ADAIR VILLAGE - The Corvallis Society of Model Engineers, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is getting ready for its annual open houses between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

But first the model railroaders plan to celebrate 50 years of their club's existence with a gala event from 2 to 4 p.m. today with dignitaries of the state of Oregon, Benton County, Adair Village and Corvallis, along with past and current members.

The HO-scale model railroad club, now at 7155 Vandenberg Ave. in Adair Village, was founded in 1959.

It grew out of the Corvallis Comets, a model airplane flying club sponsored by the Corvallis Elks Club as a youth project. When the interest in model airplane flying waned, two members, Jack Culver and Julius Kilmer, approached the Elks about reorganizing as a model railroad club.

In 1971 the Adair Air Force gas station was declared surplus, and Culver and Kilmer, along with Bill Freeman and Bob Lowry, looked into acquiring the building to house the club.

The group, as a nonprofit, got Benton County to acquire the building, which it can use as long as it exists. Society members have added two rooms, for meeting space and a work room.

The open houses will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 5-6.

Admission is $3 for people ages 12 and over, and $1 for ages 5 through 11. Children 4 and under get in free.

Besides the operating layout, there is a wooden train play table, and a selection of new and used items for sale. Parking is free, and the layout is wheelchair-accessible.