(rshsdepot) North Canaan, CT

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On the WFSB website at http://www.wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1063439


Historic Railroad Station in North Canaan gets a new owner
  
NORTH CANAAN -- Canaan's historic Union Station, which was partially lost to a
tragic fire a year ago, has been sold by its privately held owner to a not for
profit organization, The Connecticut Railroad Historical Association Inc. With
CRHA non-profit status, it expects to acquire state and or federal assistance
to resurrect Canaan's railroad tradition back to its full glory. After several
months of negotiation with Paul Ramunni, the Union Station's private owner,
the organization of railroad and history buffs acquired the historic depot
station in the heart of North Canaan. CRHA plans to reconstruct the building
completely to its original architectural detail and splendor, according to
CRHA Secretary Lyle Kloke. "We've wanted the property for years, and a
recently reinvigorated CRHA got the opportunity to purchase the depot," Kloke
said. As a not for profit with a special interest in the railroad tradition in
Canaan, the organization will pursue state and federal funds to supplement
other CRHA fund-raising activities for the project that is estimated to cost
$2.5 million dollars, according to Kloke. "We've already had some individuals
expressing interest in our fund raising effort for the station," Kloke said.
The road to rebuilding the Canaan Union Station started shortly after a fire
last October destroyed the east-west tower and much of the inside of the
north-south tower. At the annual Railroad Days celebration in July, a newly
founded group called the Friends of Canaan Union Station (FOCUS) announced
plans for preserving the historic railroad station and recovering the heart of
North Canaan. Over 80 people turned out to view the blueprints for the project
at a special celebration, but plans and blueprints were not enough to actually
restore the remaining structure, according to Ramunni. Ramunni 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, but he was forced to put the building up for
sale at the end of September. "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. Kloke said he's not certain what role FOCUS would
play in the not for profit CRHA's fundraising efforts, or whether a conflict
of interest existed that might preclude CRHA and FOCUS from working together.
But the rail CRHA will travel toward the resurrection will be through its
non-profit status and ability to get state and federal funding, the private
owner Ramunni, wasn't able to acquire. The successful acquisition was
celebrated at the site with Christmas lights strung to illuminate the old red
caboose and a Christmas tree for the holidays. According to Kloke, it
indicates to the community that life has returned to the historic structure,
which has been rekindled once again. Its new owners will take all the
appropriate steps to return it to its original splendor


Henry

J. Henry Priebe Jr.    Blue Moon Internet Corp Network Administrator
www.bluemoon.net       Internet Access & Web Hosting
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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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