UPDATE: Things are looking positive
After a long thaw from the cold winter, the remains of the depot began to emerge from under the snow and ice. With this thaw, it seems CSX may finally be warming up to the idea of salvaging what we can from the depot and working with our group after all! Could it be that the efforts of the group may finally be paying off? Could our newest and most energetic member, Dylan Lambert, have somehow convinced the right people within CSX to work with us? The exact reasons we are not sure but something seems to be finally breaking in the depot’s favor. In early April, members of the East Brookfield Depot Foundation were asked to meet with CSX representatives on-site at the depot once again. The purpose of the meeting was to help build a business case to actually salvage what we can from the depot. It was nice to meet with CSX on-site finally because they were able to see first hand that this depot can be salvaged. For one, the depot itself is not that big of a building. Although the costs to rebuild the depot are in the $500K to $1MIL range they are still relatively low compared to the costs to rebuild other much larger trains stations. If some of the work and materials can be donated, the costs will come down dramatically. Until we see how much of the stone can be salvaged, we just don’t know what these actual costs will be. Second, the main reason the depot was not restored prior to the fire was always due to the fact that it would have to be moved at least 50 feet from the tracks. Moving the entire depot and then restoring it certainly made the project appear much more cost prohibitive that it does now. Since there isn’t much left of the depot, moving it will be much easier. The rebuilding process can be done using new alternative building materials. The group has been looking into all aspects of rebuilding using new building technologies that may, in the end, save thousands of dollars. We want this to be done right but also cost effectively. We are looking at saving as much of the exterior stonework as possible and as many of the support beams to use in the rebuild or as patterns for the “reverse engineered” CAD drawings that are currently in the works.
Overall the meeting went well with both groups agreeing to figure out a cost effective way to salvage as much of the exterior stonework as possible. We all understand that the building must be demolished soon for safety purposes but at least CSX seems willing to finally hand the stone over to our group for a future reconstruction effort. After months of pleading with CSX to hand over the stone, could this becoming a reality? We’ll let you know soon but we’ve learned that things like this move slowly when dealing with CSX.
Although there are still many questions left unanswered, we thought we should at least let everyone know things are in fact once again looking positive for this old historic train depot. Please make sure to continue the effort and reach out to anyone and everyone that may be able to help. The current estimated demolition timeframe is mid-to-late June so we don’t have much longer to convince CSX to do the right thing. The Town of East Brookfield has already offered to store the stone for our group and we hope we have a chance to once again rebuild the depot. As always, if anyone has any suggestions or would like to help, please contact us at ebdepot@gmail.com. Thanks again for all your efforts.
Finally, we’d like to let everyone know our friend, railroad author and photographer, Brian Solomon, survived the recent devastating tornadoes in his hometown of Monson, MA. The good people of Monson and surrounding towns from Westfield to Charlton need our help to rebuild their lives after these horrific tornadoes. Please reach out and do what you can to help these communities! Brian has been a leading voice for our efforts to save the depot and be sure to look for his upcoming article about the depot in the New York Central System Historical Society’s Magazine, “Central Headlight”.
DEMOLITION
It is with great sadness to inform you that we learned earlier this week the Depot is scheduled for demolition due to potential liability concerns with potentially hazardous materials. We learned this at a face-to-face meeting with the executive leadership at CSX. Upon learning this news, we then requested the land to one day build a new community structure in Depot Square for the town. Today, we learned this too has been officially denied because the land, similar to the stone remains, is too considered potentially hazardous by a group within CSX. Unfortunately we live in a world today were CSX is forced to take this stand against a historic building of this kind. At least the leadership at CSX was gracious enough to meet with our group and hear our requests in person. For this we thank them. We just wish the outcome would have been different.
Help Save the East Brookfield Depot
The Historic Train Depot in East Brookfield was severely damaged by fire on Saturday Sept. 18th, 2010. The Depot is privately owned by the Railroad (CSX) and they may be forced to demolish the remaining structure for safety reasons. A passionate grassroots effort has launched to try to keep CSX from removing the building remains altogether. We understand they may have to dismantle it for safety concerns, however our goal is reach out to CSX and make them aware of the groundswell of support to preserve the Depot. Now, what would Depot Square be without a Depot? We cannot do it alone. We need your help asking CSX to halt any removal of the remaining structure. They need to hear how important the Train Depot is to all of us. Please make your voices heard. We are in the process of setting up a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation to support this effort. If you are interested in contributing please contact us using the appropriate method below:
Email us at: EBDepot@gmail.com
Pledge a Monetary Donation: At this time, please pledge a donation. We have not received our tax deductaible status yet so any monetary donations will NOT be tax deductible. If you would still like to make a donation, please make your check payable to “East Brookfield Depot Foundation” and mail it to the address below. (Remember to include your name and phone number as we will be returning all donations should nothing happen.)
Pledge an “In-Kind” Donation: If you would like to make an in-kind donation of your time or skills, we are in need of fundraisers, grant writers, researchers, builders, carpenters, masons, welders, roofers, structural engineers, electricians, plumbers, architects, etc… Contact us and pledge your in-kind donation so we may call on you when we are ready to do so. Email: EBDepot@gmail.com
Spread the Word: Please spread the word about this important community project as we will certainly need help from everyone. If you are a teacher and you would like your class to get involved, please let us know as we have a few ideas of how the children can help or maybe you have some creative ideas of your own. We’d love to hear from you. If you administer a website or group, please post a link to our website and facebook page to help get the word out as we cannot do this alone.
Thank you all for your support.
Mailing Address:
East Brookfield Depot Foundation
P.O. BOX 205
East Brookfield, MA 01515
Sign the Electronic Petition Here
Website: http://eastbrookfielddepot.com
Join Our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Historic-Train-Depot-in-East-Brookfield/103939949670829
The Door is Not Closed Yet
Although the events of the past few weeks haven’t been very positive, the effort to save the depot are not over yet. The railroad is still claiming the stone and land are potentially hazardous however no testing has been done. This has prompted many people to wonder if the railroad will be leaving “potentially” hazardous land in Depot Square. Senator Brewer has contacted CSX and let them know they are responsible for cleaning the site and cannot leave hazardous land in Depot Square. He also requested that CSX reconsider providing this cleaned land to the future rebuilding effort. CSX has asked for 10 days to respond. So now we wait…
In regards to the stone, many experts we’ve consulted believe the stone cannot be contaminated after the fire. Since CSX is not willing to run tests on the stone and land, these claims are believed to be just another excuse to do nothing. This would not be the first time a train depot burned down and was rebuilt. These hazardous claims are just bringing up more questions than answers.
CSX is certainly living up to their reputation of being anti-human and hostile. The door is still open to change but the hope is fading. So much for their “community outreach program”.
UPDATE: Open Meeting Wednesday Oct. 27th
Over the past few weeks, people have asked how they can help save the Depot. If you can make it to the Hodgkins Building this Wednesday October 27th at 6:30pm, we are ready to share with you how you may be able to help. This is an open meeting for people of all ages and skills to share with you the areas that we need volunteers. We are in need of people from all backgrounds and skill levels from architects to carpenters and fundraisers to bloggers. If you are passionate about saving the Depot, stop in between 6:30-7:30pm to learn where we need your help and take a chance to look through the wonderful history of the Depot. If you cannot make this meeting but still want to help, please email us at EBDepot@gmail.com to learn more.
How many times in your life do you get a chance at saving a train depot and making history? Or is it… saving history and making a train depot?
The meeting will take place in the Historical Museum in the Hodgkins Building at 108 School Street, East Brookfield, MA. We will only be there from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. This meeting is a repeat of last weeks meeting for anyone who could not make it then. If you made the meeting last week, there is no need to come again this week.
The Depot’s Got Soul…
A few days after the Depot fire, local blues singer and songwriter Crawdad E. Creek stopped down to have a look around. The next day he came up with this song about the East Brookfield Depot. With the help of the 4-Track Chicken Shack Recording Studio the song below was recorded within eyesight of the Depot. We love it and hope you do too! Crawdad E. Creek is graciously offering it free to download to help raise awareness about the East Brookfield Depot and the need to save it. Crawdad E. Creek is an American Hero and Iraq war veteran, on the side, when not singin the blues. The lyrics are below. This song and others are currently in production and will be sold to help benefit the rebuilding effort of the Depot in the near future. We’ll let you know when its ready.
Download the song here The Station – Crawdad E. Creek
Play it here
The Station: A Song written and sung by Crawdad E. Creek
Like departin’ passengers over the years,
Our Grand Old Station has too disappeared.
Presidents, Little folk, and Grand old dames,
Came to East Brookfield and they waited on trains.
The station held the memory,
Of each train’s soul,
Now you could smell it in the diesel,
You could smell it in the coal.
The platform standing like an old boardwalk,
Crowded with folks waitin’ on the Wolverine or Mohawk,
To Boston, and Albany, and points unknown,
This is where we welcomed our soldiers home.
The station held the memory,
Of each train’s soul,
You could smell it in the diesel,
You could smell it in the coal.
So stoke the box and pour on the coal,
If you listen real hard you’ll hear the whistle blow,
All aboard the conductor would say,
And they punch your ticket as proof that you paid.
The station held the memory,
Of each train’s soul,
You could smell it in the diesel,
You could smell it in the coal
Copyright 2011 Crawdad E. Creek http://crawdadecreek.com/
Sign the Petition to Save the Depot
To: All Parties Who Have a Voice in the Fate of the East Brookfield Depot
The “Save the Historic Train Depot Petition” is intended to document the public support that exists for the desire to salvage the remains of the Depot and rebuild it one day in the future in close proximity to the existing Depot Square location in East Brookfield. This includes the desire to gain access to the current Train Depot site prior to demolition to perform a complete building map of the remaining structure, and for the opportunity to carefully salvage the remains after demolition for a future rebuilding effort. We also request that CSX donate or lease land in the Depot Square area as the future site of the Depot.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Please sign the electronic petition below using the comments form. If you are undable to sign the electronic version below, we do have a hard copy of the petition available at different locations throughout East Brookfield. We will have a list of locations shortly.
The Last Stand
In support of saving the East Brookfield Depot, 55 or more concerned citizens came out to “Stand with the Station” symbolizing the last chance to save the Depot for our community. There have been several attempts over the past twenty years to secure ownership of the depot, most recently by Ruth McNeaney in 2002 when she was able to get it registered on the Preservation Massachusetts Most Endangered Historic Resources. Here you can see some of the incredible details of the interior and exterior of the Depot which make it so unique in its design and character.
Standing with the Station 10-02-10
Fire Destroys the Historic Train Depot in East Brookfield
Train depot damaged in East Brookfield
scroteau@telegram.com
Firefighters arrived to find fire coming from one side of the building, but it was near the CSX Corp. railroad tracks making the fire difficult to attack at first.
“We had to verify the trains had been stopped,” Chief Livermore said. “That was my main concern. I refused to let guys get there until the trains were stopped.”
There was only about 15 feet of space between the building and the tracks. Trains were stopped for about an hour, allowing firefighters to battle the blaze better.
“We had quite a situation. It was a totally boarded up building,” the chief said. “Every window had been secured with plywood and trim boards.”
The stone and brick building, owned by CSX, according to the chief, started to collapse. The chief said it is a shame to lose such a historic building.
No determination of cause or origin has been determined yet. Fire officials along with state and the East Brookfield police are investigating. Brookfield Fire assisted at the scene while Spencer Fire covered the town’s fire stations.
