Over 400 spectacularly-beautiful accordions have been moved into the recently-restored Canaan Union Railroad station in the heart of North Canaan, Connecticut by long-time collector Angelo Paul Ramunni. As creator and owner of the New England Accordion Connection & Museum Company (NEACMC), Ramunni recently relocated the exceptionally-detailed and highly-ornate hand-crafted accordions from throughout the world dating back to the year 1829 into the historic railroad station.
“This is a happy, hands-on experience place that the public is embracing with great joy,” stated Ramunni. “We opened this living historical museum in early July 2021 and visitor’s jaws drop when they enter and see hundreds of accordions in a room with 12’ high wood-beamed ceilings and windows. It is the only room in the original 8,500 square foot station dating back to when it was built in 1872. The rest of the building was destroyed in a 2001 fire and had to be re-built to modern-day specs.”
Between 1984 and 2002, Ramunni owned the historic station to house his CPA business. In 2001 he sold it to the
Connecticut Railroad Historical Association after it was heavily damaged by an arson’s fire. Visitors today to his museum are enthusiastically engaged when he tells them folk stories about what happened in the building over the last 147 years at the ‘crossroads where thousands of people passed through every week.”
In 2011, Ramunni created his accordion museum in a garage on his home’s property in North Canaan, Connecticut. This July, he lovingly relocated and now displays the more than 400 gorgeous accordions he repairs, buys and sells these remarkable ‘bling-enhanced’ vintage accordions. He also offers for sale over 10,000 pieces of sheet music and accordion-related books, plus lessons, and his accordion-playing talents for special events.
“Vienna, Austria in 1829 was where the first ‘official’ accordion was patented,” revealed Ramunni. “In America, the accordion became very popular as the West was being settled and it became an integral part of many emigrating families from across the globe. Being portable and musically-rich with numerous mechanical reeds and sounds, it was played in happy and harrowing times of people’s lives including throughout the Civil War, World War I and II.
People who play accordions offer their personal gifts of music to the listeners. Frequently they create lasting relationships with other people through their music. That is what is happening with this newly-relocated display of accordions. Visitors here experience a great deal of joy and excitement.”
“This museum’s 40 x 24 foot historical room,” continued Ramunni, “is helping people to reconnect to themselves and unite with others again. It offers an energizing and really beautiful atmosphere. It is my blessed joy to witness true excitement and wonder of visitors of all ages as they tour. Visitors walk through taking deep, appreciative and very long breaths of wonder and joy. They especially enjoy my old Wurlitzer jukebox, and I play a lot of polkas!”
The New England Accordion Connection & Museum Company is located in the Canaan Union Railroad station in North Canaan next to the Connecticut Railroad Historical Association Museum and the Great Falls Brewing Company restaurant.
The accordion museum is open each weekend, and by appointment weekdays by calling 860-833-1374 or emailing to ramunni@comcast.net. To learn more, visit www.neacmc.com.
