EAST HAVEN >> In 1945, when buses were replacing trolleys as the main mode of public transportation in Greater New Haven, members of the local trolley-loving community worked together to create the Shoreline Trolley Museum.
Today, more than 300 volunteers continue to keep the museum’s precious historic collection of nearly 100 vintage vehicles, artifacts and documents from the trolley era from being forgotten. One volunteer, George Papaga, has been doing it for 63 years.
“The original generation of members at the museum, they got out after the Second World War. I was 10 and they were about 20 years old. Looking back I’m surprised they even let me hang out with them, being just a kid.”
Decades later, for about four days a week, Papaga says he visits the old track and helps in any way he can. He and other volunteers restore the old trolley cars by painting, fixing mechanics, and other damaged parts. They also lend a helping hand at museum events like the Haunted Isle, Pumpkin Patch, the Fire Truck Show, and Santa’s Trolley Winter Wonderland, among others.