Fred Otto Makowsky Papers Locomotives--Railroad stations--Railroads--Transportation <a href=https://archivessearch.lib.uconn.edu/repositories/2/resources/513 show="New" actuate="OnRequest">Fred Otto Makowsky Papers finding aid </a>. The Fred Otto Makowsky Papers consist of photographs taken by Makowsky and papers collected by him. The photographs consist of over 4000 images of New Haven Railroad and other American steam and electric locomotives, multiple unit cars, and trolleys, and scenes of Stamford, Connecticut. Most of the images were removed from the original albums, given unique identifying numbers, and sleeved in Mylar enclosures. The photographs of Stamford, Connecticut, remain in their original album compiled by Makowsky. The papers consist of train tickets, newspaper clippings, correspondence to Makowsky, and other railroad-related printed materials. In addition, two models of New York & New Haven Railroad coaches, built by Makowsky in 1936, are on permanent display in the Reference Room, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center. Archives & Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library The collection was donated by Roy Makowsky, nephew of Fred Otto Makowsky, of Westport, Connecticut. Prior to Roy Makowsky's ownership of the papers and photographs they belonged to his aunt Mary Makowsky and then his mother. [Item, Folder # or photographic identifier number], Fred Otto Makowsky Papers. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries. Fred Otto Makowsky was born in New York City on 26 July 1888. His father, Otto Maximilian Makowsky, immigrated from Germany. When Fred was at an early age, his family moved to Stamford, Connecticut, where his father opened a successful barbershop on Relay Place. Young Fred demonstrated a keen interest and an exceptional skill in crafting things at an early age. At age 13 he built his first model train, a sleeper passenger coach. It was built of cardboard, well- lacquered and painted and had wheels of thread spools. When 14 he build a working paddle wheel boat by modifying a small rowboat. Although he had several varying interests at that time, such as collecting butterflies, Indian arrowheads, and stamps and coins, his real love was railroads. He wanted to work in railroading, but his father discouraged such a "new-fangled" pursuit and directed him to engage in work of "more substance", such as bookkeeping. And so he obtained a job as bookkeeper, accountant working for the coal firm of Graves & Strang. He also had a job more to his liking -- engraving tombstones for Bounty's Monuments -- and did so well that he won a design contest for a Stamford City Monument. Throughout his life, Fred Makowsky continued to be lured by railroads. On weekends he traveled throughout the country to view various cars or railroad stations, which he photographed. Over the years, he acquired an extensive collection of railroad timetables, train tickets, posters, photographs and other railroad memorabilia. He spent countless hours crafting metal railroad cars, paying attention to minute details in an effort to recreate them as perfectly as possible. All of these cars ran in his attic under electric power. He also crafted the tracks, along with realistic scenery, tunnels, turntables and other models. Fred made it a point to attend the Chicago World's Fair to view the Railroad Exhibition, as well as the 1939 New York World's Fair. In 1937 he was offered a job designing and making scenery for backgrounds for exhibits for the New York Fair. However, he turned down the job offer, saying that if his hobby became his work it would cease to be fun. Fred led a very modest life as a bachelor, living in Springdale, Connecticut, with his sister, who also never married. However, his spare time was filled with the vicarious excitement of a new and fascinating means of travel. Although he never could pursue the career he so longed for, one can't help but think that at least he could imagine what life would have been like as a railroad engineer as he crafted his trains, or browsed through his collections. He died on 23 December 1952, leaving a wealth of railroad memorabilia that would live long after him for others to enjoy as he did. Written by Roy Makowsky, donor of the Fred Otto Makowsky Papers. The Fred Otto Makowsky Papers consist of photographs taken by Makowsky and papers collected by him. The photographs consist of over 4000 images of New Haven Railroad and other American steam and electric locomotives, multiple unit cars, and trolleys, and scenes of Stamford, Connecticut. Makowsky, Fred Otto (Creator) 1890s-1952 clippings (information artifacts) correspondence photographic prints photographs tickets finding aids image/tiff text linear feet:  6.0 20002:MSS20000039 local: MSS 2000.0039 https://archivessearch.lib.uconn.edu/repositories/2/resources/513 http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:MSS20000039 In Copyright The collection is open and available for research. In Copyright In Copyright These Materials are provided for educational and research purposes only