(rshsdepot) North Canaan, CT

["jdent1_@_optonline.net" <jdent1@optonline.net>]

From the Torrington, CT Register Citizen=2E=2E=2E

Union Station project falls short
 =20
BLAINE M=2E SERVEN SR, Register Citizen Staff September 27, 2002=20
  =20
NORTH CANAAN - After a swell of support from the community, and a major
push to restore North Canaan's historic Union Station, Paul Ramunni has
been forced to sell the property as owner was unable to find contractors t=
o
perform the needed work=2E=20
The effort to rebuilding the Canaan Union Station started shortly after a
fire destroyed the east west tower and much of the inside of the north
south tower last October=2E At the Railroad Days festival in July, a newly=

founded group called the Friends of Canaan Union Station announced plans
for preserving the historic railroad station=2E

Over 80 people turned out to view the blueprints for the project at a
special celebration, but plans and blueprints have not been enough to
actually restore the remaining structure, according to Ramunni=2E

While Ramunni has demonstrated every intention to return the building to
operation with Keilty's Depot restaurant on the ground floor and his
accounting firm Ramunni, Buska & Sinnamon on the second floor, he has been=

forced to put the building up for sale=2E

"Contractors are too busy, there's not enough money in the project for
them, or they don't want to invest the time and materials," Ramunni said=2E=


After a summer of efforts trying to attract contractors to the restoration=

project, roadblocks like new building codes have been tough hurdles to
overcome=2E Since more than a third of the original historic structure was=

lost in the fire, new and much more current building codes must be observe=
d
to restore the remaining structure=2E

"It has been incredibly, profoundly, disappointing=2E I never imagined it
would come to this," Ramunni said=2E

Expecting that the Union Station would be rebuilt by this point with
Keilty's Depot returned, Ramunni had plans that included a small museum an=
d
store on the first floor with the favorite eatery=2E But as it currently
stands, Keilty's may be going elsewhere, according to Ramunni=2E

FOCUS had intended on raising awareness of the historic value of the
station with a brick purchasing fund drive campaign, but without
contractors to do the work all efforts at restoration might fail=2E=20

Ramunni said in July, he would be investing almost $1 million in the
restoration effort hoping that by late November or December the work would=

be complete=2E But clean-up efforts were suddenly stalled as and a long ha=
rd
search for contractors left Ramunni disheartened=2E

"This is the lowest I've been since the fire happened=2E We wanted to rest=
ore
North Canaan's heart, but it's just been one roadblock after another=2E A =
few
parties have demonstrated verbal interest in the building, but it's still
preliminary=2E The smoke hasn't quite cleared," Ramunni said=2E=20
=20
=A9The Register Citizen 2002=20


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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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