Railway Station Historical Society Railfan.net E-Mail List Photo Archive

IMG_2102_edited_e.jpg   Original: 576 by 432 pixels - Current: 576 by 432 - 100%
                          Try your mouse wheel too!


From: "Bernard Rudberg" brudberg AT frontiernet DOT net
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 16:22:15 -0400
Subject: Hopewell Depot Restoration
"IMG_2102_edited_e.jpg" - image/jpeg, 47573 bytes, 576x432 (24bit)



This is the new floor being installed in the depot by our contractor.

ANNUAL MEETING
Hopewell Depot Restoration Inc.
Annual meeting and election of officers.

7 PM Wednesday 27 April 2005
East Fishkill Community Center
Located off Rte. 82 in the center of Hopewell between the RR overpass
and the Rte.376 traffic light across from McHoul's.

This will be our annual election of officers and a report on depot work
progress. Most of the work has been done by a very small dedicated
group. The depot project is sadly in need of help from Saturday work to
fund raising and publicity. For example; in addition rebuilding the floor
structure, Jerry Carey is also the VP and treasurer.

DEPOT PROGRESS
With the backing of the Town of East Fishkill, work has been progressing
on replacing the foundation sills and the floor beams of the depot. Phase
1 includes new sills around the foundation, a new floor and a new roof.
We have recently speeded up operations by hiring a contractor. We also
have temporary construction electrical service on a pole near the building.
The pole was provided and installed by our good neighbor, Rich Carroll.

The original sills have rotted because the wooden structure of the
building was in contact with the ground. Plans call for replacement of the
sill beams and later, new construction of a wooden walkway around the
building so the new sills will not touch the ground. The walkway will be
very similar to the platform around the depot in older photographs.

volunteer labor we get, the farther the money will go toward future
restoration. In the coming weeks we will be asking for volu Part of phase
1 is replacement of the dry rotted floor. Our VP and Treasurer Jerry
Carey has already started on the project. In the last few weeks the
contractor has finished installing new sill beams and a plywood floor. At
a later time the plywood floor will be covered with hardwood similar to
the original depot floors.

One of the cross beams on the east wall has separated and needs repair
and the chimney needs some attention. The next major project in phase 1
will be the roof structure repair and resurfacing. By the completion of
phase 1 the building will be safe and dry to work inside. Then much of
the detailed restoration work can begin on the interior, walls, ceilings,
doors and windows.

There will also be work needed on the stairs down into the basement.
Water erosion had caused a buildup of sand at the bottom of the basement
steps. The sand has been removed and a new masonry wall installed to
prevent more erosion. New steps and a floor hatch will be added.

Recently the two ceramic sections and the cap on top of the chimney have
been removed and stored. They will be reinstalled when the chimney and
roof work is done. There are enough projects to keep us busy for years to
come.

With only a small group of volunteers actually working, the progress is
slow. The more nteer time and effort to make the best use of the town
financial support. Keep an eye out for E-Mail notes and/or snail mail
letters for specific projects. We will need all
the volunteer help we can get.

Hopewell Junction is rich in railroad history but much of it is in
danger of being lost forever. We must preserve as much as possible
for future generations.

Many towns across the country have recognized the significance of their
railroad past and are restoring their railroad stations.

************************************
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF RAILROADING
Some of the more interesting tales come under the heading of
unusual cargo. For example, conductor Hemingway got a note from
superintendent Kimball saying that on Saturday morning his train was to
carry one cow from Hopewell Junction to Pine Plains. Just where the cow
was supposed to ride was not specified.

In the ND&C letterbooks there are at least two letters explaining that the
fare is double the standard adult rate for carrying corpses to the cemetery.
The ND&C Railroad charged a rate of $6.00 per car for hauling the
Barnum and Bailey circus from Millerton to Shekomeko while they
hauled stock free if the animals had been exhibited at the state fair in
Syracuse.

General Freight Agent Underhill wrote special instructions to
agent G. H. Bontecou at Dutchess Junction regarding the handling of five
carloads of willow blocks. The blocks were to be loaded on a Hudson
River schooner and shipped to A. A. Marks, 701 Broadway, New York
City. Mr. Marks, it seems was a manufacturer of artificial limbs and the
blocks of willow wood were destined to become wooden legs and arms.

THE ND&C RAILROAD
There are still some soft cover copies of the book Twenty Five years on
the ND&C RR available. All the hard covers are sold out. Barnes &
Noble in Poughkeepsie had a few as well as the model train shop in Red
Oaks Mill. Other book stores may have a copy or two left. In addition
they are available by mail from the Purple Mountain Press in
Fleischmanns NY and also over the internet on the web site of the New
Haven RR Historical Society.
Their web site is:
http://NHRHTA.ORG
Just click on the book sales icon.
************************************
SHARING HISTORY
Do you know of any photos of Hopewell History ? If you have or know
someone who has photos to share with the members, send a note or call
me, Bernie Rudberg, at 221-9330.. I have facilities to scan and print
photos without any damage to the originals. I can also do minor repairs
of cracks or marks on the scanned prints. I can even do the scanning at
your location with a portable computer and scanner. If you have photos
let me know and I will pick them up and return them after scanning or
scan them on site. We would love to see any old pictures you might have
hidden away in a family album.
**********************************

MEMBERSHIP DUES
Individuals $10.00
Families $18.00
Seniors/Students $ 5.00
If you get your newsletter via E-Mail, your renewal is due one year from
the last time you paid. If you get the newsletter via snail mail, take a
look
at the address on your newsletter envelope. The date after your name is
the last time your membership was renewed. If the date is more than a
year ago it is time to renew. Send to the treasurer:
Jerry Carey
Hopewell Depot Restoration
P O Box 1044
Hopewell Junction, NY, 12533-1044
***********************************
CURRENT OFFICERS
President. Bernie Rudberg
VP and Treas. Jerry Carey
Secretary Jackie Prusak
Newsletter Editor Bernie Rudberg

Bernie Rudberg
7 Marion Ave.
Wappingers Falls, NY, 12590-6017
phone 221-9330 or E-Mail
Brudberg@frontiernet.net

Jerry Carey
27 Tamarack Dr.
Hopewell Junction, NY, 12533-6432
phone 897-2145 or E-Mail
jcarey_mba@idsi.net Or
jerry@mcgrathandco.com


IMG_2102_edited_e.jpg

Click Here or on the corner X to close this window.


    All photos are the property of the original photographer unless otherwise noted and are to be used for personal viewing purposes only.

    The use of these photos on any website or other distribution media is strictly forbidden without the express consent of the image copyright holder.

    Linking directly to this page is permitted as long as "Railfan.net Email List Photo Archive" is creditted on the linking page.