Remembering James Ravenscroft

The Naugatuck History Museum is proud to preserve the work and memory of lifelong Naugatuck resident James Ravenscroft through a model train display that now has a permanent home at the museum.

James was born in Naugatuck on May 1, 1934. He attended Rubber Avenue School, Salem School, and Naugatuck High School, graduating in 1951. On May 1, 1954, he married fellow Naugatuck native Eleanor Stevenson at St. Michael’s Church.

Following his retirement, James developed an interest in model trains, but his projects became much more than a hobby. Drawing upon his memories of growing up in Naugatuck, he recreated local landmarks and scenes from the community he knew. The town represented in his display reflects Naugatuck as it appeared on May 1, 1954, a particularly meaningful date in James’s life, as it was also the day he and Eleanor were married.

The model train display is now housed in the basement of the Naugatuck History Museum. Having a permanent space allows the extensive display to remain assembled while preserving James’s work and the pieces of Naugatuck history represented throughout it.

In 2026, a plaque was donated in memory of James, who passed away in 2025. A private dedication was held at the museum with members of the Ravenscroft family and representatives of the Naugatuck Historical Society. The plaque is now displayed alongside the train exhibit as a lasting tribute to James, his love for Naugatuck, and the memories of the community that inspired his work.