this?
13 comments:
If I don't say this, someone else will. It's a place that has its ups and downs.
Sorry, Crapper.
Steinway Mansion is going to be destroyed at this rate because no local politician is coming forward with money - yet this guy gets support.
Oh I get it - he is helping a developer use space - now lets see if the developer can put in a building twice the size allowed by law cause he has a 'community facility.'
He's been asking local elevator companies for months if they have any old equipment that they would give to him.
I would suggest the skystreak elevators from the New York State pavilion for this museum.
Glad to see the guy got a lift!
Re the Steinway Mansion:
It's the "STEINWAY" Mansion. Tell me why the Steinway Company is not coughing up all or some dough to preserve their namesake's legacy?
I'm curious if this guy got any funds, but there's no mention of it, or of an admission fee.
LIC's industrial history overall needs some better documentation and preservation, and honestly, this is a nice small nitch in that. I see no harm.
Something should be done about the steinway mansion, though sadly, it's in the middle of nowhere in terms of accessibility via transit, and it's neighbors are a power plant, a sewage treatment facility, and nearby bridge to a rotten jail. Not exactly a big tourist draw area if you ask me.
Something should be done about the steinway mansion, though sadly, it's in the middle of nowhere in terms of accessibility via transit, and it's neighbors are a power plant, a sewage treatment facility, and nearby bridge to a rotten jail. Not exactly a big tourist draw area if you ask me.
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Sure, let's take it apart and send it upstate - many places are willing to spend the funds on something besides pulling developers out of the holes they dug for themselves and the interest to do something that actually benefits their local community (as opposed to saying that but really only helps developers - like going apeshit over pissing money on improving public transportation on an empty waterfront).
Oh, and the electeds have proposals to revitilize the area - a place where people from all around the world in all kinds of weather hike to the factory.
The pols know that too.
Finally, perhaps one of the reasons the company might be interested - but is reluctant to get involved - not a single elected contacted them to work with them.
No folks, the Steinway Mansion will likely be lost because of the lack of courage, conviction, and class in the Joe Crowley Machine - and Queens legendary passiveness in letting those bozos walk all over us.
If he isn't receiving any money from the government this is awesome. If he is, its probably not enough to save the Steinway mansion and I think I can live with that. History museums are important too. We should have enough money for both if it wasn't wasted everywhere else.
Myth
If he isn't receiving any money from the government this is awesome.
REALITY
SURE, AND I WILL WIN THE LOTTO TOMORROW CAUSE THE TOOTH FAIRY WILL LEAVE A TICKET UNDER MY PILLOW TONITE.
YOU DON'T TAKE A CRAP IN THIS BORO UNLESS ITS AUTHORIZED.
Myth
If he is, its probably not enough to save the Steinway mansion and I think I can live with that.
REALITY
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS IN NYC TO SAY NOTHING OF AN ARCHITECTURAL GEM.
YOU ARE, MY FRIEND, IGNORANT.
Myth
History museums are important too. We should have enough money for both if it wasn't wasted everywhere else.
REALITY
IF YOU WANT TO BULLDOZE A COMMUNITY INTO OBLIVION THE LAST THING YOU NEED IS A HISTORY MUSEUM.
IF YOU WANT OFFICIAL PROPAGANDA, IT HAS TO COME FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES. ANYTHING GRASSROOTS IS DANGEROUS. VERY DANGEROUS
ONE THING MULTICULTURISM TAUGHT US: ANY PEOPLE WITH NO PAST HAVE NO FUTURE.
QUEENS IS NOT COMMUNITIES, BUT COMMODITIES. LAND, PURE N SIMPLE.
"skystreak elevators from the New York State pavilion for this museum"
Agreed but sadly there is nothing left of the pods that can be saved
I seen them up close there is nothing left but 3 rusting I-beams and some broken & badly decomposed fiberglass fenders.
The control buttons and stainless steel headliners are gone.
A relay board and a Otis motor is in the sub basement all the copper wire is stripped.
Very interesting design from what I saw some years ago when I worked on the Rocket restoration project.
---The NSP elevators used a large single 3 phase motor yet the pods could be operated independently.
The 12 elevators in the 3 buildings of the "luxury rentals" of Parker Towers should be condemned and should be placed in this museun as 12 of the worst elevators in Queens
To clear up a few errors in postings by the uninformed.....
The museum is funded solely by me, no funds have been sought or given.
There is no admission charge.
We are open every day 10AM-4PM.
I have not asked any local elevator companies for any items, though donations of historically significan items are welcome and we have had a few since opening.
Please take the time to stop by, see what one man's commitment to preserving his industry's history has accomplished.
And, yes I pay rent like any other tenant, no deals, no discounts and no developer!
Patrick Carrajat
Founder, Curator and Financial Supporter
917.748.2328
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