MORE ON CROTON'S MODEL TRAIN STORE KNOWN AS THE ROUNDHOUSE I

We love unraveling a mystery. A reader writes:

I have many fond memories of the train store that used to be down by the tracks.  My dad and I were there twice a month, then off to the diner. A malted for me and French Fries, a coffee and a piece of Coconut Cream pie for him, bought with some of my weekend paycheck as a Sweeper and Errand Boy for a barbershop in Montrose. The walk back was a drag but sometimes a guy named Jimmy Rio would give me a lift into "town".

I was very happy to see the ads for the store on your blog and thought I'd share more of what I found with an A.I. program. All this comes from Face Book. Enjoy.

Response: Thank you.  Will forward it to the Croton Historical Society for them to check.  The ROUNDHOUSE TRAIN STORE ads are here. What the reader found is below; we did our own checking on Google AI:

Historical Profile & Ownership Details

The Owner: The store was owned and operated by Warren Portman, a local resident. [1]
The Expansion: The Croton North Station store was the original flagship. Portman expanded the business due to its success, opening Roundhouse II in Midtown Manhattan (a basement shop near Grand Central Terminal) and Roundhouse III on Martine Avenue in White Plains. [1]
The Legacy: When Portman closed the Croton North location in the late 1970s, he sold the building to an architect. In the early 1980s, he transitioned to a distribution business in Peekskill and opened other ventures like The Train Shop Limited in Manhattan and the Hobby Warehouse in New Rochelle. [1, 2]

REMINDER--LWW CROTON TRUSTEES FORUM 10/8

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton-on-Hudson: our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship -- in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

REMINDER--LWW CROTON TRUSTEES FORUM 10/8

OSSINING MAN REPEATEDLY WATCHED WOMAN THROUGH HER BEDROOM WINDOW

Many thanks to reader PM for following up on these social media rumors. This is from the Patch.

TOWN OF NEW CASTLE, NY — A peeping-tom has been arrested after he repeatedly targeted a Westchester woman, cops say.  The New Castle Police Department says that 50-year-old Juan G. Guambana, of Ossining, was arrested on Thursday for six counts of second-degree unlawful surveillance. MORE AT Ossining Man Repeatedly Watched Woman Through Her Bathroom Window: Police | Chappaqua, NY Patch

ON THE BEAT, THOMAS STAUDTER, THE GAZETTE 10 THRU 10/7, EARLY FALL MIX

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton-on-Hudson: our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship -- in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

THIS WEEK'S 'ON THE BEAT" AT THE GAZETTE (THOMAS STAUDTER, click on the image) features an extensive article entitled EARLY FALL MIX. There's news about The Smithereens, Sasha Dobson, Mike Ledonne's Groover Quartet and so much more.

The Gazette does not have an online presence but is on sale just about everywhere.

LITHUANIA CELEBRATES GUARDIAN ANGELS' DAY - ANGELU SARGU DIENA--A.K.A. LITHUANIAN POLICE DAY

Friends travelling overseas sent this photo---their coffee on October 2nd and GUARDIAN ANGELS DAY-- In Lithuania, October 2nd is widely recognized as Angelų Sargų diena (Guardian Angels' Day). While it stems from the Catholic calendar, it serves a distinct secular role today: it is officially celebrated nationwide as Lithuanian Police Day (Policijos diena). The name honors police officers as the symbolic "guardians" and protectors of society. CLICK ON THE IMAGE, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

OUR REGULAR FRIDAY GUEST FEATURE--TOM FARANDA'S FOLLY: HIS FRIDAY COCKTAIL SERIES... & NOW THE MAPLE OLD-FASHIONED

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton-on-Hudson: our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship --- in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

OUR REGULAR FRIDAY GUEST FEATURE--TOM FARANDA'S FOLLY---AND HIS FRIDAY COCKTAIL SERIES---AND NOW...THE MAPLE OLD-FASHIONED. This looks soooooooooooooo delicious! go to Friday cocktail – Maple Old Fashioned

SCAM ALERT/PHISHING ALERT--MY CHART

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

A number of readers----your editor too----have reported a sudden end-of-week uptick in these MYCHART EMAILS.  None of us have ever had a MONTEFIORE MY CHART account. Delete!

HUDSON VALLEY COCAINE TRAFFICKING RING TAKEDOWN...

To those who have asked: the immigration status of any of the arrested IS UNKNOWN; please make your own inquiries

READ THE ARTICLE AT Hudson Valley Cocaine Trafficking Ring Takedown Leads To 10 Arrests: AG James | Mid Hudson Valley, NY Patch

DEADLINE APPROACHING--WESTCHESTER COUNTY YOUTH SERVICE AWARDS 2026

The Westchester County Youth Bureau and Youth Board are currently accepting nominations for the 2026 Youth Service Awards for high school students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to their community.

Criteria and Deadline for Nominations

Nominees must be high school students in 11th or 12th grade who reside in Westchester

A nominator may nominate more than one student -- please use a separate nomination form for each student.

Students are not permitted to nominate themselves.

Nominations must be submitted by Friday, October 9, 2026, at 5 p.m. SEE MORE AT 2026 Youth Service Awards

BY SPECIAL REQUEST: DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES---BOYS

A reader doesn't care much for what's available commercially these days in Halloween costumes for boys and wants to try the home-made, traditional route.....but is all thumbs...... 

We get that.....You may find some inspiration from a page out of the 1970 Sears Wishbook...click on the photo.......or...the easiest---grab your glue gun and...

BY SPECIAL REQUEST: DIY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES---BOYS

***FOOTBALL FIELD, DOLLAR STORE COSTUME; MORE HERE

***SPIDER INFESTATION COSTUME! MORE HERE.

***FELT PUPPY EARS HEADBAND; GO TO Felt Puppy Ears Headband

***NO SEW PIRATE COSTUME; MORE HERE

***6 COOL HOME MADE FIRE FIGHTER COSTUMES; MORE HERE

You may also enjoy EverythingCroton: SOME IDEAS FOR AN OLD FASHIONED HALLOWEEN PARTY AND THE KINDERGARTEN SET

OY--THE CORNELL SITUATION---THE CORNELL 7 LAWSUIT SERVED THE WRONG PERSON--NOW HE'S THE TARGET OF AN INTERNET MOB

PAYWALLED--Why THE FREE PRESS is so important---read more of this harrowing tale at EXCLUSIVE: The Cornell 7 Lawsuit Served the Wrong Person. Now He’s the Target of an Internet Mob.

CONGRATS MANUEL CORONEL, JR.

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

CONGRATULATIONS Manuel Coronel, Jr. - SEE MORE AT Croton Resident Among Three Honored in Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration - River Journal Online - News for Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Irvington, Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Cortlandt and Peekskill

Your editor knows his parents from their long standing involvement in the Hispanic Ministry at Holy Name of Mary and the Our Lady of Guadalupe events.

ONE OF THE LATE FATHER BRENNAN'S PASSIONS--UNITED FOR THE TROOPS HAS A NEW HOME

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

ONE OF THE LATE FATHER BRENNAN'S PASSIONS--UNITED FOR THE TROOPS HAS A NEW HOME--Read more at  New home for United for the Troops - Mid Hudson News

Happy days at Holy Name of Mary, Father Brennan and United for Troops--at EverythingCroton: HAPPIER DAYS, FATHER BRENNAN, UNITED FOR THE TROOPS 2012

SOME IDEAS FOR AN OLD FASHIONED HALLOWEEN PARTY AND THE KINDERGARTEN SET

One of our readers is throwing an old fashioned Halloween party for the kindergarten set and wants to be inspired......we're happy to help! And remember, Croton Shoprite, CVS, Apple Farm, and Super Foodtown are your Halloween Headquarters.

LET'S START WITH:

---This Witch’s Brew Halloween Punch will make all your goblins grin! It’s an easy sparkling lime punch the whole family will love. Add dry ice to the punch bowl for an extra-spooky effect!  GET THE RECIPE HERE.

---GOOSEBUMPS PUNCH; your editor saw this served at a Halloween party last year---the kids loved it! Courtesy of SUGAR AND SOUL; get the recipe---and one for Spider Cookies too---by clicking here.

---16, YES SIXTEEN(!), AWESOME HALLOWEEN TREATS TO MAKE WITH THE KIDS; COURTESY OF WILTON, CLICK HERE. 

---ALOT! FROM SCATTERED THOUGHTS OF A CRAFTY MOM; GO TO  70+ Halloween Party Games for Kids