(rshsdepot) Canaan, CT

[jdent1_@_optonline.net]

Auction to Help Canaan Effort Build Steam =

By=3A Kathryn Boughton  10/31/2003 =

 =

 =

CANAAN-It has been two years since the Canaan Union Depot was torched by =
a group of teens out on a lark=2E Since then=2C its fate has hung in the =
balance as its former owner struggled to find the funds for the =242=2E2 =
million restoration project=2E =


A year ago=2C ownership was transferred to the nonprofit Connecticut Rail=
road Historical Association (CRHA) and a protracted hunt for grants and o=
ther funding to restore it began=2E Now=2C it appears that the tide is tu=
rning for the 131-year-old structure=2C which=2C until the time it was bu=
rned=2C was the oldest depot at the union of two rail lines in the countr=
y in continuous operation=2E
The CRHA=2C which purchased the depot for =24325=2C000=2C recently sent o=
ut letters seeking donations to help it raise the =24400=2C000 it needs t=
o match grants it is seeking=2E And now=2C an auction has been planned fo=
r Sunday at 2 p=2Em=2E at the depot to help raise additional funds=2E =22=
The fund-raising has been going extremely well=2C=22 said CRHA secretary =
Lyle Kloke=2E =22We=27re still waiting for governmental decisions on gran=
ts=2C but there has been a fantastic response to our solicitation letter =
sent to folks in the local area=2E There is a significant amount of donat=
ions coming in=2E I=27m shocked=2C to be honest=2E We=27re getting a lot =
of good comments from people who are sharing our goal of restoring the ol=
d depot=2E People who could not afford to give anything are offering to d=
o what they can=2E Of course=2C we like the big checks with many=2C many =
zeros=2C but those are not too common and anything people can give will h=
elp=2E=22
John Foley=2C CRHA treasurer=2C confirmed that there is a lot of enthusia=
sm in the region for the project=2E =22We have applications for =242 mill=
ion in grants=2C=22 he reported=2C =22and we need to match 20 percent of =
that=2C which is between =24300=2C000 and =24400=2C000=2E We are schedule=
d to hear something next month from the grant process=2E=22
Some of the donations are coming in the form of materials or in-kind serv=
ices=2E =22We=27ve gotten commitments for some of the major items-like fr=
aming and lumber and contributions of services=2C such as electrical work=
=2C=22 Mr=2E Kloke said=2E Mr=2E Foley said that if those pledges materia=
lize=2C the time line for reconstruction could shorten=2E
Last summer=2C a new deck was constructed around the north-south wing of =
the building that was saved from the fire=2E The twin=2C east-west ell of=
 the building was consumed in the blaze=2E A Small Cities Block Grant for=
 facade improvement was used to rebuild the deck=2C raising hopes among C=
anaan residents that the reconstruction project is on the horizon=2E
Even though the north-south wing could be pressed into commercial duty ev=
en before the other wing is reconstructed=2C Mr=2E Kloke said that is unl=
ikely=2E =22It=27s been discussed=2C=22 he said=2C =22but there are diffi=
culties with that=2C given the extensiveness of the renovation needed=2E =
We would like to do the construction in one shot-otherwise there are lots=
 of intrusions and disruptions=2E Equipment takes space=2C storage takes =
space=2E=22
He said the CRHA is still looking at a two-year timeframe for restoration=
=2C starting from its acquisition of the building last fall=2E =22I would=
 expect by next year you will see some good action=2C=22 he predicted=2E
=22I like to remain very optimistic=2C=22 said Mr=2E Foley=2E =22Power is=
 going to be restored before winter and we are going to extend the east-w=
est foundation=2E We plan to put a cellar under that part where =5BKeilty=
=27s Depot=5D was=2E We are continuing to work on the plan and are gettin=
g closer to deciding what it will look like-the exterior will look like i=
t used to and we will have the posts and beams in the restaurant like bef=
ore=2E The restaurant will be our anchor tenant and we expect to have ret=
ail outlets along the north-south wing with professional people on the se=
cond floor=2E=22
The ground floor will also boast a railroading museum=2C recalling the in=
dustry that laid the economic basis for Canaan=2E
All proceeds from this Sunday=27s auction will go toward rebuilding the s=
tation=2E A rich variety of items have been donated to the auction=2C inc=
luding windows from C=2EA=2E Lindell =26 Son=2C bathroom fixtures from Wi=
lliam Perotti =26 Sons and the use of a house in Florida for a week=2E A =
weekend for two in the Pocono Mountains=2C gift certificates=2C furniture=
=2C gardening equipment=2C railroad memorabilia and more are also to be a=
uctioned=2E
The auctioneer for the event will be Phil Jacquier=2C a member of the Eas=
t Canaan farming family=2C who now operates his business out of Southwick=
=2C Mass=2E Refreshments will be available at the event=2E
The four boys who burned the historic structure were between the ages of =
11 and 14 at the time of the blaze=2E The two youngest were handled in ju=
venile court=2C and the two older boys received jail sentences=2C which t=
hey have served=2E


=A9Litchfield County Times 2003 =



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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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