(rshsdepot) Lakeside, OH

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Blaze sets back Lakeside depot renewal
Association planning to repair damage in time for summer use

By STEVE MURPHY
BLADE STAFF WRITER


LAKESIDE, Ohio - Despite extensive fire damage at a partially restored train
depot, Lakeside Association officials still hope to use the historic
facility for community events this summer.

David Geyer, director of municipal services for Lakeside, said a $400,000
renovation of the 1887 structure was almost complete when the blaze started
late Wednesday afternoon. Lakeside fire Chief Ed Cochenour said the old rail
station sustained significant fire and smoke damage, especially in its
attic, where the blaze is thought to have started.

Chief Cochenour estimated damage at $125,000. Investigators had not
determined the cause of the blaze yesterday but did not believe it was
intentionally set. No one was injured.

About 40 firefighters from the Lakeside, Marblehead, Catawba Island
Township, and Port Clinton departments were called to the scene shortly
after 5 p.m. They battled the blaze for two hours before bringing it under
control.

"This was tricky because of limited access to the attic," the chief said.
"There were a lot of rooms up there that were hard to get access to. It
could have been a lot worse. We were fortunate to get it [the fire] knocked
down when we did."

He said quick action by fire crews, who tore off the building's roof to
attack the flames in the attic, saved the depot from destruction.

"I don't know what the Lakeside Association's plans are, but if they decided
they wanted to, it would be rebuildable," Chief Cochenour said.

Mr. Geyer said he expects Lakeside to press ahead with the project.

"This is nothing we can't fix," he said. "It's a little bit of a setback,
but there's lots worse things that could happen. "

Mr. Geyer said the depot was scheduled to be finished May 1, adding that the
fire "probably set us back six to eight weeks. We were just about to the
point where we could start painting, putting the final touches to it."

According to Mr. Geyer, the project's contractor, Brackenridge Construction
of Brackenridge, Pa., had finished work for the day and left the building
before the fire began. He and Chief Cochenour said there was no indication
the workers had any role in causing the fire.

Company officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The Lakeside Association began restoring the depot in October, 2002. The
project included replacing the building's concrete foundation, restoring its
wide, low-hanging eaves, and adding period lighting outside.

Inside, workers restored the former waiting room, ticket office, and another
small room and added modern conveniences, such as a kitchenette, air
conditioning, and rest rooms with handicapped access.

Lakeside officials planned to use the building to host conferences, picnics,
farmers' markets, and wedding receptions.

Thousands of people once passed through the depot during its heyday in the
late 1800s and early 1900s, when most visitors to Lakeside arrived by rail.
But the rise of the automobile led the Lakeside-Marblehead Railroad to end
service in 1930, and the building gradually fell into disrepair.

Lakeside, a gated village established in 1873 on the Marblehead peninsula,
is one of the nation's few remaining Chautauqua communities. They were
formed in the 19th century as meeting places for the United Methodist
Church.


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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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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #613
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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org