90 and 11

In the movies, whenever a film maker wants to convey the heat of a desert or other warm locale, the camera will usually take a few establishing shots of the area featuring visual distortions from the heat, a scant few desert creatures, or perhaps a clichéd skeleton adorning the sandy ground. As a blogger, I have no such visual tools to capture the essence of how hot it is inside this building today. I have only two numbers -- 90 degrees, 11:00 am.

As you know by now, we had to postpone our Tug of War due to a lack of participation. The event has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 27th. We're hoping that the extra weeks will give us a chance to talk to more businesses, involve some college fraternities and sororities, and other people who would be less likely to be vacationing in the fall than in the summer. Also, given the current temperature, it might make pulling an 800,000 pound locomotive a tad easier if the thermometer doesn't show off as much mercury.

The museum building, Norfolk & Western's historic freight station, is 89 years old this year. Back in the day, it utilized gravity vents to cool the interior. These vents created a nearly constant breeze through the building. As the building was upgraded with modern air conditioning, the gravity vents were sealed off, but the hoods were left on top of the roof. These hoods are still visible atop the building, but serve only to mock those of us working here without the luxury of central air.

In any event, it's hot. But we're still open. Come on down and see us, but bring a water bottle. You'll need it.