The Ups And Downs Of A Museum

By Jason Cohen

Some of the elevator plaques on display at the museum. Photo by Jason Cohen

Imagine a world where buildings only had stairs and people actually had to walk up and down to get around; what would it be like? Ask anybody who lived before 1853, and you'll find out; because that is the year the elevator was invented.

Now, just a mere 158 years later, people have the opportunity to view the history of the elevator in Long Island City at the first-ever museum in the country dedicated to "the lift," as the Brits call it.

Patrick Carrajat, 67, a retired elevator company executive, opened the museum recently at 43-39 21st St. in a former classroom for prospective taxi drivers. He said he chose the location because it is close to the subway and there are 20 elevator companies in a 10-block radius.

From a young age, Carrajat was fascinated by elevators.

"It's a major contributor to the American city," he said of the mechanical lifts.

Carrajat's father owned an elevator company, and at the age of 11, he began to attend work with his father on Saturdays. Once he took the first trip to work with his dad, his infatuation with elevators began.

Carrajat, who was in the elevator business for 50 years, owned the elevator company at the Bushwick Houses in Brooklyn, the Flynn elevator company and one other as well. At one point, he also owned the second largest elevator parts distributor in the nation.

"That also allowed me to have a lot of contacts in the industry," he said.

During his time in the industry filled with ups and downs, he collected some 4,000 artifacts, 2,000 of which are on display in the museum. Most of the items were acquired through contacts and friends he made throughout his years in the business. He also bought many items on eBay.

"It is a museum, but really a collection within the historical society," Carrajat said.

Some of the items in the museum include a signed picture of Leonardo DiCicaprio and Kate Winslet in the elevator from Titanic; children's games involving elevators; the elevator from the first Star Wars movie; golf balls and lighters with elevators on them; mannequins in elevator-operator uniforms; and a White House elevator inspection certificate.

There is no admission for the museum, but people are encouraged to sign up to the Elevator Historic Society at elevatorhistory.org. The plan is to move to a larger space in Long Island City within the next two years, Carrajat said.

Reach Intern Jason Cohen at jcohen@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 124.