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

Osage.jpg   Original: 300 by 194 pixels - Current: 300 by 194 - 100%
                          Try your mouse wheel too!


From: jdent1 AT optonline DOT net
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:34:11 -0400
Subject: Osage, IA
"Osage.jpg" - image/pjpeg, 8168 bytes, 300x194 (24bit)

Completing the dream--
Restoring depot continues
by Larry Kershner
Press-News Editor

Photo caption: GERBIG HOPES SOMEONE has old photos of this end of the depot so restoration work can be as true to the original design as possible. At Cedar Valley Memories, the depot sits opposite as to how it sat in Osage. The end towards the camera is now the south end, but was the north end in Osage.

A foursome of volunteers showed up Saturday at the old Chicago-Great Western Railroad depot to continue a restoration project that was one of the many dreams of the late Ed Smolik.
The depot was relocated from Osage last fall and work has been ongoing with new floor joists and foundation work installed last fall and some new flooring on one end.
Project coordinator Lloyd Gerbig said he hopes to finish Ed's dream to have the depot open for visitors by August.
Other restoration and outfitting work will continue for a few years yet, he said, "But we want to have it open to the public for the power show," he noted. The 2004 power show will be the second weekend of August.
He's hoping to have a photo gallery of the depot on display during the power show as well.
Gerbig said the biggest challenge will be restoring what was the north end in Osage, but is now the south end at Cedar Valley Memories.
"I'm hoping someone has an old picture of this end of the depot," Gerbig said. He said old timers told him in the past that there were indoor toilets on that end.
If that's the case, the work will eventually install two non-working toilets made to be the original period one for women and children and one for men.
On Saturday, four volunteers--Gerbig, Dean Wright, Galen Docken and Bill Huebsch--were taking up the original four-inch flooring, along with the original square nails still holding them down. The flooring is made up of maple and fir boards. Gerbig said the underflooring will be restored, and then the boards will be cleaned off and replaced.
He asked if reader should have old four-inch flooring sitting idly by somewhere, if they'd consider donating it to the restoration to replace those brittle boards breaking in the removal process.
New electrical service has already been strung throughout the building. Gerbig and Wright replaced broken floor joists while the building was sitting on the trailer which hauled it from Osage to its present location at Cedar Valley Memories.
In the future will be a new deck extending five feet from the depot and wrap almost completely around it. It will feature a handicapped ramp.
Replacing the original cupola is in "the five-year plan," Gerbig said, adding with a chuckle, "if they (county historical society) don't fire me first."

Work day slated: May 1
A community work day has been scheduled for Saturday, May 1 at the old depot building.
All willing workers will get a job to do. Paint scraping, painting, cleaning and landscaping are some of the projects planned for that day. Contact Lloyd Gerbig at 732-3635; or Dean Wright at 732-5771 for more information.



http://www.mcpress.com/MCPRESS/sites/MCPRESS/0204edition/myarticles744116.asp?P=744116&S=453&PubID=12262




Osage.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.